Selecting the wrong engineering firm for a capital project is an expensive mistake. Here is a practical framework for evaluating engineering partners that goes beyond the proposal.
The Proposal Tells You Less Than You Think
Every engineering firm’s proposal looks professional. The presentations are polished, the resumes are impressive, and the project approaches sound methodical. The challenge is that proposals are marketing documents, and the people who write them are not always the people who will deliver your project.
Here is a more useful framework for evaluating engineering partners.
Ask to Meet the Actual Project Team
The most important question you can ask during a selection process is: who will actually be working on my project? Ask to meet them. Review their specific project experience, not just the firm’s portfolio. Understand whether the senior engineers presented in the proposal will maintain continuity throughout the project or rotate off after kickoff.
At smaller, senior-led firms, this is straightforward. At larger firms, the project manager presented in the proposal may be managing 10 other projects simultaneously.
Evaluate the Firm’s Familiarity with Your Specific Regulatory Environment
Gulf Coast energy projects operate under a complex overlay of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. FERC, PHMSA, LDEQ, LDNR, BSEE — the applicable agencies and permit requirements vary significantly by project type and location. An engineering firm that understands your regulatory environment before the project starts is a different partner than one that learns it on your dime.
Check the References on Projects Like Yours
Not industry references. Specific project type references. If you are building a CCUS injection facility, ask for references from operators who have done CCUS injection facility projects with this firm. The engineering challenges, regulatory requirements, and design considerations are distinct enough that general oil and gas experience does not substitute for specific project type experience.
Understand Their Constructability Review Process
How does the firm ensure that what they design can actually be built? What is their process for engaging with construction contractors during detailed design? How do they handle field changes? A firm with a rigorous constructability review process and a history of building relationships with Gulf Coast fabricators and contractors is a more reliable partner than one that designs in isolation.
Size the Firm to the Project
A 1,000-person EPC firm managing a $50 million project will not give you the same attention as a firm for whom that project represents meaningful revenue. Conversely, a small firm without sufficient depth to handle the scope creates execution risk. Match the firm’s scale and focus to your project.
These are the questions Pelican asks about ourselves before every pursuit. If you are evaluating engineering partners for a Gulf Coast capital project and want an honest conversation about fit, reach out.