10 FROM FIDIC PUBLICATIONS resources to carry out the work. The client can evaluate the resources of the consulting engineers by: - examining the technical and managerial abilities of the proposed team for the project - asking for details of how the resources are to be deployed during the course of the project and how responsibility will be delegated to the participants - asking for details of proposed staff deployment on the project -finding out what other commitments the consultant has during the duration of the project and how staff will be deployed on them - checking whether the firm has done work of a similar size - checking the firm's credit worthiness - checking the access to supporting resources - checking the location of the firm's offices in relation to the proposed work - checking the firm's relationship with local resources. 2. 5 Professional ındependence When a client employs a consulting engineer who is a member of one of FIDIC's member associations, he has an assurance that the consulting engineer subscribes to FIDIC's code of ethics, professional status, competence and independence. An independent consulting engineer has no direct or indirect interest in commercial, manufacturing or contracting activities that might tend to influence his professional judgement. He is remunerated solely by the fees paid to him by his clients. If he is a member of a consortium he may, however, be remunerated from the proceeds of the consortium. In this case, he must consider his consortia partnerts to be his clients. He is therefore able to approach ali assignments objectively and by using sound technical and economic principles to provide solutions which serve the best interests of his clients. The client can assess the independence of a consulting engineer by: - establishing whether the firm has financial or managerial ties with other organisations that could influence its independenco - meeting the personnel running the firm - checking that the firm is a member of a FIDIC member association. 2.6. Fairness of fee structure Consulting engineers need to be adequately paid to ensure that they are able to give a high quality service with proper attention to detail, alternative designs, material and methods of construction. Consulting engineers must maintain highly competent staff and give constant attention to the research and development essential to remaining in the forefront of technical progress. The fee structure should reflect the needs of the client and the objectives of the project. The client can ensure that the fee is fair by: -using the fee scales that are published by FIDIC member associations - using one of the methods of fee remuneration described in the FIDIC booklet Guide ta the Use and Remuneration of Independent Consultants far Engineering Services. 2.7. Professional ıntegrity Trust and integrity represent the oil in the machinery of the relationship between client and consulting engineer. Without it the machine becomes inefficient, hot through friction and finally can come to a standstill. If trust exists between the client and the consulting engineer, and both parties have integrity, then the project will run more smoothly, the result will be better and both parties will be happier. These very factors of trust and integrity are the reasons why consulting engineers are commissioned by the same client again and again. Membership of a FIDIC member association is one assurance of the consulting engineer's integrity. 2.8 Quality assurance system From the viewpoint of the client, the quality of the project is often the most important measure of the services received. Quality must be understood as the totality of the features and characteristics of the services that bear on the ability of the finished project to satisfy the needs, stated or implied. The methods followed for quality assurance, quality control and quality auditing will indicate the ability of the consulting engineer in this important matter.
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