What should an engineering fee proposal include?

An engineering fee proposal should identify the project, disciplines, design tasks, documents, calculations, meetings, coordination, site or field work, review of owner information, and expected submission package. It should also state assumptions, exclusions, revision rules, schedule conditions, reimbursable expenses, payment terms, and who supplies information. The engineer can price and accept responsibility only for the defined professional scope; the AHJ controls required documents, fees, interpretation, and approval.

The correct application of engineering fee proposal contents starts with the actual project, not a generic promise. Confirm the jurisdiction, adopted code, design scope, existing conditions, required deliverables, and professional responsibility before relying on a conclusion. A responsible engineer documents assumptions and identifies information that still needs verification.

Project type, occupancy, existing construction, site conditions, code edition, agency requirements, and changes made after the original design can change the work. A concise answer is useful for orientation, but the signed or sealed project record must reflect the current scope and the authority's process.

• Confirm the authority having jurisdiction and current checklist
• Use current drawings, calculations, field evidence, and equipment information
• Separate engineering decisions from owner, architect, contractor, utility, and agency decisions
• Record assumptions, limitations, and questions requiring direct AHJ confirmation