A revised MEA | ACEC-Ontario Standard Agreement for Engineering Services has been made available for the first time since 2020, incorporating significant changes for smoother project execution in the evolving landscape of municipal engineering.
Released on November 12 by the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) and the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC-Ontario), the revised document aims to address the realities of modern procurement and the performance of professional consulting services. It includes updates that “reflect mutually agreed-upon terms and conditions” by the organizations, with a “focus on a fair and balanced allocation of risk” between municipalities and consulting engineers.
“By providing a well-defined structure for engineering services, the agreement reduces misunderstandings and disputes, leading to smoother project execution and more effective collaboration,” said MEA Executive Director Dan Cozzi in a statement.
The 2024 agreement form is available in a fillable field format that enables municipalities to tailor it to their unique projects while easily making specific modifications through supplementary conditions. The authors encourage municipal works, legal, and purchasing departments to review the standard agreement to ensure it meets their professional engineering procurement requirements.
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“We take pride in this partnership and the agreement. It’s one that municipalities and the consulting engineering industry can trust,” added Cozzi.
MEA and ACEC-Ontario intend to host a webinar in early 2025 to expand on the introduction of the new agreement. The groups say that the session will provide an overview of the key terms and conditions, along with some background on its development and intended use, as it continues to aim for fair and sound contract conditions for both member firms and their clients.
“By leveraging this agreement, municipalities can ensure consistency and enhance collaboration helping achieve better project outcomes,” said ACEC-Ontario Executive Director Andrew Hurd in a statement. “The new revision reflects our ongoing partnership and commitment to fostering best practices and achieving engineering excellence across Ontario,” added Hurd.
A new user guide for the agreement has also been made available.
