Engineer A is retained by a state agency to design a facilit

Engineer A is retained by a state agency to design a facility for the state agency. Engineer A prepares the drawings, plans, and specifications and later the project is publically announced for contractor bid by the state agency. Following receipt of contractor bids, the state agency requests Engineer A’s review of a bid submitted by Contractor X as well as Engineer A’s opinion of Contractor X, based on Engineer A’s experience with Contractor X. Based upon the facts known to Engineer A, Engineer A’s specifications, and Engineer A’s previous experience with Contractor X, Engineer A indicates to state agency that Contractor X should not be selected for the construction of the facility. Contractor X believes Engineer A’s actions are unethical.

Questions:

Was it unethical for Engineer A to indicate to the state agency that Contractor X should not be selected for the construction of the facility?

What references in the NSPE Code of Ethics would support your answer?

Solution

The case involves conflict of interest with the contractor X and Engineer A.Since engineer A has previously worked with the contractor X,there is possibility of favour or disfavour by the engineer towards the contractor X.However NPSE says that engineer should work in their field of expertise honestly,impartially,with transparency and in accountable manner etc.The scruinity of contractor X bid for the project should be done by any person or agency who has not conflict of interest with the contrator X keeping in mind the appropriate use of tax payers money, public safety etc.In this way the contractor will not claim unethical issues...