 I appreciate the department's interest in easing administrative burdens on local governments that receive federal grants, but as a professional engineer, and I think maybe the only one in Congress, I'm concerned about the potential drawbacks of this particular proposal. Studies have shown that hiring most qualified engineering companies saves time and money and results in better projects and more satisfied owners. The QBS method also gives small and minority-owned firms an even playing field to compete based on their specific proficiencies.