A decision will need to be made as to how the consultant will ultimately be selected. Typically a selection committee will be established that will act in an advisory capacity and may include representatives of the legislative body, the planning commission, as well as key departments such as planning, engineering, public works, etc. Also, consideration should be given as to whether citizen representatives should be on the selection committee. Select the Consultant Candidates. Make a decision early in the process as to whether you will be opening the process up to any consultant that wishes to submit, or whether you wish to prescreen consultant candidates.
Some communities have a strong preference for local consulting firms.
If this is the case, it is not fair to invite national submissions by firms that have no realistic chance of success. On the other hand, some communities determine that they want a national perspective, which has obvious cost implications related to travel. For this process to be manageable the number of firms interviewed should be no more than four, preferably two or three. Scheduling more than four interviews results in a burdensome process for the local selection committee. Considerations such as the length of the interview, the type of presentation desired, and logistics of the interview room should also be resolved beforehand.