Documents

What is FIDIC ?
FIDIC is the international federation of national associations of independent consulting engineers who comply with FIDIC's code on professional status, independence and competence.

To quality for membership, an association must demonstrate that its statutes, by-laws and regulations ensure that its members comply with the ethics and professional code of practice of the profession in its country Membership in the Federation is restricted to one association in each country.

The Independent Consulting Engineer
A consulting engineer is a professionally qualified engineer in private practice. He maintains his own engineering office, either alone or in association with other engineers and employs staff to assist him to provide consulting services.
A consulting engineering firm may be organized as a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a company depending in the size and type of its operation and the conditions set by national association.

Membership in FIDIC
Membership in a FIDIC member association is an assurance that the consulting engineers subscribe the code of ethics on professional status. Independence and competence. He is able to approach all assignment objectively, and by using sound technical and economic principles, arrives at a solution which serves the best interest of his clients with due regard for laws and the interests of the community.

FIDIC : A Brief History
FIDIC was founded in 1913 by five national associations of independent consulting engineers within Europe.
The objectives of forming the Federation were to promote in common the professional interests of the Member Association and to disseminate information of interests to members of its component national association.
It was not until the end of the world war in 1945 that FIDIC began to expand and include among its membership to those countries which contained the largest associations of Consulting Engineers. Today FIDIC membership numbers 50 countries from all parts of the globe and the Federation represents almost all the independent practicing consulting engineers in the world.
During its development, it has become apparent that FIDIC must jealously guard the standard of the service which its constituent Member Associations can offer, and a substantial contributing factor to this has been its insistence on the maintenance of strict independence so that the counsel and advice given to clients are unaffected by any possibility of gain from other sources.
With the ever growing interest to aid development and less developed countries and with the tendency of the countries which were formerly not industrialized to see their future supported by industrialization, FIDIC has an obviously expanding part to play in the international picture which can be a major contribution to world development and, through that, to peace and prosperity. FIDIC is actively working to encourage the development of the profession in countries which are in the process of development and much of the practical help is being provided by member Associations in the industrialized Countries.

Code of Conduct
Professional Status
In the exercise of their profession, the consulting engineers must act in the legitimate interest of their client. They must discharge their duties with complete fidelity and conduct themselves in such a manner as faithfully to serve the best interests of society and to uphold the standing of the reputation of the profession.

Independence
A Consulting engineer's professional advice, judgement or decision must not be influenced in any way by a connection with another person or organization. Control of the polices and management of a consulting engineering firm which is partly or wholly owned by entities other than consulting engineers shall be vested in the consulting engineers.
The remuneration of a consulting engineer for the professional services should be derived only from the less paid by clients. With the exception that a consulting engineer may nevertheless in adhoc groups formed with others to undertake design, construction, project management or similar activities.

Competence
Consulting engineers must have the necessary knowledge and experience to enable them to fulfill their mission.

Policy Declaration
Taking Over Work of Another Consulting Engineer for the Same Client
No member of a member Association of FIDIC shall attempt directly or indirectly, to supplant another consulting engineer, nor shall he review or take over the work of another consulting engineer for the same client, until he has either obtained the consent of such consulting engineer or has been formally notified by the client that the connection of such consulting engineer has been terminated.

Consulting Work in Foreign Territories
It is unethical for the members of member Association to seek or accept appointment for professional consulting work on terms or under conditions which conflict with those laid down by the national association of the country in which the work is to be executed. Members are bounded by their own association's rules where there is no FIDIC member Association.

Personal Advertising
Corporate advertising when recommended as necessary in the best interest of the profession may be supplemented by individual advertising in appropriate cases as judged by the national association concerned. Any brochure or other form of advertisement must be dignified and factual. To ensure this, the material should comply with the criteria established by the Association to which the individual member belongs.

Competitive Bidding
It is not in the interest of the client or of the profession that consulting engineers should seek or accept appointment under any system of competitive bidding for professional services. Selection of a consulting engineer for appointment should be made on consideration of competence and availability leaving the negotiation of fees and costs to be settle only with the engineer selected.

Payment of Commissions to influence the Acquisition of Assignments
In some countries, it may be necessary for consulting engineers to make use of local agents when negotiating contracts. Indeed, some governmental procurement procedure may require this.

Such agents should only be reimbursed for this spent and material service which they render, but consignment percentage fees may be paid where such fees are in accordance with usual professional practice in that location. Agents shall not be officials or employees of the client. Agents should be advised that no payments are to the client nor to anyone else for the purpose of influencing the selection of the consulting engineer.
FIDIC reaffirms its policy in regard to selection procedures based upon ability and experience and considers any attempt to impose influence as the result of payment of a commission to be in conflict with the principles of the consulting profession.

FIDIC Recommendation

Environment
It is recommended that Members of FIDIC Member Associations, when appointed by any client, whether public or private, for any project that might have an effect, directly or indirectly, upon the human and natural environment, consider it a professional duty to effects, whether or not their client has included this aspect in the consultants' terms of reference.

Transfer to Technology
FIDIC encourages the interchange of knowledge and experience among consulting engineers in all countries and considers that is to the advantage of development around the world.