The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC-Ontario), in partnership with the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA), has worked since 1989 to develop and maintain a Standard Client/Engineer Agreement for Professional Consulting Services. This agreement serves as a benchmark for clear, equitable project timelines and budgets, aligning with industry standards, business practices, and regulatory compliance.
The latest 2024 version of the Standard Agreement introduces significant changes from the previous 2020 edition. These updates reflect mutually agreed-upon terms and conditions by MEA and ACEC-Ontario, with a focus on a fair and balanced allocation of risk between municipalities and consulting engineers in today’s sophisticated and complex market. The revisions address the realities of modern procurement and the performance of professional consulting services.
In an ongoing commitment to support infrastructure development across Ontario, ACEC-Ontario advocates for the use of this standard agreement, which helps to uphold sound and fair contract conditions for both member firms and their clients. The 2024 agreement is available in a fillable field format, enabling municipalities to tailor it to their unique projects while easily making specific modifications through supplementary conditions. Municipal works, legal, and purchasing departments are encouraged to review this standard agreement to ensure it meets their professional engineering procurement requirements.
ACEC-Ontario and MEA do not assume liability from the use of this agreement but continue to work closely to refine and improve its terms, promoting effective adoption by municipalities committed to building and maintaining Ontario’s core infrastructure.