Enhancing technical proposal evaluation in consultant selection in Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal: a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy TOPSIS

In today's dynamic construction landscape, where challenges like complexity, costs, and uncertainties loom large, the selection of consultants emerges as a pivotal factor for project triumph. Among the array of methods available, Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) stands out for its holistic approach, considering both technical prowess and financial considerations. Yet, amidst its structured framework, the evaluation of technical proposals within QCBS often grapples with subjectivity, despite the presence of well-defined criteria. This study boldly tackles this challenge head-on by delineating common criteria and sub-criteria for consultant selection within the esteemed Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI). Leveraging the innovative Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), our endeavor is to ascertain the relative significance of these criteria and sub-criteria. Through the fusion of Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy Techniques for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), our study aspires to revolutionize consultant ranking methodologies. The ingenious application of Fuzzy AHP empowers us to derive independent weights for criteria and sub-criteria, thereby embracing the inherent ambiguity and nuances of qualitative factors. Subsequently, employing Fuzzy TOPSIS, we aim to systematically rank consultant alternatives based on their Closeness Coefficients, heralding a paradigm shift in evaluation paradigms. Through this groundbreaking hybrid approach, our study endeavors to elevate the consultant selection process, ensuring an impeccable alignment of chosen consultants with project requisites and benchmarks. By dispelling the shadows of subjective decision-making uncertainties, our research holds the promise of ushering in a new era of excellence in the realm of construction projects under the aegis of the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation.