Challenge Resources
EDC is a multi-faceted challenge with lots of content that can be intimidating when you’re first starting out. Don’t worry, you don’t need to know everything from the beginning – you can learn as you take part!
This page is intended to provide resources to explain elements of the challenge and help you to get acquainted with some of the more complex engineering and business decisions that the EDC allows you to make.
The EDC contractors
Competitors in EDC form companies working to be awarded the contract from the client. As part of their designs companies can make use a variety of subcontractors whose services can be incorporated into their presentations.
The EDC has this set up to help give a sense of how large projects often work: with many ‘subcontractors’ being employed to offer expertise and services. Prime contractors often employ hundreds of subcontractors on large scale environmental projects. A selection of these services are made available to help you, as a prime contractor, devise a design that will fulfil the needs of its client.
The key to being successful in EDC lies with how companies approach and address the RFP. The link here breaks down the RFP and gives guidance on how to interpret it.
Tips for success
Carving your own path and strategy is often difficult in the EDC and even interpreting the task might be a daunting challenge. See our tips on understanding the Request for Proposal (RFP), managing the task, and creating an impactful presentation in order to best set yourself up for success within the challenge!
The authors are alumni of the competition and offer their advice on managing difficulties or service/software choices. These are not the only, or even the best, ways to approach problems you may face but come from the experience of the authors throughout their time with the challenge. This is designed to be as in depth as possible throughout so do not feel obliged to read everything, only what you believe will assist in your role at the competition.