EP 715-1-4

30 September 2004

Competing for 

Architect-Engineer Contracts 

Awarded by the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USACE And The A-E Industry: Partners Serving The Nation 



EP 715-1-4 

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1

USACE ORGANIZATION

USACE is a highly decentralized organization. Headquarters, USACE, located at 441 G 

Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20314-1000, is responsible for formulating Corps policies, 

allocating resources, and overseeing the execution of all programs. The public 

announcement of requirements for A-E services, the selection of firms, and the negotiation 

and administration of contracts is performed by districts and centers located throughout the 

United States and overseas. The location and boundaries of all USACE offices can be 

found on the USACE Internet home page (http://www.usace.army.mil/); click on “Where We 

Are.” Contact information is shown for each office. 

BROOKS ARCHITECT-ENGINEER ACT

A-E services required by Federal agencies are procured under the Brooks A-E Act (see 

Appendix A) and the procedures in Part 36 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).1

The Brooks Act requires the public announcement of requirements for A-E services (with 

some exceptions provided by other statutes); selection of the most highly qualified firms 

based on demonstrated competence and professional qualifications; and the negotiation of 

a fair and reasonable price, starting with the highest qualified firm. Hence, the selection of 

A-E contractors is focused on qualifications, and not the lowest price. 

FAR 36.601-4(a) describes A-E services as: 

“(1) Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature, as defined by 

applicable State law, which the State law requires to be performed or approved by a 

registered architect or engineer. 

“(2) Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature associated with 

design or construction of real property. 

“(3) Other professional services of an architectural or engineering nature or incidental 

services thereto (including studies, investigations, surveying and mapping, tests, 

evaluations, consultations, comprehensive planning, program management, conceptual 

designs, plans and specifications, value engineering, construction phase services, soils 

engineering, drawing reviews, preparation of operating and maintenance manuals and 

other related services) that logically or justifiably require performance by registered 

architects or engineers or their employees. 

 “(4) Professional surveying and mapping services of an architectural or engineering 

nature. Surveying is considered to be an architectural and engineering service and shall be 

 

1

 Appendix B is a list of relevant Internet addresses, including the FAR, and the Defense, 

Army, and Corps of Engineers supplements to the FAR.
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procured pursuant to § 36.601 from registered surveyors or architects and engineers. 

Mapping associated with the research, planning, development, design, construction, or 

alteration of real property is considered to be an architectural and engineering service and 

is to be procured pursuant to § 36.601..." 

FAR 36.601-4(b) limits the award of A-E contracts to firms (individual, partnership, 

corporation, association, or other legal entity) permitted by law to practice the professions 

of architecture or engineering. 

FAR 36.601-3 instructs the contracting officer to follow A-E procurement procedures "if 

the statement of work, substantially or to a dominant extent, specifies performance or 

approval by a registered or licensed architect or engineer." 

Specific USACE procedures for A-E contracting, which implement the Brooks A-E Act 

and the FAR and its supplements, are described in Engineer Pamphlet 715-1-7, ArchitectEngineer Contracting. This pamphlet is available on the Internet (see Appendix B). 

Design-build contracts, where one contractor is responsible for both the design and the 

construction of a project, are not procured under the Brooks A-E Act. They are procured as 

construction contracts since the primary end product is a constructed facility, with design 

being incidental to the construction. Typically in design-build contracts, A-E firms are jointventure partners with, or subcontractors to, construction contractors. 

STANDARD FORM 330

Standard Form (SF) 330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications, is used by A-E firms to 

submit their professional qualifications to Federal agencies. This form can be filled in and 

downloaded from the General Services Administration website on the Internet (see 

Appendix B). Also, many commercial vendors provide software that facilitates preparation 

of this form. Appendix C provides suggestions for preparing SF 330. SF 330 replaced SFs 

254 and 255. 

 SF 330 Part I, Contract-Specific Qualifications, presents the qualifications of the prime 

firm or joint venture partners, and any subcontractors, for a specific contract in response to 

the agency’s public announcement. The SF 330 Part I presents the corporate team 

members and their roles in the proposed contract, an organization chart, resumes of the 

key personnel to be assigned to the contract, projects which illustrate the team’s 

experience in the required type of work, the key personnel’s participation in the example 

projects, and any other qualifications relevant to the announced contract. A single SF 330 

Part I is submitted for the entire team. 

 

 SF 330 Part II, General Qualifications, provides basic information about the capabilities 

and experience of a firm and is not specific to a contract. A Part II is required for the prime 

firm and each subcontractor, and is prepared on a branch office basis. It includes the type 
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of ownership, small business type (if applicable), point of contact, number of personnel in 

each discipline, profile of the firm’s experience, and annual volume of work. 

 Firms can submit their SF 330 Part II to the On-Line Representations and Certifications 

Application (ORCA; http://orca.bpn.gov/), which is a part of the Federal-wide Business 

Partner Network (BPN; http://www.bpn.gov/). The SF 330 Part II is Question 26 in ORCA; 

Questions 1-25 on the Representations and Certifications must also be completed. 

(Representations and Certifications are statements about a firm’s ownership, nature and 

operations.) The firm’s qualifications are then available to all Federal agencies. 

Submission of qualifications to ORCA is voluntary, however it will increase a firm’s visibility 

in the Federal marketplace and may lead to opportunities for contracts that are exempt 

from public announcement. Firms are encouraged to update their Part II in ORCA at least 

annually, and will get an automatic reminder notice from ORCA. The information submitted 

through ORCA is available in a read-only format to the public. 

ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT SYSTEM (ACASS) 

 ACASS is an automated database of A-E qualifications, performance evaluations 

and contract awards. It is a DoD-wide system that is managed by the Contractor 

Appraisal Information Center (CAIC) at the Portland District2 of the Corps of Engineers. 

ACASS is primarily used by DoD agencies, but various civilian Federal agencies also 

use the system. 

 ACASS is being modernized, which will be completed in 2005. The modernized 

system will be fully web-enabled, accessible by both the Government and A-E firms. 

The major changes planned are as follows: 

• Performance evaluations. Firms will automatically be sent all draft 

evaluations by e-mail for comment. 

• Qualifications. ACASS will have an interface with ORCA to obtain the SF 

330 Part II information on file, and make it available in various report 

formats. The database of SFs 254 in ACASS, which preceded the SF 330 

Part II, will gradually be phased out as firms submit a subsequent SF 330 

Part II. 

• Contract awards. Contract award data will be electronically obtained from 

the Federal Procurement Data System – New Generation 

(https://www.fpds.gov/) instead of the semi-manual process now used. 

 

2

 U.S. Army Engineer District, Portland; ATTN: CENWP-CT-I; P.O. Box 2946; Portland, 

Oregon 97208-2946; Telephone: 503-808-4590 or 4591; Facsimile: 503-808-4596. 
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ANNOUNCING REQUIREMENTS FOR A-E SERVICES

Except for certain authorized exceptions such as overseas, classified, non-appropriated 

fund, or urgent projects, all requirements for A-E services are publicly announced by one of 

the following two methods described below, depending on the contract amount. There are 

no “bidder’s lists” or “pre-qualified lists” for A-E contracts. 

FedBizOpps - Contracts over $25,000 are announced (synopsized) on the Federal 

Business Opportunities website (http://www.fedbizopps.gov/). The FedBizOpps website 

can be searched by agency, type of work, geographic area, time period and other 

parameters. FedBizOpps also offers automatic e-mail notification for announcements 

meeting specific parameters. Firms are given at least 30 days to respond (except a shorter 

time period is permissible for contracts of $100,000 or less). Requirements for A-E 

services are listed under Service Code C, except that surveying and mapping requirements 

are listed under Service Codes R and T. 

Local Announcement - Contracts of $25,000 or less may be announced on the 

Internet website and/or public bulletin board of the local contracting office for at least 10 

days. 

 The public announcement by either of the above methods includes a brief description of 

the project, the scope of A-E services, the selection criteria (in order of importance), the 

submission instructions and a point of contact. The announcement will instruct firms to 

submit a SF 330. Both Parts I and II of the SF 330 are required in order for a firm to be 

considered for an A-E contract. 

The public announcement provides all of the information firms need to prepare their SF 

330; solicitation packages are not provided. Contracting offices will answer routine 

questions about the submission instructions, but firms should not request additional 

technical information about the contract or required qualifications. The public 

announcement is not a request for price proposal and firms should not submit any pricerelated information with their SF 330. 

 In addition to the required public announcements, many USACE offices also publish 

contract opportunities on their Internet websites. All USACE offices can be accessed on 

the Internet through the USACE homepage. 

In order to be eligible for a Federal contract award, a firm must register in the Central 

Contractor Registration (CCR) system (http://www.ccr.gov). The public announcement 

will usually provide instructions on CCR requirements. A Data Universal Numbering 

System (DUNS) Number is required to register in CCR (as well as ORCA). The CCR 

site tells how to get a DUNS number. A DUNS Number is site-specific and divisionspecific. 
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SELECTION CRITERIA

FAR 36.602-1 sets the general selection criteria for A-E contracts as follows: 

"(1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required 

services; 

“(2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, 

including, where, appropriate, experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention, 

waste reduction, and the use of recovered materials; 

“(3) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time; 

“(4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in 

terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; 

“(5) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the 

locality of the project; provided, that application of this criterion leaves an appropriate 

number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project; and 

“(6) Acceptability under other appropriate evaluation criteria." 

The Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) 236.602-1(a)(6) supplements the FAR and 

specifies additional selection criteria for DoD. In particular, DoD agencies must: 

(1) "Consider the volume of work awarded by DoD during the previous 12 months. In 

considering equitable distribution of work among A-E firms, include small and small 

disadvantaged business firms and firms that have not had prior DoD contracts," 

(2) "Consider as appropriate superior performance evaluations on recently completed 

DoD contracts," and 

(3) "Consider the extent to which potential contractors identify and commit to small 

business and to small disadvantaged business, historically black college and university, 

or minority institution performance of the contract, whether as a joint venture, teaming 

arrangement, or subcontractor." 

The DFARS emphasizes that "the primary factor in A-E selection is the determination of 

the most highly qualified firm," and that secondary criteria should not be given greater 

significance than technical qualifications and past performance. The secondary criteria in 

DoD are geographic proximity, equitable distribution of work and extent of participation of 

small and disadvantaged businesses. DFARS further states "do not reject the overall most 

highly qualified firm solely in the interest of equitable distribution of contracts." Price or any 

cost-related factors are not considered in the selection of A-E firms. 
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SELECTION PROCEDURE

The evaluation process is conducted by formally constituted preselection (optional) and 

selection boards at the USACE district or center. Board members are highly qualified 

professional employees (most will have professional registration) having experience in 

architecture, engineering, construction and acquisition, and the specific type of work being 

contracted. The using agency or customer is usually invited to participate on the evaluation 

board(s) for its contract. 

A preselection board, if held, evaluates the SFs 330 and performance evaluations of all 

firms responding to the public announcement using the published selection criteria. The 

preselection board then develops a list of highly qualified firms (typically 6-12). Highly 

qualified firms are those that have a reasonable chance of being considered as most highly 

qualified by the selection board. Secondary criteria are not applied by a preselection board. 

The selection board evaluates the SFs 330 and performance evaluations of the highly 

qualified firms using the primary selection criteria and develops a list of at least three most 

highly qualified firms, in order of preference. If a preselection board was not held, the initial 

phase of a selection board is conducted similar to a preselection board. 

When evaluating firms, the boards are especially concerned with the following factors: 

• Does the prime firm and its key subcontractors have adequate depth in all required 

disciplines? 

• Are the key personnel degreed and registered in their disciplines and do they have 

pertinent experience in the required type of work? 

• Does the prime firm and its key subcontractors have experience in the required 

work? 

• Have most of the proposed team members successfully worked together on similar 

projects? 

• Are the responsibilities of all team members clear? 

• Does the prime firm and its subcontractors have established quality management 

programs? 

• What is the past performance record of the prime firm and its subcontractors? 

Appendix R of EP 715-1-7 explains how past performance is considered. 

The selection board conducts interviews (referred to as “discussions” in the Brooks A-E 

Act) with the most highly qualified firms prior to ranking them. The firms are asked similar 

questions about their experience, capabilities, organization, quality management 

procedures, and approach for the project. For most projects the interviews are conducted 

by telephone. However, for very significant projects, the selection board may request that 

firms make in-person presentations. The secondary criteria are only applied as a “tiebreaker,” if necessary, in ranking the most highly qualified firms after the interviews. 

A selection board report is presented to the selection authority for approval. For most 
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contracts, the district or center commander or deputy commander is the selection authority. 

NOTIFICATION AND DEBRIEFING OF UNSUCCESSFUL FIRMS

All firms who responded to a public announcement are notified of their selection status 

within 10 days after approval of the selection board report. If a procurement is canceled, 

notices are promptly sent to all firms that responded to the announcement. Also, if a 

procurement is significantly delayed, notices are sent to all firms still under consideration. 

A firm may request a debriefing on why it was not selected. The firm must request the 

debriefing in writing or electronically within 10 days after its receipt of selection notification. 

The debriefing will be conducted by the selection board chairperson or his/her designee. 

The debriefing may be by telephone or in-person, as mutually agreed between the firm and 

the Corps debriefer, and usually within 14 days of the request. A firm will be advised of all 

significant weak or deficient factors in their qualification submission for that particular 

project, which will enable the firm to better compete for future similar contracts. Specific 

qualifications of other firms will not be discussed. Part I of the SF 330 is exempt from 

release under the Freedom of Information Act since the information is proprietary. 

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

Contract negotiations are conducted in accordance with FAR Subparts 15.4 and 36.6. 

Negotiations are initiated first with the highest qualified firm. The firm is provided a 

statement of work (SOW), project information and design criteria. One or more preproposal 

conferences are usually held (often at the project site) to discuss and refine the SOW and 

project requirements. The firm then prepares and submits a price proposal as instructed. 

At the same time, the Government prepares an independent cost estimate. 

After careful evaluation of the proposal by the Corps, which may include an audit for 

larger contracts, negotiations will be initiated. If a "mutually satisfactory contract cannot be 

negotiated" (FAR 36.606(f)), negotiations are initiated with the firm ranked next on the 

approved selection report. This procedure would continue until a mutually satisfactory 

contract has been negotiated and awarded by the contracting officer. For most projects, 

the firm will be required to submit for USACE approval a Design Quality Control Plan 

showing specifically how it will manage, coordinate and review the work. 

CONTRACT TYPES

Two contract types are principally used in USACE for A-E services: project-specific 

contracts and indefinite delivery contracts (IDCs). (Contract types are covered in FAR Part 

16.) Project-specific contracts are used for moderate-to-large size projects when the SOW 

can be reasonably defined during negotiations. Usually the contract is firm-fixed-price 

(FFP), meaning an agreement to pay a certain price for specified services and products. 

Monthly progress payments are made based upon satisfactorily completed work. 
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IDCs are typically used for small-to-moderate size projects when procurement of the 

A-E services by separate project-specific contracts would be uneconomical or untimely. 

Work is accomplished by individually negotiated task orders, which are usually FFP. 

Typically, contracts do not exceed $3,000,000, although larger contracts can be authorized 

by HQUSACE. Contracts are usually three years, but longer contracts may be approved by 

HQUSACE if appropriate. 

 An IDC consists of negotiated rates for all anticipated labor disciplines, overhead, tests, 

supplies, travel, and, in some cases, profit. These contract rates are then used in pricing 

individual task orders. Monthly progress payments are also made based upon completed 

work for each order. 

OVERSEAS CONTRACTS

Some A-E contracts are awarded by USACE offices located outside of the United 

States. The procedures for awarding such contracts depend on local laws and international 

agreements. A-E firms interested in doing overseas work for USACE should contact the 

appropriate USACE contracting office shown on the USACE home page. 

SMALL BUSINESS UTILIZATION PROGRAMS

A policy of the Government is to place a fair portion of its acquisitions with various small 

businesses (SB) and to encourage subcontracting to small businesses. The following 

programs support this policy in USACE. Also see Appendix J of EP 715-1-7 for a detailed 

discussion of the small business program. 

Small Business and SB Set-Asides 

A SB A-E firm must have average annual receipts over the past 3 years of no more than 

$4,000,000 (for most types of A-E services). SB firms self-certify their size status. Under 

certain conditions a contract may be set aside for competition by SB firms only. A public 

announcement will clearly state if a project is set aside for SB. 

SB set-asides for A-E services are governed by the Small Business Competitiveness 

Demonstration Program (SBCDP), which monitors the ability of SB firms to compete 

successfully with larger businesses, without the use of set-asides. Under the SBCDP, if at 

least 40% (measured in dollars) of all A-E contract awards in a 12-month period are made 

to small businesses, then A-E contracts are not set aside for SB. However, when awards 

to SB firms fall below 40%, DoD may direct that SB A-E set-asides be reinstated (except for 

contracts of $300,000 or more for military construction or family housing which are exempt 

by statute). 

 

Small Disadvantaged Businesses and Set-Asides 
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 A Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) is a SB that is at least 51% owned and 

controlled by one or more individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged. A 

SDB must be certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SDB set-asides of 

A-E contracts are not currently authorized in DoD, except under the 8(a) program, which is 

discussed below. 

8(a) Program and Set-Asides 

An 8(a) firm is a SDB that is certified by SBA in its Section 8(a) program. A-E contracts 

of any amount and for any program may be set-aside for exclusive competition among 8(a) 

firms. Public announcement is not required, but a selection board is still held. A sufficient 

number of 8(a) firms must be considered to ensure adequate competition. The SBA can 

recommend 8(a) firms to USACE contracting offices, or 8(a) firms can "self-market" directly 

with USACE offices. The highest qualified firm is requested to submit a price proposal, and 

negotiations are initiated. Agreement must be at a fair market price. 

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Business and Set-Asides 

A HUBZone business is a firm that has been certified by the SBA in the HUBZone 

Program. A-E contracts of any amount and for any program may be set-aside for exclusive 

competition among HUBZone-certified firms. A public announcement is required and will 

clearly state if a project is set aside for exclusive competition among HUBZone firms. The 

highest qualified firm is requested to submit a price proposal, and negotiations are initiated. 

Agreement must be at a fair market price. 

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SVOSB) and Set-Asides 

A “service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern" is a small business 

concern, not less than 51% of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans or, 

in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51% of the stock of which is 

owned by one or more veterans, and the management and daily business operations of 

which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans, or, in the case of a veteran 

with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran. 

A service-disabled veteran means a veteran with a disability that is service-connected. 

SVOSB firms self-certify their ownership status. A-E contracts of any amount and for any 

program may be set-aside for SVOSB firms. A public announcement is required and will 

clearly state if a project is set aside for exclusive competition among SVOSB firms. The 

highest qualified firm is requested to submit a price proposal, and negotiations are initiated. 

Agreement must be at a fair market price.

Subcontracting
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An A-E contract over $500,000 that is awarded to a large business must include a 

subcontracting plan that provides maximum practicable subcontracting opportunities for 

small business. Subcontracting plans are negotiated and must be approved by the 

contracting officer prior to contract award. A prime firm must report on compliance with its 

subcontracting plan during performance of the contract. 

Deputy for Small Business

Each USACE command has a Deputy for Small Business to promote the utilization of 

SB, SDB, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone, and SVOSB contractors. 

Additional information on the above programs can be obtained from any Deputy for Small 

Business. Their names and phone numbers are available on the USACE home page at 

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/hqsb/contracting.htm. 

CONTRACT PERFORMANCE 

 A-E firms hired by USACE are expected to provide high quality services, on time and on 

budget. The USACE technical staff may provide considerable assistance to the A-E firm in 

interpreting the SOW, clarifying design criteria, and accessing the project site. The firm will 

be requested to prepare a quality control plan and perform an independent technical 

review. There will be review submissions and progress meetings at various phases of a 

project. However, the A-E firm remains “responsible for the professional quality, technical 

accuracy, and the coordination of all designs, drawings, specifications, and other services 

furnished” (FAR 52.236-23). Also, the A-E firm must “accomplish the design ... at a price 

that does not exceed the estimated construction contract price as set forth” in the contract 

or must redesign the project at no additional cost to the Government (FAR 52.236-22). 

PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

Past performance is a very critical consideration in the selection of firms for A-E 

contracts. FAR 36.604 requires the preparation of performance evaluations for A-E 

contracts of more than $25,000. In USACE, performance evaluations are also prepared for 

each IDC task order over $25,000. A performance evaluation is prepared after the 

completion of the design or engineering services, and after the completion of construction, 

when applicable. 

A firm is promptly provided a copy of its completed evaluation by the Corps office 

managing the contract. A firm should contact the Corps’ project manager or contracting 

officer if it does not receive an evaluation within 60 days of completing a project. 

Completed evaluations in ACASS are automatically forwarded to the Federal-wide Past 

Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), where they are maintained for a period 

of 6 years as required by FAR 36.604. A-E firms can directly access PPIRS 

(http://www.ppirs.gov) to obtain all their evaluations on file by using their DUNS Number 
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and Marketing Partner Identification Number generated when they register in CCR. 

 DD Form 2631 is used for preparation of the performance evaluation in DoD. 

(Currently, the November 1992 edition of the DD 2631 is used in ACASS. When the 

modernization is completed, the April 1999 edition will be used.) During contract 

negotiations, a firm will be provided a blank copy of this form so that it understands how 

it will be evaluated. The evaluation considers both the quality of the individual disciplines 

and overall contract performance, such as meeting cost limitations, accuracy and 

coordination of plans and specifications, and design constructibility. There are five 

overall rating levels, ranging from “excellent” to “poor.” A firm may appeal a proposed 

rating of “below average” or “poor” to a higher level in USACE. If a firm does receive an 

adverse evaluation, it should address in future submittals what it has done to improve its 

performance. 

SUMMARY 

 To improve your chances of being awarded a contract for A-E services with USACE: 

• Maintain long-term partnerships with highly qualified consultants and joint 

venture partners. 

• Actively participate in industry and professional organizations to keep up with the 

state-of-the-art and market trends. 

• Know the Federal acquisition system. 

• Register in the Central Contractor Registration system. 

• Keep your SF 330 Part II current and on file in ORCA. 

• Track what is happening in USACE via the Internet. 

• Visit USACE districts and centers to find out what services they need and what 

they expect. 

• If you are a small business, contact the Deputy for Small Business at your local 

USACE office for advice and assistance. Also, visit the SBA website for useful 

information. 

• Read the FedBizOpps regularly. 

• Carefully put together a SF 330 package that thoroughly, concisely and clearly 

addresses all of the requirements in the public announcement. 

• Get a thorough debriefing on why you were not selected for a contract. Then, 

improve your qualifications accordingly for the next contract. 

• If you are awarded a contract, provide high quality and responsive services. 

Earn an exceptional performance evaluation! 

Good luck! 

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A - 1 

APPENDIX A 

BROOKS ARCHITECT-ENGINEER ACT 

PUBLIC LAW 92-582, AS AMENDED 

TITLE 40-PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 

PROPERTY AND WORKS 

SUBCHAPTER VI-SELECTION OF 

ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS 

§ 541. Definitions

As defined in this subchapter- 

(1) The term “firm” means any individual, 

firm, partnership, corporation, association, 

or other legal entity permitted by law to 

practice the professions or architecture or 

engineering. 

(2) The term “agency head” means the 

Secretary, Administrator, or head of a 

department, agency, or bureau of the 

Federal Government. 

(3) The term “architectural and 

engineering services” means- 

(A) professional services of an 

architectural or engineering nature, as 

defined by State law, applicable, which 

are required to be performed or approved 

by a person licensed, registered or 

certified to provide such services as 

described in this paragraph; 

(B) professional services of an 

architectural or engineering nature 

performed by contract that are associated 

with research, planning, development, 

design, construction, alteration, or repair 

of real property; and 

(C) such other professional services 

of an architectural or engineering nature, 

or incidental services, which members of 

the architectural and engineering 

professions (and individuals in their 

employ) may logically or justifiably 

perform, including studies, investigations, 

surveying and mapping, tests, 

evaluations, consultations, 

comprehensive planning, program 

management, conceptual designs, plans 

and specifications, value engineering, 

construction phase services, soils 

engineering, drawing reviews, preparation 

of operating and maintenance manuals, 

and other related services. 

§ 542. Congressional declaration of 

policy

The Congress hereby declares it to be 

the policy of the Federal Government to 

publicly announce all requirements for 

architectural and engineering services, 

and to negotiate contracts for architectural 

and engineering services on the basis of 

demonstrated competence and 

qualification for the type of professional 

services required and at fair and 

reasonable prices. 

§ 543. Requests for data on 

architectural and engineering services 

In the procurement of architectural and 

engineering services, the agency head 

shall encourage firms engaged in the 

lawful practice of their profession to 

submit annually a statement of 

qualifications and performance data. The 

agency head, for each proposed project, 
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A - 2 

shall evaluate current statements of 

qualifications and performance data on 

file with the agency, together with those 

that may be submitted by other firms 

regarding the proposed project, and shall 

conduct discussions with no less than 

three firms regarding anticipated concepts 

and the relative utility of alternative 

methods of approach for furnishing the 

required services and then shall select 

therefrom, in order of preference, based 

upon the criteria established and 

published by him, no less than three of 

the firms deemed to be the most highly 

qualified to provide the services required. 

§ 544. Negotiation of contracts for 

architectural and engineering services

(a) Negotiation with highest qualified firm 

The agency head shall negotiate a 

contract with the highest qualified firm for 

architectural and engineering services at 

compensation which the agency head 

determines is fair and reasonable to the 

Government. In making such 

determination, the agency head shall take 

into account the estimated value of the 

services to be rendered, the scope, 

complexity, and professional nature 

thereof. 

(b) Negotiation with second and 

third, etc., most qualified firms 

Should the agency head be unable to 

negotiate a satisfactory contract with the 

firm considered to be the most qualified, 

at a price he determines to be fair and 

reasonable to the Government, 

negotiations with that firm shall be 

formally terminated. The agency head 

shall then undertake negotiations with the 

second most qualified firm. Failing accord 

with the second most qualified firm, the 

agency head should terminate 

negotiations. The agency head should 

then undertake negotiations with the third 

most qualified firm. 

(c) Selection of additional firms in event 

of failure of negotiation with selected firms 

Should the agency head be unable to 

negotiate a satisfactory contract with any 

of the selected firms, he shall select 

additional firms in order of their 

competence and qualification and 

continue negotiations in accordance with 

this section until an agreement is 

reached. 
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B - 1 

APPENDIX B 

USEFUL INTERNET ADDRESSES

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) HOME PAGE: 

http://www.usace.army.mil

HQUSACE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION DIVISION: 

http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwe/

 

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR): 

http://www.arnet.gov/far 

DEFENSE FAR SUPPLEMENT (DFARS): 

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/Vfdfar1.htm

ARMY FAR SUPPLEMENT (AFARS): 

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/other/afars/afartoc.htm

CORPS OF ENGINEERS FAR SUPPLEMENT (EFARS): 

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepr/asp/main/parc.asp Click on “Library”, then 

“EFARS.” 

DEFENSE ACQUISITION DESKBOOK: Comprehensive collection of DoD acquisition 

policies and procedures. 

http://www.deskbook.osd.mil

FEDERAL ACQUISITION JUMP STATION: Links to Federal-wide acquisition sites. 

http://nais.nasa.gov/fedproc/home.html

WHERE IN FEDERAL CONTRACTING: Federal contracting regulations, information, 

newsletters, business opportunities, and small business information. 

http://www.wifcon.com/

USACE PUBLICATIONS: 

http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs

EP 715-1-4, COMPETING FOR ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS WITH THE 

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: 

http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-pamphlets/ep715-1-4/toc.htm 

EP 715-1-7, ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTING: 

http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-pamphlets/ep715-1-7/toc.htm 

FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Click on “Vendors.” 

http://www.fedbizopps.gov
EP 715-1-4 

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CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION: 

http://www.ccr.gov

BUSINESS PARTNER NETWORK (BPN): Single source for vendor data for the Federal 

Government. 

http://www.bpn.gov/

ON-LINE REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS APPLICATION (ORCA): Part 

of BPN. Question 26 is SF 330 Part II. 

http://orca.bpn.gov/

PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (PPIRS): 

http://www.ppirs.gov/

FEDERAL PROCUREMENT DATA SYSTEM – NEW GENERATION: 

https://www.fpds.gov/

STANDARD FORM 330, ARCHITECT-ENGINEER QUALIFICATIONS: 

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/formslibrary.do?formType=SF

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: 

http://www.SBAonline.SBA.gov 

 

DYNAMIC SMALL BUSINESS SEARCH: Part of CCR: 

http://dsbs.sba.gov/dsbs/dsp_dsbs.cfm

USACE SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE: 

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/hqsb/

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS): 

http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html

TRI-SERVICE CADD/GIS CENTER: 

https://tsc.wes.army.mil/

USACE TECH INFO: Regulations, design criteria, design guidance, specifications, etc. 

http://www.hnd.usace.army.mil/techinfo

TRI-SERVICE SOLICITATION NETWORK: 

http://tsn.wes.army.mil

ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT SYSTEM: 

https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/ct/i
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APPENDIX C 

SUGGESTIONS FOR PREPARING STANDARD FORM 330 

GENERAL

The capability of an A-E firm to perform a certain project will be evaluated from its SF 

330. Hence, a firm must prepare this document thoroughly, logically and professionally to 

ensure the best consideration by the A-E evaluation boards. Some general advice: 

* Read the FedBizOpps synopsis carefully. Address all requirements in the synopsis 

thoroughly, concisely and clearly. 

* Submit only for projects that your firm is well qualified to perform. 

* Do not include extraneous material such as a general marketing brochure. A thicker 

submission is not a better submission. Evaluation board members spend the same amount 

of time viewing each submission. Hence, extraneous material will only dilute the review of 

your submission. 

* A cover letter is not necessary. Use Section H of the SF 330 Part I to express your 

firm's commitment to a project. 

* Part I and Parts II should be bound into one document using a plastic spiral fastener 

along the long edge. Tab all documents. 

* Bold print or shading may be used to emphasize important information. Avoid small 

and difficult-to-read fonts. 

* Automated software may be used to prepare a SF 330 provided the general order and 

format of the information are maintained. 

SF 330 PART I – CONTRACT-SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS

A SF 330 Part I is prepared for the entire team. A SF 330 Part I can be adjusted some, 

provided the basic order and format of the information is maintained. Use bulleted phrases, 

charts, graphics and matrices instead of long sentences. The instructions on the SF 330 

Part I are generally self-explanatory. The following additional advice is offered: 

* Section C. List only the offices that will have a key role in the performance of the 

contract, and include a Part II for each key office. 

* Section E. The relevant projects selected to illustrate the qualifications of the key 

personnel do not have to match the projects in Section F. For example, a person may be 

new to a firm, and all of his/her relevant projects are with a previous firm. Make sure all key 
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personnel are registered, licensed or certified, as appropriate. Do not use standard 

resumes. 

* Section F. Present only ten projects unless the announcement says more (or less) 

are allowed or required. Select recent projects; an evaluation board will generally give less 

credit to projects completed more than five years ago. Stress the relevancy of the projects 

to the announced contract. Photographs of completed projects can be inserted in block 24. 

 In block 25, indicate which firms from the proposed team in Section C were involved in the 

example project. 

* Section G. This matrix graphically shows which of the key personnel proposed in 

Section E worked on the example projects in Section F. Evaluation boards certainly do not 

expect that all of the key personnel worked on all the example projects. However, boards 

will generally rank firms higher than demonstrate greater team continuity. 

* Section H. Do not repeat information that was already presented in the previous 

sections. This is the place to address selection criteria that cannot be presented in 

Sections E-G, such as equipment resources, computer capability, and quality management 

approach. Acknowledge and address any negative comments on performance evaluations 

or any "marginal" or "unsatisfactory" performance evaluations. Identify what your firm has 

done to improve performance since the evaluation was completed. 

SF 330 PART II - GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

A SF 330 Part II is required for each designated branch office of the prime firm, each 

joint-venture partner, and each subcontractor shown Section C of Part I. The synopsis will 

instruct whether to submit current Parts II with Part I, or that the Parts II on file in ORCA will 

be used if not submitted. In the latter case, a firm should ensure that the Parts II in ORCA 

for all of their proposed team members are current. 

Part II is prepared on a branch or subsidiary office basis, which aligns with the 

assignment of DUNS Numbers. Hence, all of the information on a Part II, except column 

9.c(1) for total firm personnel, is for the specific branch or subsidiary office. 

The instructions on the SF 330 Part II are generally self-explanatory. The following 

additional advice is offered: 

* Block 7. Indicate the name of the parent firm if the Part II is for a branch office or 

subsidiary firm. 

* Block 9. There is space for 20 disciplines. So select the primary disciplines in an 

office. All remaining employees are totaled and shown under “Other Employees.” Select 

from the disciplines listed on page 5 of the instructions, or insert the titles of other 

disciplines pertinent to the office. Column 9.c(1) is for the total firm (all offices), whereas 
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column 9.c(2) is for the specific branch office. If a firm has only one office, both columns 

will be the same. 

 * Block 10. There is space for 22 experience profile codes. So select experience 

categories that represent the primary capabilities of an office. Firms must make a business 

decision about breaking a project down into various component profile codes or identifying 

a project with a single profile code. Select from the experience categories listed on page 6-

8 of the instructions, or insert other types of experience pertinent to the office.