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Each year the federal government awards over one billion dollars in design contracts, for everything from courthouses to embassies to
parking structures to warehouses. The federal facilities that architects design symbolize the “dignity, enterprise, vigor and stability of the American Government” (GSA Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture). Working for the federal government is an excellent opportunity for both large and small architectural firms to raise their profile and build a lasting design portfolio.

However, the process of pursuing and winning federal contracts can be daunting, especially to smaller firms. And the recent adoption of a new form that architects and engineers use to obtain government work has posed obstacles for many firms.

The AIA Guide to Federal Procurement offers practical, up-to-the-minute information on getting into the federal procurement arena. It is intended as a guide for firms which have never performed federal work and those that are transitioning to the new submission format.

The Guide provides a line-by-line summary of the new Standard Form (SF) 330, as well as a comparison between the new form and the former SFs 254/255 submission materials that A/E firms have used for years.

This Guide also provides information on how the government selects A/E firms, how the qualifications-based selection process works, how to register as a vendor with the federal government, and how to search for job opportunities within the federal government.

This guide was updated in 2010 with insights and recommendations from a broad cross-section of AIA members and member firms.

If you have any questions or comments about the guide or its contents, please contact the AIA at govaffs@aia.org.

Next: History of Federal Design Procurement

• History of Federal Design Procurement

• How the Federal Government Selects A/E Firms

• The QBS Process

• Getting Started – Vendor Registration

• Searching for Job Opportunities

• The Standard Form 330

• SF 330, Part I, A-D

• SF 330, Part I, E

• SF 330, Part I, F

• SF 330, Part I, G

• SF 330, Part I, H-I

• SF 330, Part II

• Download the entire guide here



Contact

For general inquiries, contact:
Jessica Salmoiraghi | Director, Federal Regulatory Relations
Email | jessicasalmoiraghi@aia.org
Phone | (202) 626-7398
Twitter | @aialobbyist