36.602-1 Selection criteria
Source: FAR 36.602-1 on acquisition.gov
Agencies must use clearly defined, merit-based criteria to select architect-engineer contractors, ensuring transparency and fairness in the evaluation process.
Overview
FAR 36.602-1 outlines the mandatory selection criteria agencies must use when evaluating potential contractors for architect-engineer (A-E) services. The regulation ensures a fair, transparent, and competency-based selection process by specifying the factors that must be considered, such as professional qualifications, specialized experience, capacity, past performance, geographic location, and other relevant criteria. It also provides guidance on the use of design competitions for unique or prestigious projects and requires agencies to hold discussions with at least three of the most qualified firms, focusing on technical concepts and sustainability considerations.
Key Rules
- Evaluation Criteria
- Agencies must assess contractors based on professional qualifications, specialized experience, capacity, past performance, location, and other relevant factors.
- Design Competition
- Design competitions may be used for unique or prestigious projects if approved by the agency head, provided there is sufficient time and the competition will benefit the project.
- Discussions with Qualified Firms
- Agencies must hold discussions with at least three top firms, addressing technical approaches, sustainability, and use of recovered materials.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Ensure all required criteria are evaluated, obtain approvals for design competitions, and facilitate discussions with qualified firms.
- Contractors: Demonstrate qualifications, experience, capacity, and past performance; participate in discussions and provide information on sustainability practices.
- Agencies: Oversee fair application of criteria, approve design competitions, and document the selection process.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures that A-E contracts are awarded based on merit and capability, not just price. Contractors must be prepared to document their qualifications and past performance. Agencies must maintain transparency and fairness, especially when using design competitions or sustainability criteria. Common pitfalls include inadequate documentation of evaluation criteria or failing to hold required discussions.
(a) Agencies shall evaluate each potential contractor in terms of its-
(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.
(b) When the use of design competition is approved by the agency head or a designee, agencies may evaluate firms on the basis of their conceptual design of the project. Design competition may be used when-
(1) Unique situations exist involving prestige projects, such as the design of memorials and structures of unusual national significance;
(2) Sufficient time is available for the production and evaluation of conceptual designs; and
(3) The design competition, with its costs, will substantially benefit the project.
(c) Hold discussions with at least three of the most highly qualified firms regarding concepts, the relative utility of alternative methods and feasible ways to prescribe the use of recovered materials and achieve waste reduction and energy-efficiency in facility design (see part 23).