GSA A/E SHORT SELECTION PROCESS FOR CONUS/OCONUS

Description 

The purpose of this announcement is to request new Architect / Engineer (A/E) qualification information for the General Services Administration / Public Buildings Service (GSA/PBS) A/E short selection for Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS). 

WHAT IS THE SHORT SELECTION PROCESS?

The short selection process utilizes the procedures set forth in Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subsection 36.202-4 for Architect/Engineer (A/E) projects with an estimated total fee less than the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $350,000; see RFO FAR Part 2.101). The A/E's professional qualifications, the firm's geographic proximity, knowledge of the local area as identified on the A/E's SF330, and supplemental information will be used for the first preliminary screening of firms. For each proposed project, GSA will conduct discussions with at least three (3) firms to consider anticipated concepts and compare alternative methods for furnishing services. Additional information may be requested during discussions if necessary to facilitate the final ranking of firms (i.e.: past performance references, specialized experience, capacity, schedule, etc.). Upon conclusion of discussions, the top three firms will be ranked, and a price proposal will be requested from the highest ranked firm. If a fair and reasonable price cannot be negotiated with the highest ranked firm, a request for a price proposal will be sent to the second ranked firm, and so on until an award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. All acquisitions utilizing the GSA A/E short selection list (database) shall be set-aside for small business concerns unless requirements cannot be met by a small business and the Contracting Officer (CO) obtains a proper waiver.

WHAT IS THE SHORT SELECTION PROCESS USED FOR? 

GSA will use the short selection list to award A/E contracts, valued at less than the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $350,000) in CONUS/OCONUS (NOT Estimated Cost of Construction at Award (ECCA). 

The firm must have NAICS code 541310 - Architectural Services, with a small business size standard of $12.5 million and/or 541330 - Engineering Services, with a small business size standard of $25.5 million. The firm must clearly notate which states/territories they have active production offices and which states they are licensed by November 1, 2026. 

Most work will be executed for repair and alteration projects within existing Federal Buildings and U.S. Courthouses. The estimated cost of construction at award (ECCA) for a majority of the project requirements could range from, but are not limited to, above micro-purchase threshold for construction (currently $2,000) to annual prospectus threshold (currently $3.961M) or higher. 

Fees for design services cannot exceed 6% of the ECCA. For more information about the 6% fee limitation, see FAR 15.404-9(c)(4)(ii) (GSA Class Deviation RFO-2025-15) and 41 U.S.C. 3905(b)(3). 

GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of approximately 360 million rentable square feet, including preserving more than 500 historic properties nationwide. A broad range of services potentially requested under this short list may include, but are not limited to the following:
 

1. Core Project Life Cycle Services - These services cover the entire project lifecycle, from initial concept to post-construction closeout.

Planning and Pre-Design

• Feasibility, pre-design, and project development studies
• Master planning
• Cost estimating
• Real estate market analysis

Assessment and Investigation

• Existing conditions surveys, and field investigation
• Building condition survey evaluation reports (exterior and interior)
• Environmental investigation, reviews, inventories, and audits
• Energy audits and studies

Design and Documentation

• Concept design, design development, and construction document development (both architectural and engineering)
• Interior design, including furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE)
• Building standard documents

Construction Support and Closeout

• Constructability review and evaluation
• Submittal and shop drawing review
• Management and inspection (M&I) services during construction and construction inspection
• Building and system commissioning
• Post construction contract Services (PCCS); Record and close-out documents

2. Specialized Technical & System Design - Work requested often involves the assessment, repair, and upgrade of existing complex building systems.

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP)

• Full MEP services, including design of HVAC systems, electrical systems, and lighting
• Assessment and design for mechanical components (e.g., pumps, fans, air handlers, water distribution systems) and air distribution
• Design of water and waste water systems, including performance of sanitary inspections
• Temperature control assessment and design and BAS system assessment and integration

Building Structure and Envelope

• Structural evaluation and design
• Façade evaluation and remediation design
• Water infiltration investigation and mitigation design safety, security, and compliance
• Fire and life safety evaluation and design
• Rehabs to improve energy efficiency and safety concerns
• Seismic & blast protection and vertical transportation
• Code compliance

3. A/E Disciplines and Expertise - A/E firms will need staff with licensed and/or specialized expertise. The following are typical disciplines and categories utilized for GSA projects. Firms do not need to have all of them, but should include the most relevant disciplines for their firm: 

Core Architectural and Engineering Disciplines

• Architecture and anterior architecture
• Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, structural & civil engineering, and plumbing
• Historic architecture/preservation

Specialized Expertise

• A qualified/licensed fire protection engineer (NCEES)* 
• Security
• Space planning & workplace
• Cost estimating and scheduling
• Environmental services
• Building automation
• Scifs

Modernization and Quality Control

• Building information modeling (BIM)
• Quality control review and report writing

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

To be considered for future Architect-Engineer (A/E) projects, your firm must submit a package demonstrating the applicability and comparability of its portfolio to the types of services outlined above. 

Please submit your complete package as a single PDF document. This file, which should be no larger than 30MB and no more than thirty (30) pages, must contain all submittal documents. Submit your PDF file as an attachment via the online “GSA A/E Short Selection Submission Form” (Link provided below). Note: Hardcopy submissions received by mail will not be filed or considered. 

The following information shall be submitted as part of the thirty (30) page limit (LISTED IN REQUIRED ORDER): 

DO NOT SUBMIT ANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

1. A cover letter. The letter should outline the work your firm specializes in and include a brief description of your firm's capabilities specifically related to the project examples stated above. 

2. SAM Entity Registration Print Out - 1st and 2nd page only to show active registration in System for Award Management (SAM). Registration is required for award of federal contracts and you must have an active registration in SAM to be considered for project work. Contractors may register in SAM free of charge at https://sam.gov/ under the header labeled Register Your Entity or Get a Unique Entity ID. 

3. Standard Form (SF) 330 - Architect-Engineer Qualifications. DO NOT include subconsultants. Please include photos of accomplished work.

4. A separate list of the licensed (or will be licensed by November 1, 2026) professionals and the State/territories of their licensing.

Note:

This A/E short selection process is for Primes only; consultants are NOT part of this selection process. However, submitted project experience may reference work executed with consultants. Firms should highlight their specific role and explain the work they performed alongside any consultants. Consultants will be requested by project managers during project development. Submittals that don't contain the required documentation will be returned for revision and/or non selection. 

Organizing your submittal package in the same order enumerated above will facilitate a more efficient review process. 

Questions related to this announcement shall be referred to aeshortselection@gsa.gov 

The following information should be easily found in your SF330 Submission:

1. Relevant Project Experience, Demonstrated Comparability and Creative Problem Solving 

Offerors must provide a minimum of three (3) but no more than five (5) comparable project examples that demonstrate a wide range of repair and alterations work similar in budgets and complexities to those anticipated for contracts. An additional maximum of ten (10) relevant projects completed in the last ten (10) years can be submitted in list form. Please include relevant project photographs.

A comparable project is defined as an “A/E engagement involving the repair, alteration, or renovation of existing, occupied facilities, with a focus on both architectural and engineering solutions. Specifically, the project should demonstrate specialized experience in:

• Building system upgrades (e.g., MEP services or mechanical pump replacement)
• Historic preservation (especially classical building architecture)
• Workplace design

Furthermore, a comparable project's Estimated Cost of Construction at Award (ECCA) should generally range from $50,000 to an annual prospectus threshold (currently $3.961M).

• Breadth of Scope: Teams must demonstrate proficiency in seamlessly incorporating architecture and engineering to solve both complex and routine design issues within existing buildings.
• Specialized Expertise: Highlight specialized experience in the areas most critical to the GSA/PBS mission. This must include work in:
  • Occupied buildings
  • Historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse (special consideration will be given to firms demonstrating experience with classical building architecture and design)
  • Building system upgrades (e.g., MEP services, mechanical pump replacement, HVAC systems, electrical systems, and building controls).
  • Workplace design strategies, interior office redesign, and building standard documents

• Creative Problem Solving: Firms must demonstrate their ability to be creative and "think outside the box" when developing design solutions, especially given the constraints and challenges of government buildings and existing customer agencies while successfully navigating constraints such as schedule and budget.

2. Team Capacity, Management, and Quality Control

The team’s ability to manage projects efficiently, flexibly, and collaboratively is essential for handling the unpredictable nature of GSA task orders.

• Contract Management and Flexibility: Demonstrate the ability to staff and manage contracts on an as-needed basis, accounting for the unpredictable issuance of work in terms of number, size, importance, and urgency.
• Consultant and Customer Agency Management: The A/E short selection process is for the Architecture or Engineering Prime only, but the firm must demonstrate its ability to manage its entire team. Firms must demonstrate proven success in establishing good relationships with and effectively managing future sub-consultants, as well as managing scope and communication while working with difficult customer agencies. 
• Quality Assurance: Team must demonstrate formalized processes for quality control (QC) and a commitment to QC standards while consistently designing within the project’s budget and schedule limitations.

3. Key Personnel Education and Qualifications

Key Personnel should possess the education, professional qualifications, and specific project experience that provides the best opportunity for the successful completion under this contract.

• Licensing: Provide a separate list of states in which the firm is licensed or will be licensed by November 1, 2026.
• Specialized Roles: Key Personnel must demonstrate expertise in disciplines relevant to the services outlined above, such as a Qualified Fire Protection Engineer1, historic preservation, etc.

1A Qualified Fire Protection Engineer is an individual with deep knowledge of fire physics and chemistry, meeting one of the following criteria: (a) An engineer with an undergraduate or graduate degree in fire protection/safety engineering, plus a minimum of four (4) years of relevant work experience; (b) A registered Professional Engineer (P.E. or similar) in Fire Protection Engineering; or (c) A P.E. in a related engineering discipline who is a Professional Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and has passed the NCEES fire protection exam.

4. Past Performance

Offerors should include CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) if they have past government experience as the prime. No more than three (3) most recent relevant records. The CPARS information does not count against the thirty (30) page limit. 

• Impact: If a firm does not have past government experience, they will not be negatively impacted during the selection process.

Please register to attend the industry outreach and Q&A meeting on October 16 at 9am PDT or October 22 at 3pm EDT by completing the “A/E Short Selection Process Registration Form CONUS/OCONUS” (Link provided below). Invites will be sent out to all registered attendees approximately one week in advance.

Relavant Links

GSA A/E Short Selection Process for CONUS/OCONUS - Registration Form

https://forms.gle/8kd1qZfZeVMag3HG9

GSA A/E Short Selection Process for CONUS/OCONUS - Q&A

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sGIs_KEnEvP99mxeB2VKBS64IVoUixEZSOLsczc_2As/edit?usp=sharing

GSA A/E Short Selection Process for CONUS/OCONUS - Submission Form

https://forms.gle/7Rh3FkMkubweUHveA