Qualifications-Based Selection

Federal Engineering Contracts

Architecture-engineering (A-E) services are one of the most distinctive sectors in federal contracting. Governed by the Brooks Act, A-E contracts are awarded based on qualifications rather than price competition, creating opportunities for firms that invest in technical excellence and past performance.

100M+ government records · 110+ gov/news sources · Synced from live federal sources

$25B+

Annual A-E Spending

QBS

Brooks Act Selection

SF 330

Standard Qualification Form

The Brooks Act & Qualifications-Based Selection

The Brooks Act (40 U.S.C. 1101-1104) requires federal agencies to select architecture-engineering firms based on demonstrated competence and qualifications, rather than price competition. This unique procurement method, known as Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS), applies to all A-E services including design, engineering studies, surveying, mapping, and related professional services defined under FAR Part 36.6.

Under QBS, agencies evaluate firms using Standard Form 330 (Architect-Engineer Qualifications), which documents the firm's experience, key personnel, past performance, and technical approach. A selection board ranks firms based on published evaluation criteria, then negotiates a fair and reasonable price with the highest-ranked firm. If negotiations fail, the agency proceeds to the next-ranked firm.

This system rewards firms that maintain deep technical expertise, invest in professional development, and build strong past performance records. For engineering firms new to federal work, teaming with experienced prime contractors on SF 330 submittals is the most common path to building the federal qualifications needed for future prime awards.

Key Agencies for Engineering Contracts

USACE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The largest federal buyer of A-E services. USACE districts award design contracts for military construction, civil works (dams, levees, navigation), environmental engineering, and installation master planning. District-level IDIQ A-E contracts are the primary vehicle, supplemented by large program-specific design contracts.

NASA

Contracts for aerospace engineering, launch facility design, cleanroom construction, research laboratory engineering, and specialized test facility design across its 10 field centers. NASA engineering contracts span structural, mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering disciplines, often requiring experience with one-of-a-kind facilities.

DOE

Department of Energy

National laboratory engineering, nuclear facility design, clean energy infrastructure, and environmental engineering for legacy site cleanup. DOE engineering contracts often involve nuclear safety requirements, radiological design, and specialized containment systems that require TS/SCI or Q-clearance access.

NAV

Naval Facilities Engineering (NAVFAC)

Manages engineering and construction for the Navy and Marine Corps. Awards A-E contracts for waterfront facilities, piers, dry docks, aircraft hangars, family housing, and utility infrastructure across installations worldwide. NAVFAC A-E contracts are organized by geographic regions and functional specialties.

Types of Federal Engineering Services

Design Engineering

Full architectural and engineering design services from concept through construction documents. Includes civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design for federal buildings, military installations, and infrastructure projects. Design-build delivery is increasingly common, combining design and construction under a single contract.

Engineering Studies & Analysis

Feasibility studies, condition assessments, seismic evaluations, energy audits, and technical analysis supporting federal decision-making. These services help agencies plan capital investments, prioritize maintenance, and comply with sustainability mandates. Studies typically lead to follow-on design and construction contracts.

Construction Management

Construction oversight, quality assurance, schedule management, cost engineering, and commissioning services for federal construction projects. Construction management roles include resident engineer support, field inspection, submittal review, and claims analysis. These services complement but are distinct from A-E design services.

Key NAICS Codes for Engineering

541330

Engineering Services

Civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering design and consulting.

541310

Architectural Services

Building design, master planning, interior design, and historic preservation for federal facilities.

541370

Surveying & Mapping

Land surveying, GIS mapping, photogrammetry, and geospatial services for federal projects.

541340

Drafting Services

CAD drafting, BIM modeling, technical illustration, and design documentation services.

541360

Geophysical Surveying

Geotechnical investigations, subsurface exploration, and geological analysis for construction.

541350

Building Inspection

Building inspections, materials testing, structural assessments, and code compliance reviews.

Browse all NAICS codes →

Winning with SF 330 Submittals

The Standard Form 330 is the cornerstone of A-E procurement. Part I presents your firm's qualifications for a specific project, while Part II provides a general firm profile that can be updated annually. Successful SF 330 submittals require meticulous attention to evaluation criteria, relevant project examples, and key personnel qualifications.

Selection boards evaluate SF 330s against published criteria typically weighted in this order: professional qualifications of proposed personnel, specialized experience on similar projects, past performance, capacity to accomplish the work, location and knowledge of the locality, and reputation. Tailoring every section to demonstrate how your firm specifically addresses each criterion is essential.

Joint ventures and teaming arrangements are common in federal A-E work. Small businesses can leverage mentor-protege programs to team with large established firms, gaining access to past performance credentials and project experience. Many USACE and NAVFAC A-E contracts include dedicated small business set-aside pools.

Market Intelligence — Engineering

Active Records

9,683

Total Award Value

$761,830,778

Average Value

$91,423

Record Types

Records by Type

Job Listings8,337Contracts1,324Grants11Regulations10Bills1

Top Contractors in Engineering

#	Contractor	Awards	Total Value
1	HDR ENGINEERING INC	43	Not specified
2	MCCLURE ENGINEERING CO	32	Not specified
3	WILSON & COMPANY INC ENGINEERS &	22	Not specified
4	CAROLLO ENGINEERS INC	11	Not specified
5	JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC	9	Not specified
6	U S ENGINEERING COMPANY	5	Not specified
7	UHL ENGINEERING INC	4	Not specified
8	US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS	3	Not specified
9	ENGINEERED FIRE PROTECTION INC	2	Not specified
10	Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.	2	Not specified

1.HDR ENGINEERING INC

Not specified

2.MCCLURE ENGINEERING CO

Not specified

3.WILSON & COMPANY INC ENGINEERS &

Not specified

4.CAROLLO ENGINEERS INC

Not specified

5.JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC

Not specified

6.U S ENGINEERING COMPANY

Not specified

7.UHL ENGINEERING INC

Not specified

8.US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Not specified

9.ENGINEERED FIRE PROTECTION INC

Not specified

10.Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.

Not specified

Competitive Position

FragmentedOpen market — no single contractor dominates

Good conditions for new entrants — 10+ active vendors

Set-Aside Distribution

Full and Open Competition71%Small Business Set-Aside12.7%Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business8.1%NONE4.8%8(a) Business Development2.1%Small Business Set-Aside0.6%8(a) Business Development0.3%ISBEE0.2%Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business0.1%Veteran-Owned Small Business0.1%