A/E Solicitation Process
This section provides consultants with information on important sites and the process FHWA utilizes to award A/E contracts. During the solicitation, selection, and award of new contracts the point of contact is the Acquisitions staff. The name, number, and e-mail address of the individual(s) will be referenced in the synopsis.
Notice to Prospective Offerors:
Marketing your firms in advance of, during, or after our solicitation and award process does not give any form of advantage for selection of IDIQ or Task Order Awards. As a Federal office we conduct A/E acquisitions in accordance with the Federal Acquisitions Regulation 36.6, Transportation Acquisition Regulation 1236.6 and Transportation Acquisition Manual 1236.6, there are strict processes and guidelines which we must follow for solicitation, selection and award of A/E contracts. Therefore, we generally discourage marketing meetings.
Important Links:
- FedBizOpps
This link is to the mandated "Government Point of Entry" for soliciting contracts. - Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
This link is to the regulatory document that defines the baseline and guidance for Acquisitions. Subpart 36.6 provides the basis of planning, soliciting, selecting, awarding , and managing the A/E contracts. - Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR)
This link is to the Department of Transportation supplements to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Solicitation Process
Synopsis: One to two years before the ending date with all options of an existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQC) the Acquisitions staff publishes the synopsis of the requirement on the FedBizOpps page. The synopsis provides the prospective consultants with enough information to provide a proposal, such as a description of the types of services required, the type of IDIQ anticipated (Firm Fixed Price, Labor Hour, Cost Plus, or a combination), the number of contracts anticipated for award, the contract maximum and minimum, qualification requirements, the technical evaluation criteria, and information required to be submitted for evaluation. Contractors submitting proposals in response to our A/E solicitations may access the Architect-Engineer Qualifications form (SF-330) at the General Service Administration (GSA) Website. After the response date listed in the Request for Proposal, the process then moves to the Selection phase.
Selection of Firms: Contractor's technical proposals are evaluated using the evaluation criteria listed in the synopsis. One of two methods is used to select firms for contract award. One method is for an evaluation board to develop a short list of the most highly qualified firms and invite them to give oral presentations, followed by a second evaluation and development of a final selection list. The second method does not involve oral presentations, rather, the evaluation board completes its' evaluations of the SF330's and develops the final selection list. The evaluation board provides the selection list of the most highly qualified firms to the selection authority. After the selection list is provided to the selection authority, the process moves to the Award phase.
Award Phase: The synopsis states the number of contracts anticipated for award. From the selection list, the number of top firms equal to the number of anticipated contracts are asked to provide fee proposals including overhead and profit rates, list of hourly rates for each professional discipline under the contract, and annual escalation rates for the hourly rates. These are evaluated, and, if necessary, negotiations are held. The most current Independent Audit Report may also be requested, or the Government may conduct an audit of the firm to verify the proposed fee rates. Should the Government and firm not come to an agreement, the next highest rated firm on the list will be contacted.