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A/E (architect-engineer) services

Professional design, engineering, surveying and construction-phase services. Federal agencies select A/E firms on qualifications under the Brooks Act, not on price. More →

AFCEC

Air Force Civil Engineer Center, which manages Air Force military construction and runs large multiple-award construction vehicles alongside base-level installation contracting offices.

Best value tradeoff

A source selection method in which the government may pay more than the lowest price for a proposal it judges technically superior. Common on design-build and larger construction awards.

Brooks Act

The law (implemented at FAR 36.6) requiring qualifications-based selection of A/E firms: rank on qualifications first, then negotiate a fair price with the top-ranked firm.

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)

A delivery method in which a construction manager joins during design, commits to a guaranteed maximum price, and then builds the project. Used increasingly by USACE and GSA PBS on complex projects.

Design-bid-build

The traditional delivery method: the government completes the design, then competes the construction separately.

Design-build

A delivery method in which one contract covers both design and construction. Federal design-build often uses a two-phase selection (see two-phase design-build).

DoW

Department of War, the Cabinet department responsible for the U.S. armed forces. It buys military construction and facility repair through USACE, NAVFAC, AFCEC and installation contracting offices.

FAR Part 36

The part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation that governs construction and A/E contracting, including bonds, government estimates, and the Brooks Act. More →

FSRM

Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization — the DoW budget line for repairing and upgrading existing facilities, as distinct from new military construction.

GSA PBS

The General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service, which owns and leases federal civilian space and buys construction, repair and alteration work on federal buildings.

HUBZone

Historically Underutilized Business Zone. Certified HUBZone firms can compete for HUBZone set-asides and receive a price evaluation preference in full and open competitions. More →

IDIQ

Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. The government awards the contract first and places task orders against it as work arises, up to a ceiling.

Industry day

A government-hosted briefing on an upcoming requirement, often paired with a sources sought notice. A chance to meet the contracting team and potential teaming partners.

Limitations on subcontracting

On set-aside contracts, the prime may not pay more than 85 percent (general construction) or 75 percent (specialty trade) of the amount paid by the government to firms that are not similarly situated. Materials are excluded.

MACC

Multiple Award Construction Contract — the NAVFAC and Air Force term for a multiple-award IDIQ for construction.

MATOC

Multiple Award Task Order Contract — the USACE term for a multiple-award IDIQ. Only the firms awarded seats can compete for its task orders.

MILCON

Military construction — new DoW facilities funded through the military construction appropriation, typically delivered by USACE, NAVFAC or AFCEC.

Miller Act

The law requiring performance and payment bonds on federal construction contracts above a set dollar threshold.

NAICS code

The industry code on a solicitation. It determines the size standard used to decide whether an offeror is small, and whether a WOSB set-aside is allowed. More →

NAVFAC

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, which delivers Navy and Marine Corps construction through regional commands.

Ordering period

The window during which the government may place task orders on an IDIQ. When it ends, the vehicle is usually recompeted — and its seats open again. More →

P-100

GSA’s Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service — the design and construction criteria GSA PBS projects are judged against. More →

PG-18

The VA series of design and construction standards for veterans’ health care and cemetery facilities. More →

Pre-solicitation notice

A notice that a solicitation is coming, usually with the NAICS code, set-aside, place of performance and expected release date.

Prospectus

The document GSA submits to Congress for major construction, alteration and lease projects above a statutory threshold. Approval signals work that will be solicited later.

Recompete

A new competition to replace an expiring contract or IDIQ. For multiple-award vehicles, the recompete decides who can bid on the next several years of task orders. More →

RFI

Request for information. Market research asking industry for input on a draft requirement, approach or schedule. Not a request for proposals.

Rule of two

The requirement to set an acquisition aside when at least two capable small businesses (or two firms in a given program) are expected to offer at fair market prices. More →

SATOC

Single Award Task Order Contract — an IDIQ awarded to one firm.

SDVOSB

Service-disabled veteran-owned small business. SBA-certified SDVOSBs can compete for SDVOSB set-asides government-wide and get first consideration at VA. More →

SF 330

The Architect-Engineer Qualifications form A/E firms submit to be considered for federal selection.

Sources sought notice

Market research asking which firms can perform a requirement and what their size and socioeconomic status is. The responses drive the set-aside decision. More →

Task order

An order placed under an IDIQ for a specific project. Only the IDIQ’s seat holders can compete.

Tenant improvement (TI)

Build-out of leased space for a tenant. On a GSA lease, the building owner typically buys the TI work, not the government. More →

Two-phase design-build

The FAR 36.3 selection method for design-build: phase one shortlists on qualifications, phase two asks the shortlisted firms for technical and price proposals.

UFC and UFGS

Unified Facilities Criteria and Unified Facilities Guide Specifications — the DoW design criteria and construction specifications. More →

USACE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which delivers Army and Air Force military construction through its districts, as well as civil works.

VA Vets First

The VA program that requires setting work aside for SDVOSBs, then veteran-owned small businesses, before other small business programs. More →

WOSB

Women-owned small business. WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides are allowed only in NAICS codes where SBA has found women-owned firms underrepresented. More →

For the standards themselves — UFC, UFGS, P-100, PG-18, FAR Part 36 — see the reference library.