A-E Selection Under FAR 36.602-1: What to Ask the Prime GC
When trade subcontractors bid on federal construction projects, the design documents dictate everything from partition layouts to structural backing and ceiling suspension requirements. Federal procurement evaluates architect-engineer firms through a structured, qualification-based evaluation process rather than a standard low-bid competition. Knowing how the design team was evaluated under federal procurement standards helps trade estimators uncover project priorities early. Reviewing these standards under FAR 36.602-1 allows subcontractors to ask the right questions of the prime general contractor before locking in their bid figures.
Ask About the Design Team's Specialized Experience and Technical Competence
Under federal selection rules, agencies evaluate potential architect-engineer contractors on their professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance, as well as specialized experience and technical competence in the required type of work. In particular, this evaluation reviews experience in:
- Energy conservation;
- Pollution prevention;
- Waste reduction; and
- The use of recovered materials.
When pricing framing, drywall, or interior assemblies, ask the prime GC whether the designer's mandate placed heavy emphasis on waste reduction or recovered materials. If the architect was selected based on specific technical approaches to material recovery, the specifications may enforce strict submittal documentation for recycled content or jobsite scrap sorting. Identifying these targets early allows estimators to incorporate proper allowances into their bid exclusions and clarifications.
Inquire About Designer Capacity and Project Timelines
Another fundamental criterion evaluated by the agency is the firm's capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. Federal agencies review whether the architectural and engineering staff can meet project milestones without causing delays in document delivery or construction phase support.
Ask the GC how the agency evaluated the designer's workload and schedule capacity. Specifically, ask what turnaround times are expected for requests for information and submittal reviews during construction. If a design firm is operating near capacity, delays in responding to framing submittals or ceiling shop drawings can disrupt site progress and crew momentum.
Clarify Past Performance Benchmarks for Cost Control and Quality
Federal selection panels review past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry. The evaluation focuses directly on three performance indicators:
- Cost control;
- Quality of work; and
- Compliance with performance schedules.
Trade contractors should ask the prime GC if the design team has extensive past performance on similar agency facilities. A design team with a strong record of cost control and quality work typically produces tighter, well-coordinated drawings. Conversely, if the GC notes that the team has limited past performance with the specific agency branch, subcontractors should anticipate potential plan discrepancies and confirm how design clarifications will be handled.
Determine How Location and Local Project Knowledge Were Evaluated
Federal rules consider the firm's location in the general geographical area of the project and its knowledge of the locality of the project. However, federal rules require that applying this geographic criterion must leave an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project. Agencies also look at acceptability under other appropriate evaluation criteria established for the solicitation.
Ask the prime GC whether the lead design firm is local or based out of another region. Out-of-region design teams may not be as familiar with local labor conditions, regional material logistics, or site-specific environmental factors. Clarifying whether the firm was evaluated primarily on national prestige or local familiarity gives your estimating team insight into how practical the design details will be in the field.
Ask About Concept Discussions Held With the Top Three Firms
Before final selection, the selection process requires agencies to hold discussions with at least three of the most highly qualified firms. Under FAR 36.602-1, these discussions address 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, referencing part 23.
Ask the prime GC what alternative methods or concept alternatives were reviewed during these discussions. Understanding which alternative building methods were considered can shed light on why certain assemblies were chosen over standard commercial systems, especially when coordinating trade scopes on projects that utilize two-phase design-build procedures or early contractor involvement.
Identify If the Project Involves an Approved Conceptual Design Competition
While most selections follow standard qualification criteria, an agency may evaluate firms on the basis of their conceptual design of the project when a design competition is approved by the agency head or a designee. Under federal rules, design competitions are permitted only when:
- Unique situations exist involving prestige projects, such as the design of memorials and structures of unusual national significance;
- Sufficient time is available for the production and evaluation of conceptual designs; and
- The design competition, with its costs, will substantially benefit the project.
Ask the prime contractor if the facility was procured through an approved design competition. Prestige structures and memorials often feature non-standard geometries, complex architectural finishes, and bespoke details that require specialty installation methods and extended mobilization schedules.
Sources
Published October 31, 2026. No affiliate links on this page. Facts come from the sources linked above; check them for updates.