subject: Selection Process for NAVFAC with Engineering - Architectural Projects [print this page] Selection Process for NAVFAC with Engineering - Architectural Projects
As a contractor with over 20 years of experience who has executed over $200 million dollars of contracting projects with the Federal government and military over the past 20 years, individuals looking to do business with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) are often asking me to talk to them a bit about selection processes.
It's important to understand that selection process of engineering and construction firms with military construction, engineering support or other professional services for the preparation of plans and specifications for military construction projects or for other professional services such as master or preliminary planning and architect-engineer studies, primarily is based upon the professional qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services required, and not on competitive bidding procedures.
That's right, while there is a process, the selections are made using the Brooks Act procedures. In general, NAVFAC attempts to select "the best qualified firm to perform the required services for the instant requirement." So such a firm not be selected for a particular project, it does not mean it will not be selected for similar work in the future.
Its important to understand the considerations NAVFAC uses though when consideration selection.
Perhaps fist and foremost is the determining if firm has the professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services. This is further enhanced by looking to see if the firm has specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required.
Such issues as capacity to accomplish the work in the required time, experience in sustainable design and showing a established quality control program all figure into NAVFAC considerations.
Performance history is also a key consideration. How you are rewarded by the Navy is based on your performance as a able and capable contractor. Showing a history of past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, subcontracting and compliance with performance schedules is a key factor to continuing to do business with the Navy.
In some cases, knowledge of the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project (provided that this criterion leave enough qualified firms to compete for the work) may become a factor based on the nature and size of undertakings and projects. Normally, architect-engineer firms are selected from the region or area in which the project is located. If enough qualified firms are not available in a particular region or area, firms from adjacent or other regions or areas are considered for selection. For very large or highly specialized projects, applications may be considered on a nationwide basis.
More and more these days, the Navy is seeking a demonstrated success in prescribing the use of recovered materials and achieving waste reduction and energy efficiency in design. So while in the past, these may not have been major factors, today they are first and foremost in consideration of architectural and engineering undertakings.
If you intend to do business with NAVFAC for architectural and engineering undertakings, I would encourage you to learn more by going to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Web Site www.navfac.navy.mil.
