Construction Management Association of America

BACKGROUND

SF254, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire, and SF255, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Projects, are largely unchanged since their introduction in 1975. Since then, the A-E industry has changed substantially and the requirements of Federal agencies have evolved considerably. In response to these changes, SF330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications, was developed to replace SFs 254 and 255.

An interagency ad hoc committee developed the SF330. The form was based on the results of a joint Federal-industry survey of SFs 254 and 255 conducted by the Standing Committee on Procurement and Contracting of the Federal Facilities Council (FCC) in 1995 and published in 1996 as FCC Report Number 130, entitled “Survey on the Use of Standard Forms 254 and 255 for Architect-Engineer Qualifications.” The survey’s purpose was to evaluate the use of the forms, and to identify possible improvements that would enable the forms to better serve the needs of Federal agencies and the A-E industry. The report stated that Federal agencies and A-E industry overwhelmingly support a structure format for submitting A-E qualifications, because the structured format saves time and effort and allows efficient and consistent evaluations. It also recommended many specific changes to the forms to enhance their effectiveness and simplify their use.

The objectives of the SF330 are as follows:

§ Merge the SFs 254 and 255 into a single steamlined form.

§ Expand essential information about qualifications and experience.

§ Reflect current architect-engineer disciplines, experience types and technology.

§ Eliminate duplicate information.

§ Eliminate information of marginal value.

§ Facilitate electronic usage.

The draft of the SF330 was presented for public comment in the Federal Register on October 19, 2001. Nearly 1,200 individual comments were received from 94 industry representatives and 16 government agencies. The interagency ad-hoc committee that developed the draft form evaluated the public comments and developed the firnal form in response to the many comments.

The SF330 reflects current A-E practices and provides the essential information agencies need for the selection of A-E firms in a streamlined format. The SF330 is a two-part form. Part I, Contract-Specific Qualifications, replaces the SF255. Part II, General Qualifications, replaces the SF254. The SF254 is now essentially used as an appendix to the SF255 and is rarely used alone. Hence, the SF330 was designed as a single two-part form. Similar to the SF254, the SF330 Part II can still be separately submitted to agencies to be maintained in their A-E qualification data files.

Information provided by COFPAES (www.cofpaes.com) and the Federal Facilities Council (www.nationalacademies.org/ffc)