FAR 36.702—Forms for use in contracting for architect-engineer services.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 36.702 tells contracting officers which standard forms must be used when buying architect-engineer (A-E) services and how firms’ qualifications are to be collected and evaluated before award. It covers two main topics: the required use of Standard Form 252, Architect-Engineer Contract, for fixed-price A-E contracts performed in the United States or its outlying areas, and the required use of Standard Form 330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications, to evaluate A-E firms before award. It also distinguishes between SF 330 Part I, which is used to gather contract-specific qualifications for a particular procurement, and SF 330 Part II, which is used to gather a firm’s general professional qualifications. In practice, this section ensures agencies use a consistent contract form and a standardized qualifications package for A-E source selection, which supports fair comparison of firms and better documentation of responsibility and capability. It matters because A-E acquisitions are governed by specialized procedures, and using the wrong form or failing to collect the right qualification information can undermine the procurement record and create compliance risk.
Key Rules
Use SF 252 for fixed-price A-E awards
Contracting officers must use Standard Form 252, Architect-Engineer Contract, when awarding fixed-price architect-engineer contracts for performance in the United States or its outlying areas. This is a mandatory form requirement for the covered geographic scope and contract type.
Use SF 330 to evaluate firms
Standard Form 330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications, must be used to evaluate architect-engineer firms before award. The form is the prescribed tool for collecting and reviewing qualifications information in A-E procurements.
Part I for contract-specific qualifications
SF 330 Part I is used to obtain information about a firm’s qualifications for a specific contract when the expected contract amount exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold. This part focuses on the firm’s ability to perform the particular requirement.
Part I may be used below the threshold
When the expected contract amount is at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, the contracting officer may still use SF 330 Part I if doing so is appropriate. The rule gives discretion, not a mandate, for smaller A-E acquisitions.
Part II for general qualifications
SF 330 Part II is used to collect a firm’s general professional qualifications. This supports a broader understanding of the firm’s capabilities, experience, and professional standing beyond a single project.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Must use SF 252 for covered fixed-price A-E contracts performed in the United States or its outlying areas. Must use SF 330 to evaluate firms before award, decide whether SF 330 Part I is appropriate for procurements at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, and ensure Part II is used to obtain general qualifications information.
Architect-Engineer Firm
Must complete and submit SF 330 information when requested, providing accurate contract-specific qualifications in Part I and general professional qualifications in Part II so the contracting officer can evaluate the firm for award.
Agency
Must support compliance with the prescribed forms and acquisition procedures for A-E services, including ensuring contracting personnel use the correct forms and maintain a proper evaluation record.
Practical Implications
Using the wrong contract form can create a compliance problem, especially if a fixed-price A-E contract in the United States or its outlying areas is awarded without SF 252.
SF 330 is not just a paperwork exercise; it is the standard vehicle for documenting qualifications, so incomplete or inconsistent submissions can affect source selection.
For acquisitions above the simplified acquisition threshold, Part I is the required way to gather contract-specific qualifications, so contracting officers should plan for that information early in the procurement.
For smaller acquisitions, the contracting officer has discretion to use Part I, but that decision should be deliberate and tied to the needs of the procurement record.
Part II helps establish the firm’s broader professional capability, so officers should not rely only on project-specific experience when evaluating A-E firms.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Contracting officers must use Standard Form 252 , Architect-Engineer Contract, to award fixed-price contracts for architect-engineer services when the services will be performed in the United States or its outlying areas. (b) The SF 330 , Architect-Engineer Qualifications, shall be used to evaluate firms before awarding a contract for architect-engineer services: (1) Use the SF 330 , Part I-Contract-Specific Qualifications, to obtain information from an architect-engineer firm about its qualifications for a specific contract when the contract amount is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Part I may be used when the contract amount is expected to be at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, if the contracting officer determines that its use is appropriate. (2) Use the SF 330 , Part II-General Qualifications, to obtain information from an architect-engineer firm about its general professional qualifications.