Qualifying in the architecture, engineering and construction contracting market

Published: March 09, 2015

Architecture Engineering and ConstructionContract Awards

Understanding a state’s procurement process is a good start for vendors interested in expanding into the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) market. Most entities require vendors to register via an online procurement portal in order to be eligible to respond to solicitations. This could involve registering on a state’s own centralized procurement portal or through a specified department’s procurement website.

Qualifying as an AEC contractor

  • Sign up/apply to register on the state or entity’s Web procurement system and utilize Deltek’s GovWin IQ tool
    •  Typically only required to do this once
  • Determine agency AEC market approach
    • Look out for solicitations to bid on in the AEC market that can be awarded to many vendors, creating an “on-call roster” for entities looking to purchase off the contract
      •   Similar to state term contracts where there is no guaranteed purchase
    • Some entities require contractors to pre-qualify on a list prior to winning business. Once the vendor is pre-qualified and on the list of eligible contractors for a solicitation, the next step is to identify competitive price points and establish relationships with entities

Advantages of registering at an agency’s procurement portal

  • Receive automatic notifications of current projects or future bids being released
  • Once you are notified of a project of interest, Deltek’s GovWin IQ tool will assist in tracking the project from pre-solicitation release through the project lifecycle 
  • Puts contractors ahead of the game in identifying upcoming opportunities

Once qualified on the “on-call roster,” what’s next?

  • Establish a solid relationship with the agency
  • Promote and differentiate your offerings from your competitors
  • Utilize Deltek’s GovWin IQ database to compare market pricing, and make sure your price points are competitive
  • Find potential partners to strengthen your offerings

Questions to ask

·         Does the agency have a centralized or decentralized procurement portal?

·         Where am I required to register?

·         Does the agency require pre-qualification on the solicitation prior to winning business?

You can learn more about current procurement opportunities in the GovWin IQ State and Local Opportunities database. Not a Deltek subscriber? Click here to learn more about Deltek's GovWin IQ service and gain access to a free trial.