Price takes a backseat to capability in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ latest procurement strategy.

For its upcoming radiation testing facility, USACE is utilizing Progressive Design-Build (PDB)—a delivery method that selects contractors based on qualifications and technical approach rather than bottom-line cost. At a May 14, 2026, Industry Day, officials stated the project’s high volume of technical unknowns makes early fixed pricing impossible.

The Project: Little Mountain Testing Facility

The USACE Sacramento District will construct the 50,000-square-foot facility at the Little Mountain Testing Facility (LMTF) on Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The reinforced-concrete structure will house two highly complex technical assets:

• An Advanced Radiation Environment Simulator (ARES)
• A 14-megaelectron-volt neutron generator

See GovWin Federal Tracked Opp 264484: PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD UNDER OTA LITTLE MOUNTAIN TESTING FACILITY HILL AIR FORCE BASE

To mitigate the risks inherent in a project of this scale, the PDB framework integrates the government, designer, and builder during the initial planning phase. This early collaboration allows the tripartite team to map risks, validate costs, and optimize the design before breaking ground.

"Overall, our goal is to reduce uncertainty," a USACE official emphasized.

PDB Strategic Objectives

• Establish realistic design boundaries early
• Develop collaborative, transparent cost modeling
• Eliminate budget ambiguity
• Restrict competition to highly qualified teams
• Drive innovative, cost-conscious technical solutions
• Accelerate project delivery timelines

The Procurement Process

USACE is utilizing a rigorous, three-step selection process to eliminate underqualified bidders before design or pricing discussions begin.

The Whitepaper Qualification

Bidders must submit a concise, 10-page whitepaper focusing strictly on organizational philosophy, technical capability, and collaborative execution.

Submissions will be evaluated on three criteria:

• Qualifications: Comprehensive understanding of project goals, mission constraints, and affordability.
• Past Performance: Documented experience with similar asset scales, PDB delivery, and non-traditional acquisition methods such as Other Transaction Authority (OTAs).
• Management Approach: PDB execution strategy, key personnel experience, and organizational hierarchy.

USACE will advance a maximum of three teams to the next phase.

The Oral Pitch

The remaining teams must deliver an oral presentation and participate in an interactive discussion. Evaluators will judge teams on technical acumen, problem-solving agility, and collaborative chemistry.

USACE will select a single winning team to advance to the final stage.

Collaborative Design & Solution

The chosen team will execute a deep technical dive with USACE to develop a conceptual design package based on the government’s Scope of Service (SoS). This interactive process will finalize the design and establish a validated, transparent budget forecast before construction authorization.

The Bottom Line

The OTAs and PDB approaches secures a highly qualified, technically capable team before locked-in pricing and rigid blueprints jeopardize the project's success.

Growth Of The Non-Traditional

Defense organizations have warmed up to non-traditional construction approaches, such as OTAs and PDB, for faster procurements. The FY26 National Defense Authorization Act allows the War Department to use accelerated design-build and PDB procedures. These strategies are becoming more common. Contracting Offices will watch other offices that have chosen the non-traditional. They want to confirm that the projects will result in cost-conscience projects with accurate timelines.

More Non-Traditional Military Construction

• GovWin Federal Tracked Opp 263062: ARNOLD ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX VELOCITY ALLIANCE (AEDC)
• GovWin Federal Tracked Opp 264332: ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT FORGE 2 OTA
• GovWin Federal Tracked Opp 263063: FACILITY MODERNIZATION PROGRAM JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD

Read more at GovWin Market Analysis Article: A New Approach To Finishing Military Construction Faster: OTAs