Recently, Representative Sam Graves (R-Mo.) introduced a bill that would reasonably limit federal agencies’ use of one-step design-build procurements and the shortlist for two-step design-build procurements. The Design-Build Efficiency and Jobs Act of 2015, H.R. 1666, would mandate the use of the two-step design-build procurement process for projects valued at $750,000 or more. As a result, there would be no one-step design-build procurements above this threshold, though they would be allowed below that. Additionally, the bill would require contracting officers to provide written justification for short listing more than five finalists in the two-step design build process.
AGC was able to successfully include a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015—which became law in December 2014—that requires Department of Defense contracting agencies to provide written justification and contracting head-level approval for short listing more than five teams for military construction contracts. AGC testified before the House Small Business Committee in February encouraging the introduction of such legislation, among other federal procurement reform initiatives.
For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at (703) 837-5325 orchristiansonj@agc.org. Return to Top