DARPA Modernization Project: Request for Qualifications for A&E Services

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has outlined a Lobby Modernization project aimed at refreshing the common spaces within its headquarters. The objective is to design a welcoming, museum-quality environment that showcases the agency's history, current initiatives, and culture. The project's scope is divided into three primary areas: the DARPA Lobby, which will focus on present-day achievements and culture; the Conference Center Reception Area, which will highlight the agency's past; and the Director’s Office, which will emphasize DARPA's culture and overall strategic messaging.

This public announcement (Solicitation Number HR001126RE008) is a notice of intent to contract for Architect-Engineer (A&E) services for the DARPA Modernization Project. Conducted under the Brooks Act and FAR Subpart 36.6, this procurement is a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 541310. The Government intends to award a single Firm-Fixed-Price contract with an anticipated 16-month base period starting in Quarter 1 of Fiscal Year 2027. The acquisition follows a two-phase selection process. In Phase I, interested small businesses must submit Standard Form 330 (SF 330) qualifications packages by October 5, 2026. Submissions will be evaluated by an A&E Evaluation Board based on six criteria listed in descending order of importance: professional qualifications of key personnel; specialized experience in designing high-traffic, museum-grade exhibition spaces within secure government facilities; past performance; capacity to execute a fast-track 16-month schedule; knowledge of the Arlington locality; and equitable distribution of Department of War (DoW) contracts. The Board will short-list at least three of the most highly qualified firms to advance to Phase II. The formal Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued directly to these short-listed firms and will not be publicly posted to SAM.gov. However, other bona fide small business concerns may request a copy of the Phase II solicitation in writing. No classified information should be included in the Phase I submissions, which may be reviewed by government and SETA support contractors.

This document provides instructions for completing Standard Form 330 (SF-330), "Architect-Engineer Qualifications," used by federal agencies to evaluate the professional capabilities of architect-engineer (A-E) firms. In compliance with the Selection of Architects and Engineers statute and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), agencies utilize this form to select highly qualified firms for contract negotiations based on demonstrated competence and specific evaluation criteria. The form is divided into two primary sections: - **Part I (Contract-Specific Qualifications):** Focuses on the proposed team's qualifications for a specific contract. It requires information on the prime contractor, subcontractors, and key personnel (including resumes, education, registration, and relevant experience). It also requests an organizational chart, a matrix mapping key personnel to up to ten example projects, and any agency-specific information. - **Part II (General Qualifications):** Details the general qualifications of a firm or a specific branch office. It includes general corporate data, ownership type, small business status, employee counts categorized by professional discipline, and annual revenues averaged over the last three to five years. The document concludes with comprehensive lists of standardized "Function Codes" (for identifying employee disciplines) and "Profile Codes" (for classifying firm experience categories), ensuring uniform reporting across submissions. Use of this form is estimated to require an average of 29 hours of preparation.

This document is the standard federal Architect-Engineer Qualifications form, known as Standard Form 330 (SF-330, Rev. 7/2021). It is a mandatory submission template used by federal agencies to evaluate the qualifications of architect-engineer firms competing for government contracts. The form is divided into two primary sections: - **Part I (Contract-Specific Qualifications):** Gathers detailed information regarding a specific solicitation. It requires the prime contractor and key subcontractors to outline their proposed team, organizational structure, and point of contact. This section includes individual resumes for key personnel, detailed profiles of up to ten relevant example projects demonstrating the team's capabilities, a matrix mapping key personnel to those projects, and any additional agency-requested information. It concludes with an authorized representative's signature. - **Part II (General Qualifications):** Collects a profile of the firm’s overall capabilities, whether for the primary office or specific branch offices. It requests general demographic data, ownership type, small business status, employee counts by professional discipline, a profile of the firm's experience, and average annual professional services revenue over the past three to five years categorized by federal and non-federal work. The SF-330 serves as the standardized blueprint for agencies to assess technical competence, past performance, and team structure during the initial phases of architect-engineer procurement.

This public announcement (Solicitation HR001126RE008) issues a notice of intent to contract for Architect-Engineer (A&E) services for the DARPA Modernization Project. Utilizing a qualification-based selection process under the Brooks Act, the procurement is structured as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541310. DARPA anticipates awarding a single, 16-month Firm-Fixed-Price contract to refresh common areas at its headquarters, specifically the DARPA Lobby, the Conference Center Lobby, and the Director's Office lobby, into museum-quality spaces showcasing the agency's history and achievements. The selection process is divided into two phases. In Phase I, interested small businesses must submit a Standard Form 330 (SF 330) qualifications package by October 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET. Submissions are subject to strict page limits and formatting guidelines. An evaluation board will assess the packages based on six criteria in descending order of importance: professional qualifications, specialized experience, past performance, capacity to meet the schedule, knowledge of the locality, and equitable distribution of Department of War contracts. Following Phase I evaluations, the board will shortlist at least three of the most highly qualified firms to advance to Phase II. Shortlisted firms will receive a formal, non-public Request for Proposal; however, other bona fide small businesses may request a copy. Government personnel and authorized contractors under non-disclosure agreements will review the submissions.

This Statement of Objectives (SOO) outlines a federal modernization project for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The objective is to refresh and transform three critical common areas—the Main Building Lobby, the Conference Center Reception Area, and the Director's Office Feature Wall—into high-quality, museum-like exhibit spaces. The displays will showcase DARPA’s 70-year history, legacy, and ongoing contributions to science and national security. The contractor is responsible for providing concept development, final designs, permit-ready construction drawings, and limited final installation of the exhibits. While the scope excludes structural alterations, any contractor-proposed building modifications (such as electrical, lighting, or cabling upgrades) must be prepared as permit-ready documents and facilitated through DARPA's building management. Multimedia displays must remain silent or muted to accommodate the active working environment. The estimated period of performance is 16 months from the date of award, with all work to be completed no later than December 15, 2027. The project will be executed in six phases: Discovery & Research, Concept Development, Design Development, Construction Documentation, Coordination & Approvals, and Installation. Key personnel required for this effort include a Project Manager, a Subject Matter Expert, and a Senior Exhibit/Graphic Designer.

This document is Attachment 2A (Experience Reference Sheet) for the DARPA Modernization Project, solicitation number HR001126RE008. It serves as a standardized template for offerors to submit details of their prior experience to demonstrate their capability to perform the contract requirements. The template is structured into three primary sections: - **Section 1: Organizational Information** collects key business identifiers, including the business name, CAGE code, UEI number, and information on affiliates, parent companies, joint ventures, or teaming partners. It also requires confirmation of the offeror's ability to meet the Statement of Objectives (SOO) requirements. - **Section 2: Contract Information** gathers specific project metadata, such as the project title, customer, contract and task order numbers, contract type, period of performance, total and current contract values, current performance status, number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs), and Government Point of Contact (POC) information. - **Section 3: Prior Experience Narrative** requires offerors to describe their role (prime, subcontractor, or team member), specify the percentage of work performed, and map their experience directly to the Draft SOO. Additionally, offerors must provide a detailed explanation of how the referenced project's size, scope, and complexity align with the current solicitation's requirements.