SF 330
Architect-Engineer Qualifications
What It Is
SF 330 is how architect-engineer (A-E) firms present their qualifications for federal design work. A-E services are procured under the Brooks Act using qualifications-based selection — the government ranks firms on competence and capability first, then negotiates price with the most qualified. SF 330 Part I is the project-specific proposal (your team, experience, and approach for a given solicitation); Part II is a general qualifications sheet for a firm or branch office that can be kept on file.
When You'll Use It
- Competing for A-E design, engineering, surveying, or related professional-services contracts.
- Responding to an A-E sources-sought or solicitation under FAR Subpart 36.6.
- Keeping a current firm/branch qualifications sheet (Part II) on file with agencies.
Who Completes It
The proposing A-E firm completes both parts — Part I for the specific opportunity and Part II as the firm's standing qualifications statement.
Key Blocks to Get Right
| Block / Section | What It Captures |
|---|---|
| Part I, Section E — Resumes of key personnel | The qualifications of the specific people who will do the work — often the highest-weighted evaluation factor in A-E selection. |
| Part I, Section F — Example projects | Relevant past projects that demonstrate your team's experience with similar work; reviewers map these against the solicitation's selection criteria. |
| Part I, Section H — Additional information | Your narrative on approach, capacity, and any selection factors the agency calls out — your chance to make the qualifications case. |
| Part II — General qualifications | Firm-level data (size, disciplines, annual revenue distribution) that an agency can keep on file for future A-E needs. |
Common Pitfalls
- Submitting price in a qualifications-based selection — A-E selection is competence-first; price is negotiated only after ranking.
- Using generic resumes instead of tailoring Section E to the named project team.
- Choosing example projects by prestige rather than by fit to the solicitation's selection criteria.
Frequently Asked
Why doesn't SF 330 ask for price?
A-E services are acquired under qualifications-based selection (the Brooks Act, FAR Subpart 36.6). The government first ranks firms on qualifications using SF 330, then negotiates a fair and reasonable price with the most highly qualified firm. Price is not an evaluation factor in the selection itself, which is why SF 330 captures experience and personnel rather than rates.
What is the difference between SF 330 Part I and Part II?
Part I is project-specific: your proposed team, example projects, and approach for one solicitation. Part II is a general, reusable statement of a firm or branch office's overall qualifications that agencies can retain on file and reference across multiple A-E needs.
Primary Sources
Plain-English reference, not legal advice. Standard forms are periodically reissued and the FAR is amended for inflation and policy — always download the current edition from the GSA Forms Library and confirm requirements against the solicitation and your contracting officer before relying on it.
Change log (1)
- LaunchedPublished the federal contracting forms reference covering the standard forms an SDVOSB encounters when bidding and performing set-asides — SF 1449, SF 33, SF 18, SF 30, SF 1442, SF 330, SF 1408, SF 1413, the eSRS ISR (formerly SF 294), SF LLL, SF 1034/1035, and the SAM.gov representations & certifications (FAR 52.204-8) — each with a key-blocks table, filing pitfalls, FAQPage, DigitalDocument, Dataset, and BreadcrumbList structured data, primary-source FAR citations, and cross-links into the glossary, how-to guides, FAQ, and regulation explainers.