As a potential GSA Schedule contractor or current offeror looking to expand your contract, you should begin with researching Special Item Numbers (SINs) that align with your commercial offerings. SINs represent the specific products or services you will offer to the government through a GSA Schedule contract. Understanding Special Item Numbers’ requirements is a crucial step when deciding which services to add to your contract through a modification or developing your contract proposal.
A popular SIN that over 1,100 contractors have awarded is the Engineering Services SIN. There are many services that are excluded from this Special Item Number, such as architect-engineer (A-E) services. In this blog, we will break down the Engineering SIN’s requirements, including which services are categorized under this Special Item Number and which services to not include in your offer to avoid potential rejection.
Engineering SIN Requirements
The Engineering SIN is represented by the code 541330ENG. This Special Item Number falls within the Professional Services Category and is categorized under the Technical and Engineering Services (Non-IT) Subcategory. GSA provides the following description of services typically procured under the Engineering SIN:
“541330ENG Services include: applying physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development, and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and systems. Services may involve any of the following activities: provision of advice, concept development, requirements analysis, preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services.”
For service offerings, you are required to submit one technical narrative demonstrating a past or current project’s alignment with some or all of the services under this SIN’s description.
Typical labor categories offered under the Engineering SIN include, but are not limited to:
- Various specialized engineers
- Program or project managers
- Subject matter experts
- Scientists
- Quality control specialists
- Technicians
- Analysts
- Consultants
The Engineering SIN is also eligible for the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) program, which eliminates the requirement for contractors’ and offerors’ to disclose their Commercial Sales Practices (CSP) to GSA and a few other compliance actions.
Additional information and instructions regarding this SIN can be found in the Professional Services Category Attachment to the main Solicitation, which we will discuss next.
Which Services are Not Allowed Under the Engineering SIN?
In the Engineering SIN’s description, it states “Services under this SIN cannot include architect-engineer services as defined in the Brooks Act and FAR Part 2, or construction services as defined in FAR Parts 2 and 36.” Let’s discuss these excluded services more in-depth.
What are Architect-Engineer (A-E) Services as Defined in the Brooks Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)?
FAR Part 2 and the Brooks Act explain how the federal government defines A-E services, which include:
- Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature, as defined by State law, if applicable, that are required to be performed or approved by a person licensed, registered, or certified to provide those services
- Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature performed by contract that are associated with research, planning, development, design, construction, alteration, or repair of real property
- Other professional services of an architectural or engineering nature, or incidental services, that members of the architectural and engineering professions (and individuals in their employ) may logically or justifiably perform, including studies, investigations, surveying and mapping, tests, evaluations, consultations, comprehensive planning, program management, conceptual designs, plans and specifications, value engineering, construction phase services, soils engineering, drawing reviews, preparation of operating and maintenance manuals, and other related services.
The Brooks Act, also referred to the Selection of Architects and Engineers statute, governs how government agencies procure A-E services. Primarily, the selection process for an A-E contractor requires federal buyers to prioritize qualifications and experience during the evaluation stage.
The Brooks Act also notes that contracts for A-E services:
- Need to be publicly announced by an agency
- Each potential vendor must submit yearly or a current qualifications statement
- The agency should initiate contact with at least three vendors to discuss their capabilities to meet the project’s requirements
- At least three vendors need to be ranked by the agency in order of preference
- A few other procedures must be followed if negotiations with the first potential contractor do not move forward.
Thus, A-E services are not procured through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program since contracting opportunities released under GSA MAS are only accessible to those awarded a GSA Schedule contract and are not publicly available for award consideration.
Construction Services as Defined in FAR Parts 2 and 36
FAR Part 2 defines construction services as: “construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging, excavating, and painting) of buildings, structures, or other real property. For purposes of this definition, the terms ‘buildings, structures, or other real property’ include, but are not limited to, improvements of all types, such as bridges, dams, plants, highways, parkways, streets, subways, tunnels, sewers, mains, power lines, cemeteries, pumping stations, railways, airport facilities, terminals, docks, piers, wharves, ways, lighthouses, buoys, jetties, breakwaters, levees, canals, and channels. Construction does not include the manufacture, production, furnishing, construction, alteration, repair, processing, or assembling of vessels, aircraft, or other kinds of personal property (except that for use in subpart 22.5.”
FAR Part 36 includes a few other construction-related definitions and expands on the methods agencies must follow when establishing a contract for A-E, construction, and design-build services.
Special Instructions for the Engineering SIN
The Engineering SIN’s description also includes two instructions for specific services that offerors may propose to have this SIN awarded.
Instruction 1 directs potential Engineering SIN offerors to GSA’s Construction Management and Engineering Consulting Services Related to Real Property Implementation Guide. This guide is helpful in assessing which of your construction and engineering services are allowed under SIN 541330ENG, which include tasks falling under design review, shop drawing/submittal review, inspection and testing, construction inspection, fire and smoke modeling/analysis, loss investigation, technical consulting, commissioning, claims, post-construction, and pre-demolition services.
We recommend submitting examples of these services when preparing your past performance narrative and limiting references to A-E and construction services not procured through GSA MAS.
Instruction 2 is applicable to offerors proposing Space Launch Integration Services (SLIS) and directs you to the SLIS Implementation Guide to determine which supporting services are allowed to be sold through GSA MAS under the Engineering SIN and related SINs.
Other Services not Procured Under the Technical and Engineering Services (Non-IT) Subcategory
Several additional SINs fall within the same subcategory as the Engineering SIN. These SINs are listed below:
- SIN 541330EMI Engineering Services Related to Military, Aerospace Equipment, Military Weapons, National Energy Policy Act of 1992, Marine Engineering or Naval Architecture
- SIN 541370GIS Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services
- SIN 541420 Engineering System Design and Integration Services
- SIN 541690 Technical Consulting Services
- SIN 541715 Engineering Research and Development and Strategic Planning
- SIN 541715AIR Engineering Research and Development for Aircraft, Aircraft Engines and Engine Parts
- SIN 541715APM Engineering Research and Development for: Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment, Guided Missiles and Space Vehicles, Their Propulsion Units and Propulsion Parts
- SIN 541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (Non-IT)
As with the Engineering SIN, these SINs do not include construction and A-E services as defined in FAR Part 36. Other services that are not allowed under this subcategory include:
- Mass production and manufacturing
- Computer engineering and information technology
- Foundations and landscaping engineering
- Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) services
- Research and development support outlined in FAR Part 35
- Surveying and mapping services classified under the Brooks Act
Do Your Services Qualify for the Engineering SIN?
The Engineering SIN and other SINs falling under the Technical and Engineering Services (Non-IT) Subcategory are not the only Special Item Numbers within the Professional Services Category that excludes certain engineering and construction services. The Environmental Services Subcategory also does not allow for the procurement of construction and A-E services as previously discussed, which would apply to the following SINs: SIN 541620 Environmental Consulting Services, SIN 562112 Hazardous Waste Disposal Services, SIN 562910REM Environmental Remediation Services, and SIN 562910RMI Environmental Remediation Services - Multiple Industries.
The services allowed and not allowed to be sold through the Engineering SIN can cause a lot of confusion, and understandably so; if you are unsure of whether or not your commercial services would be considered eligible for the Engineering SIN, our expert consultants are available to assist you in reviewing the scope of your offerings and preparing your GSA Schedule contract proposal.
