Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services for Sustainable Buildings
A Guide for Federal Project Managers
The design and planning team for an energy-efficient building on the National Institutes of Health's Bethesda, Maryland, campus consists of experts from the public and private sectors.
Federal agencies are embracing principles of sustainable design because of their many benefits. They are proven methods for improving a building's comfort and environmental performance while dramatically reducing its energy use and costs. FEMP has taken a lead role in promoting sustainable design by providing information and conducting training sessions.
When procuring A&E services, federal agencies can maximize their leverage to convert sustainable design principles into effective design practices. To help federal project managers consider sustainability at each step of the building delivery process, FEMP provides the guidebook, Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services for Sustainable Buildings (PDF 1.1 MB; 36 pp). Download Adobe Reader
What is a sustainable design approach?
A sustainable design approach involves the wise use of resources, materials, and construction methods—those that are sensitive to the construction site and the surrounding environment. It also incorporates energy efficiency, renewable energy, and passive solar design into projects whenever possible, to help meet federal goals for reducing energy use and costs.
How does a federal project manager get started?
This guide will help you begin and manage the procurement and design process and answer questions such as:
- How do I select the best A/E team for the job?
- How can I get my design team to use a whole-building approach?
- What is a design charrette, and what does it entail?
- How much building performance analysis is enough, and how much should it cost?
There are also numerous helpful checklists for project managers to use at each stage of the procurement process.
For More Information
Federal building design assistance and information can be obtained from the following contacts:
Shawn Herrera
U.S. Department of Energy
Federal Energy Management Program
(202) 586-1511
Shawn.Herrera@ee.doe.gov
Andy Walker
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
303-384-7531
andy_walker@nrel.gov