Subcontracting Program; EEO Requirements; the Buy American

Act; the Davis-Bacon Act; the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act; cost or pricing data; subcontractor listings; and the hiring of veterans. All of these provisions -- and many others

must be included by statute in every construction contract over $10,000 where Federal funds are used. Simple omission of these requirements may disqualify a bid with no possibility of correction after bid opening.

Several types of contracts are available to the Government. The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 provides for a variety of construction contracts which include: small purchases under $2,000; negotiated contracts; small business set-asides; cost-plus-a-fixed fee; turnkey; purchase contracts; construction management contracts, which include phased construction; and the conventional lump-sum contracts.

This brochure outlines how to correctly prepare a typical set

of bid documents to insure that a bid will not be disqualified on technical grounds.

QUALIFICATION OF BIDDERS

It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that

qualified firms and their bids are responsive to the Invitation

to Bid. If you are a bidder, the Government asks: Are you known in the industry as a firm capable of performing the work outlined in the bid? Do you have the ability to obtain the necessary facilities, equipment and materials to perform the work? Are you financially qualified and do you have adequate technical personnel available to perform the contract? Are key personnel and bonding capacity committed to other projects? You must post a 20 percent bid bond and after award a 100 percent performance and a 50 percent payment bond. You must also perform 12 percent of the contract with your own forces. Bidders cannot be considered if they are barred from bidding on Federal projects.

PROJECTS ON THE MARKET

How do you find out what is on the market? Bidding documents are available for review in industry planning rooms, chambers of commerce, and Associated General Contractors regional offices. Classified announcements in trade journals, construction industry

business papers, local daily newspapers and the Commerce

Business Daily are useful sources for bid information.

The Commerce Business Daily (CBD), which is published by the Field Service of the Department of Commerce, lists U.S. Government Procurement Invitations, awards and current information on contracting and subcontracting opportunities. GSA regularly supplies material for publication along with other Government construction agencies. CBD gives a brief description of projects, where they are located and their estimated cost. CBD informs potential bidders where bid documents may be obtained, and provides other important information.

The Commerce Business Daily is available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Directions for obtaining a subscription to this publication are included in EXHIBIT 1. Other sources of similar information are the Dodge and Blue Reports and the GSA Business Service Centers. These centers are located in each city where GSA has a regional office. These offices and their addresses are listed in EXHIBIT 2.

All GSA regional offices maintain a list of contractors interested in bidding on Government work. If you wish to be placed on the bidders' list, write to the regional office or offices in the area where you wish to do business. A form will be sent to you. Fill it out indicating your interest as to: the type of work you are bidding, the geographical location, and the dollar range of

estimated cost. The region will respond by mailing to you a

pre-invitation notice as work in your area of interest becomes available.

This pre-invitation notice (EXHIBIT 3, GSA Form 2056) is almost identical to the Invitation for Bids, Standard Form 20 (EXHIBIT 4). For example, it includes the date and local time of bid opening, information regarding bid guarantee, (which is 20 percent of the amount of the bid, including all add alternates, or $3 million, whichever is less), the charge for bid documents, estimated

range of project cost, whether it's restricted to small businesses, whether a subcontractor listing is required, and a brief description of the work.

Always check the reverse side of this form for additional information. One very important feature is found down at the lower part of the page. This reads: "failure to complete and return this part of the notice to the issuing office on or before the date shown in Item 13 may result in your name being removed from our mailing list." Even if you are not interested in this particular project, be sure to fill out the form and return it to the region. Then when the next project comes up within your area, you will be mailed another pre-invitation notice. This pre-invitation notice, incidentally,

goes out approximately 30 days prior to availability of bid documents.

This gives you advance notice of what will be on the market in the next 30 days.

Let us assume, however, that you are not on the bidders' list. You have never bid on a GSA construction contract and you receive a telephone call from a supplier or a friend asking you if you are bidding on an extension and remodeling project for the GSA Federal Office Building in New Orleans, Louisiana. What do you do? You may utilize, as previously noted, the Business Service Center at the appropriate regional office. You can also contact the regional Construction Management Division, PBS. A list of their telephone numbers and addresses is included in EXHIBIT 5. When you call one of the listed numbers you will be in contact with the individuals responsible for furnishing bid documents. It should be noted that some regions may distribute bid documents from the regional Business Service Centers, in this case they will either call the Business Service Center and give them your request, or suggest that you call direct. You should, however, keep in mind that a deposit may be required for some bid documents and you will need to arrange for getting the deposit to the issuing office. This matter will be addressed later.

RECEIPT OF BID PACKAGE

Assume that you have received a bid package. The first step