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We didn't make the shortlist on an A-E SF 330. Can we still get a debrief?

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  • Yes.
  • FAR 36.607(b) says unsuccessful A-E firms get debriefed, and that includes firms cut at the shortlist, but the debrief happens after final selection, not after the shortlist letter.
  • So the timing runs later than you're used to on a priced RFP.
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We submitted an SF 330 on an Army Corps district notice for an A-E IDIQ, civil and site design, and we didn't make the shortlist. No interviews, just a short letter saying other firms were more highly qualified.

This is only our second federal A-E submittal. Our state DOT and county work is where all our project examples came from, and I'm wondering if that's what hurt us in Section F or if it was the team org chart in Section D.

I know the Brooks Act selections run differently from a priced RFP, so I'm not sure the usual debrief rules even apply. Can a firm that wasn't shortlisted on an A-E selection request a debrief, and what should I ask for in the request so we actually learn something for the next one?

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asked Corinne B. Proposal coordinator, civil engineering firm · Golden, CO · 72 rep

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Yes. FAR 36.607(b) says unsuccessful A-E firms get debriefed, and that includes firms cut at the shortlist, but the debrief happens after final selection, not after the shortlist letter. So the timing runs later than you're used to on a priced RFP.

The scope is narrower too. 36.607(b) pulls in FAR 15.506(b) through (f) and then says 15.506(d)(2) through (d)(5) don't apply to A-E contracts. You won't get rankings, the selected firms' ratings or an award rationale. What's left is 15.506(d)(1), the significant weaknesses in your SF 330, and (d)(6), answers to questions about whether the board followed the evaluation criteria in the notice.

One of the firms I keep books for is a small civil and survey shop, and their most useful debrief came from a request with specific questions. Send yours in writing to the contracting officer now so it's in the file, and ask:

  • Which notice criteria scored weak, tied to the SF 330 section (F, G or H)
  • Whether the board counted your state DOT and county projects as relevant specialized experience under FAR 36.602-1
  • Whether the org chart in Section D or the resumes in Section E raised concerns about capacity or team structure

Don't ask how you compared to the shortlisted firms. 15.506(e) bars point-by-point comparisons, and that question usually gets you a one paragraph letter.

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answered Darlene S. Bookkeeper for several small contractors · Wichita, KS · 45 rep
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Yes, you can request a debriefing for an A-E selection, and you should do it now. Darlene is right that the rules for A-E debriefings are different from other federal contracts because of the Brooks Act. The debriefing rules for A-E selections are in FAR 36.607(b), which refers to FAR 15.506 for the specifics. You won't get a full comparison to other firms, but you can get details about the weaknesses in your proposal. Make sure your written request to the contracting officer asks for specific feedback related to the criteria in the notice, like whether your state and county projects were considered relevant for Section F, and if your team structure in Section D or resumes in Section E raised any issues.

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answered Marcus T. Verified vendorOwner, janitorial and facilities firm · Columbus, OH · 582 rep
It is important to request the debriefing within 3 days after receiving notification of exclusion from the competitive range, as outlined in FAR 15.505(a), even for A-E selections. · Priya S. ·

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Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.

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