How to find architecture & engineering government bids
Design and professional engineering for public buildings, roads, bridges and water systems, plus surveying, planning and inspection. Who buys it, how it is bought, what to watch in the solicitation, and where the open bids are now.
Facts checked
Open bids right now
BidRover is tracking 583 open bids in architecture & engineering. Where they are:
- Switzerland · 123
- United States · 105
- Canada · 91
- Germany · 66
- Ireland · 54
- Lithuania · 43
- United Kingdom · 39
- Romania · 20
- Design Services for Blue Line Signals ModernizationMassachusetts, United States · Due Oct 22, 2026
- Design Services for Blue Line Signals ModernizationMassachusetts, United States · Due Oct 22, 2026
- WCCC26 496 Integrated Design Team for the Development of 22 Lady LaneIreland · Due Nov 19, 2026
- WCCC26 495 Design Team for proposed redevelopment at 25-26 O Connell Street WaterfordIreland · Due Nov 19, 2026
- LBR-27-01 Landscape Architect Designer ServicesMassachusetts, United States · Due Oct 28, 2026
- RFP #1974-02 Site-Based Wait List Discrimination TestingMassachusetts, United States · Due Oct 21, 2026
Who buys it
- State departments of transportation
- Cities, counties and water utilities
- School districts and universities planning capital projects
- Federal agencies and development banks
How it is bought
Architecture and engineering is one of the few areas where price is not the first test. The federal Brooks Act requires qualifications-based selection (QBS): agencies rank firms on qualifications, then negotiate a fee with the top-ranked firm. Most states have similar "mini-Brooks" laws.
So the solicitation is usually a request for qualifications (RFQ) asking for a statement of qualifications (SOQ). Many agencies also keep on-call or indefinite-delivery lists for several years, so getting onto those lists is worth as much as winning a single project.
What to watch in the solicitation
- 01
Professional registration
Work must be sealed by architects or engineers licensed in that state, and some states require the firm itself to hold a certificate of authorization.
- 02
Federal SF 330
Federal A-E selections use the Standard Form 330 for qualifications; many state DOTs use their own prequalification.
- 03
Key personnel
Scoring leans heavily on the named project manager and team. Substituting people after award usually needs approval.
- 04
Insurance
Professional liability (errors and omissions) coverage is required, with limits stated in the RFQ.
Codes and search terms
Federal notices are classified by NAICS code, so register and search under the codes that describe your work. BidRover classifies this category into the subcategories below, which are also good search terms on any portal.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 541310 | Architectural Services |
| 541330 | Engineering Services |
| 541320 | Landscape Architectural Services |
| 541370 | Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services |
- Civil engineering
- Structural engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Environmental engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Transportation engineering
- Water resources engineering
- Surveying & mapping
- Urban planning
- Landscape architecture
- Architectural services
- Interior design
Other category guides
Questions
Why don't engineering RFQs ask for a price?
Under qualifications-based selection, required federally by the Brooks Act and in many states by similar laws, the agency ranks firms on qualifications first and then negotiates a fee with the top-ranked firm.
What is an on-call engineering contract?
An agency selects one or more firms for a multi-year term and issues task orders as projects arise, instead of soliciting each project separately.
Where do state DOTs post engineering opportunities?
On the DOT's consultant or professional-services page, which is often separate from the construction letting site. BidRover reads several state DOT and municipal sources.