Under which law must AE services be competitively bid?

The law that requires architecture and engineering (AE) services to be competitively bid is known as the Brooks Bill. This legislation, formally referred to as the selection of architects and engineers, mandates that federal agencies procure certain types of services—such as architectural and engineering services—based on qualifications rather than price.

Under the Brooks Bill, firms are selected based on their qualifications, experience, and other pertinent criteria rather than through a typical bidding process that focuses primarily on cost. As a result, this promotes quality and value over sheer budget considerations in the procurement of design services. Therefore, when it comes to AE services, the competition must focus on who can provide the best service based on these factors.

The other laws listed, such as the Davis-Bacon Act and the Miller Act, pertain to different aspects of federal contracting and construction, specifically focusing on labor standards and payment guarantees for workers, rather than on the bidding process for professional services.