Short answer: Public engineering contracts are won at the shortlist. Agencies select engineers on qualifications, not price (under the Brooks Act federally, and Government Code sections 4525–4529.5 in California), so your SF 330 and statement of qualifications (SOQ) are what gets scored, whether it is a Caltrans A&E contract, a county on-call or a federal design job. Caltrans advertises its A&E contracts on Cal eProcure and requires an SF 330 with every SOQ.
Where engineering firms lose points
Firms rarely lose these selections on engineering ability. They lose on the submittal:
- SF 330 resumes (Section E) written for the company website, not for this scope
- Example projects in Section F picked because they are recent, not because they match the evaluation criteria
- A Section G matrix showing the key people barely worked on the example projects
- An organisation chart in Section D that does not match who is named elsewhere
- Section H filled with boilerplate, when it is the one place you get to argue why your team fits
Evaluators score against published criteria. A submittal that answers each criterion in the order it was asked, with evidence, is easier to score high.
What we do
- Build a master SF 330 Part II plus a resume and project library, so each new Part I takes days rather than weeks
- Write Part I and the SOQ to the solicitation’s evaluation criteria, working from your engineers’ technical input (see proposal and RFP development)
- Watch the Caltrans A&E Look Ahead Report and local on-call RFQs, so you can prepare before a contract is advertised
- Set up SAM.gov, your UEI, your SBA DSBS profile and Cal eProcure with the right engineering codes and keywords, so contracting officers and primes can find you
- Certify you as a California Small Business or DVBE where you qualify. We hold SB (Micro) certification ourselves.
- Prepare a capability statement for teaming conversations with prime firms that need certified small-business partners
How to write a statement of qualifications that scores
- Build a compliance matrix from the RFQ: every evaluation criterion, its weight, page limits and required forms.
- Answer in the RFQ’s order and words, so an evaluator can find each criterion and score it quickly.
- Pick example projects that match the scope, agency type and size, not just the most recent ones.
- Tailor each SF 330 resume to the person’s role on this contract and their most relevant projects.
- Show key people are available and actually worked on the example projects (your Section G matrix).
- Use Section H to show you understand the project: the agency’s constraints, risks and your approach.
- Check every submittal requirement before you send, including agency forms such as Caltrans’ ADM-0076.
How smaller engineering firms get in
The usual route in for a smaller firm is on-call contracts and subconsulting. A prime that needs certified small-business participation brings you onto its team, you perform, and your SF 330 gains a list of public-sector projects that makes your own prime submittal credible. We help at each step, from certification to the teaming conversation to your first prime SOQ.
For the construction side of public works (SB-PW, DIR registration, certified payroll), see Government Contracting for Engineering & Construction Firms.
What we do not do
We do not provide engineering services or sign anything that requires a professional licence. Your engineers own the technical approach. We make sure it is organised, complete and written to score.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SF 330?
The standard federal form for architect-engineer qualifications. Part I is specific to one contract: team, organisation chart, resumes, example projects and a participation matrix. Part II describes your firm’s general qualifications. Many state and local agencies, including Caltrans, use it too.
What is SF 330 Part II?
Part II is your firm’s general qualifications: office locations, employees by discipline, experience profile codes and average revenue. Federal agencies expect it to be current, so we recommend updating it at least once a year.
Where are Caltrans A&E contracts advertised?
On Cal eProcure. Caltrans also publishes an A&E Look Ahead Report of upcoming contracts, updated twice a week, so you can plan your team and SOQ before the advertisement.
How do I write a statement of qualifications?
Start from the RFQ’s evaluation criteria, answer them in the order and words used, back each claim with matching projects and tailored resumes, and check every required form before you submit.
We are a small engineering firm. Can we compete?
Yes. On-call contracts and subconsulting to larger primes are the usual way in, and certified small businesses are in demand as partners.
Do you provide engineering services?
No. We write, organise and submit the qualification and registration documents. Your licensed engineers do the engineering and sign anything that needs a stamp.
Get your next SOQ on the shortlist
Book a free 15-minute SF 330 assessment →
Or call (909) 454-7076 · info@gercconsulting.com
GERC is a woman-owned firm based in San Bernardino, certified by the State of California as a Small Business (Micro) and Small Business for Public Works. We work with firms across California.