The AOC has a wide range of procurement opportunities, including construction projects, architect-engineer contracts, supplies, services and information technology (IT) including telecommunications. These opportunities are advertised on Fedbizopps.gov.

The AOC uses a wide variety of contracting methods, such as, but not limited too the following:

• Invitation for Bid (IFB)
• Request for Proposals (RFP)
• Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
• Construction Manager Constructor (CMc)
• Construction Manager Agent (CMa)
• Purchase Orders (PO)

Procurements exceeding $5,000 up to $100,000 are competed amongst small businesses utilizing the AOC small business set-aside program. Procurements under $5,000 are generally executed with the AOC Purchase Card Program.

Vendors wishing to provide company literature should send their information to the agency via email at one of the following addresses: AOCprocurement@aoc.gov for large businesses and smallbusiness@aoc.gov for small businesses. Hard copy material may also be provided to the agency through the U.S. mail addressed to:

Architect of the Capitol
Acquisition and Material Management Division
Ford House Office Building H2-263
2nd and D Streets SW
Washington, DC 20515

The procurement authority for the AOC is established by statute codified at 41 U.S.C. § 6102(e), 41 U.S.C. § 3904(g), and see generally, 2 U.S.C. Chapter 28 (Architect of the Capitol), as amended. As a Legislative Branch agency, the AOC is not authorized to follow the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), however, the AOC does incorporate certain FAR clauses and provisions in its solicitations and follows the regulatory guidance found in the FAR to the maximum extent possible. On March 31, 2014, the AOC issued its first ever Contracting Manual. The manual prescribes uniform policies for the acquisition of supplies, services, construction and related services, and provides guidance to agency personnel in applying these policies and procedures. It is also a document contractors can use to better understand our acquisition processes as a legislative branch entity not subject to the FAR.

The AOC is covered by some of the same procurement and procurement-related legislation as the Executive Branch. Some of the laws that are applicable to the AOC include: the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Service Contract Act, Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, Buy American Act, Contract Disputes Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Anti-Deficiency Act, Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act, Farm Security and Rural Assistance Act of 2002, and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Some of the laws which are not applicable are: the Small Business Act, Brooks Act (for architect-engineer services), Prompt Payment Act, Competition in Contracting Act, and the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act.

AOC procurements are similar in appearance and process to Executive Branch contracts. For example, the Uniform Contract Format is used for supplies and services (excluding construction), and procurements exceeding $100,000 are advertised on FedBizOpps.