Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on federal agencies' procurement of professional services for federal projects in Alaska, specifically: (1) the policies and procedures they used to procure the professional services, especially architect-engineering services; (2) the number and value of contracts awarded to Alaskan and non-Alaskan firms during fiscal years (FY) 1984 and 1985; and (3) the consideration federal agencies gave arctic and subarctic climatic conditions in selecting architectural-engineering firms for design projects.
GAO found that: (1) federal agencies generally awarded professional service contracts through negotiated procurements; (2) Alaskan firms received 70 percent of the value of professional service contracts awarded for Alaskan projects during FY 1984 and 1985; and (3) in selecting architect-engineering firms for Alaskan projects, agencies considered and evaluated the firms' arctic and subarctic climatic expertise if such conditions would influence project operation.
