DBIA Launches Free Online Tutorial to Put Federal QBS Guidance Into Practice

New resource builds on DBIA’s Qualifications-Based Selection Blueprint for Federal Design-Build Projects

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) has released a free online tutorial designed to give federal acquisition professionals a practical way to apply qualifications-based selection (QBS) guidance to Progressive Design-Build (PDB) projects.

The Collaborative Procurement in Federal Acquisition Online Tutorial is a companion to DBIA’s Qualifications-Based Selection Blueprint for Federal Design-Build Projects, released in June. The Blueprint outlines DBIA’s recommended approach to qualifications-focused federal design-build procurement within the existing regulatory framework. The new tutorial builds on that guidance with plain-language explanations, examples and additional context for contracting officers, program managers and other federal practitioners working through PDB implementation.

Together, the resources address both understanding the available federal procurement framework and applying it within a specific project or agency context.

“The federal construction community has no shortage of policy documents, best practice guides and procurement frameworks,” said FBI Chief Contracting Officer David Triplett, DBIA. “What we consistently lack is the bridge between knowing what the guidance says and knowing how to apply it to a specific project in a specific agency context. And the gap between the policy on paper and execution is where most procurement reform stalls.”

The QBS Blueprint identifies relevant Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) authorities and procurement approaches while recognizing that current federal regulations limit the ability to implement a purely qualifications-based selection process for construction contracts.

The tutorial provides another way to work through that framework. Federal practitioners considering PDB must navigate multiple layers of regulation, policy, statutory authority and agency-specific guidance while determining how those requirements affect procurement decisions. The tutorial explains FAR nuances, connects related authorities and uses examples to place the Blueprint’s concepts in project and agency contexts.

The release comes as federal agencies continue to explore PDB and other collaborative procurement approaches. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act explicitly authorized the Department of Defense to use PDB for military construction projects, providing additional clarity for federal Owners considering qualifications-based, collaborative delivery.

As agencies move from authority to implementation, procurement strategy remains critical. Federal Owners must determine how applicable authorities work together and structure acquisitions that support the collaboration necessary for Design-Build Done Right^®.

The Collaborative Procurement in Federal Acquisition Online Tutorial is available at no cost.

Erin Looney
Design-Build Institute of America
+1 850-443-0455
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