With over five hundred episodes, the Contracting Officer Podcast has covered a lot of ground in federal acquisition. But some topics still don’t get the attention they deserve. One of those is Architect-Engineer (A-E) contracting. In this episode, we break down how A-E contracting works, why it’s different from other acquisitions, and why those differences matter more than most people realize.

Kevin is joined by Bryan Henson, a former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracting officer with real-world experience on complex construction projects. Together, they walk through how Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) really works, how A-E firms are evaluated, and where risk often starts—well before construction begins. If you want to better understand how smart design decisions can prevent costly problems later, this episode is for you.