UNSPSC 81102300: Aeronautical engineering

UNSPSC 81102300 Aeronautical engineering is a Class code that covers architect-engineer and related professional services for airport infrastructure, facilities, and systems—including planning, design, construction administration, environmental assessment, materials testing, and specialized systems commissioning. State and local governments procure these services primarily through Request for Qualifications vehicles establishing multi-year Qualified Vendor Lists for task-order deployment. The County of Orange, California, is the most active issuer, with at least fifteen visible RFQ records across aviation-specific disciplines (materials testing, planning and programming, geotechnical services) and general A-E functions (project management, cost estimating, MEP design, flood control engineering). Smaller issuers—regional airport authorities, county transportation departments, and municipal aviation departments—post individual airport master plans, terminal expansions, runway rehabilitation, and capital improvement program support on a project-by-project basis.

Activity concentrates in California, Georgia, Texas, and New Mexico, with Orange County dominating the market through repeat Qualified Vendor List solicitations. Recent examples include the County of Orange requesting qualifications for Airport Materials Testing and Inspection Services (RFQ 2803021601JM, due April 24, 2026), the County's Airport Planning and Programming Services QVL (RFQ 2803021703JM, due April 21, 2026), and John Wayne Airport commissioning and testing task orders (RFQ 2803021601JM, federally funded through FAA Airport Improvement Program grants and subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage and DBE participation goals). Outside California, the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County issued an RFQ for a five-year master agreement in architectural and engineering services for Athens-Ben Epps Airport (RFQ #27008, due October 5, 2026, with an anticipated $60.8 million portfolio across 2027–2031), and the City of Santa Fe solicited qualification-based proposals for terminal expansion A-E services (RFP FY26RFP037, due February 20, 2026, and updated RFP FY26RFP035 for earlier terminal expansion work due December 17, 2025). Contracts are typically three-year terms structured as time-and-materials with no price increases, no guaranteed work volume, and multiple awards reserved. Prevailing wage, federal compliance (FAA grant assurances, BABA, Title VI), insurance (professional liability $1–2 million minimum), and airport security clearance requirements are standard when federal funding is present.