REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - Exploring Innovative Design and Construction Methodologies with Korean Industry
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- W912UM26Z9999
- Agency
-
ENDIST Far East
US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 23 Construction
- PSC
- Not on record
- Place of performance
- Korea, South
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District is conducting market research through a Request for Information due by 11 September 2026 to explore innovative design and construction methodologies with Korean industry capabilities. This is not a solicitation for proposals and will not result in a contract award; responses are voluntary and uncompensated. USACE FED seeks input from design, engineering, construction, architecture-engineering, and project management firms with relevant experience in Korea, including private sector or Korean Government projects. The agency is evaluating Progressive Design-Build (PDB), Design-Build to Budget (DB2B), Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) as procurement methods to improve project timelines and cost control. USACE FED will hold a Reverse Industry Day on 6 October 2026 at a location and time to be announced separately; information provided in response to the RFI will inform discussion topics and help identify industry perspectives on innovative acquisition and project delivery methods. Confidential business information submitted will be protected from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Supplemental materials attached include a Progressive Design-Build with OTA playbook (dated 12 June 2026) and process overview documents outlining a two-phase agreement structure combining design and preconstruction services followed by final design and construction, with qualifications-based selection and open-book cost estimating.
Notice text
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
SPECIAL NOTICE – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AMENDMENT 01
USACE FED plans to hold a Reverse Industry Day on 6 October 2026. The exact time and location will be announced separately to interested companies. Information received in response to this RFI will help USACE FED prepare for the event and identify topics that will support meaningful discussions with industry in Korea.
The Reverse Industry Day will provide an opportunity for USACE FED and Industry to openly exchange information and learn from each other regarding innovative or non-traditional acquisition and project delivery methods, as well as real-world experiences and lessons learned in improving project delivery timelines and controlling costs.
1. Purpose
Currently, USACE FED is looking for better ways to manage projects, improve project timelines, and control costs. To do this, we are exploring innovative and non-traditional methods such as:
- Progressive Design-Build (PDB): The project scope and price are developed in stages collaboratively between the Government and the Design-Build firm as a team. The team work closely together to define the project before setting a final price, and allows for the Design-Build firm to progress to construction, non-competitively.
- Other Transaction Authority (OTA) as a procurement method for the Government: A flexible U.S. Government contracting method that allows for faster and more innovative solutions, by reducing some standard contracting rules. Agreements resulting from OTA is legally binding instrument, other than a procurement contract, that is not subject to FAR and supplements. It enables commercial style business arrangements.
- Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR): A delivery method in which the constructor joins the design process early, collaborating with the designer to establish a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and completes construction.
*See supplemental information attached to this notice.
We invite all interested companies in design, engineering, construction, architecture-engineering, and project management with relevant experience and expertise in Korea. This includes companies with strong experience in private sector or Korean Government projects. You do not need prior experience with the U.S. Government or with our acquisition procedures. We want to learn about your successful methods and how they work.
2. Information Requested
To help USACE FED better understand Korean industry capabilities and prepare for a meaningful and productive Reverse Industry Day on 6 October 2026, the Government has identified the questions and discussion topics below for consideration by industry.
These questions represent areas that USACE FED may discuss with industry during the Reverse Industry Day. Interested companies are encouraged to review the questions in advance, consider how their experience and capabilities relate to these topics, and come prepared to share their perspectives, experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations during the event.
Companies are not required to provide written responses to every question. The intent is to provide industry with advance visibility into the Government's areas of interest and allow participants sufficient time to prepare for a meaningful Government-industry exchange.
Company Details
- Company name, address, and website.
- Main point of contact (name, title, email, and phone number).
- Provide a brief description of your company's primary business areas, capabilities, and specialized expertise.
- How many years has your company been involved in design and/or construction?
- Has your company previously performed work for the U.S. Government? Prior U.S. Government experience is not required.
- Describe your company's capability and experience in delivering large or complex design and construction projects in Korea.
Experience with Innovative Project Delivery Methods
- Does your company have experience with any of the following methods or similar Korean commercial or government practices?
- Design-Build (DB)
- Progressive Design-Build (PDB)
- Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
- Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements or similar flexible contracting approaches
- Other innovative, collaborative, or accelerated project delivery methods used in Korea
- If applicable, please briefly describe your experience, including examples of projects where these approaches were successfully used.
Industrialized Construction Methodologies
USACE FED is interested in understanding Korean industry's capabilities and experience with industrialized, modular, prefabricated, and other innovative construction methodologies.
- Please describe your company's capabilities and experience with any of the following:
- Volumetric modular construction;
- Prefabricated building components or systems manufactured off-site and assembled on-site;
- Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings (PEMB);
- Tension Fabric Structures;
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing) for construction; and
- Other innovative or industrialized construction methodologies.
- Please describe your company's experience or capability to provide:
- Maintenance facilities using Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings;
- Aircraft hangars using Tension Fabric Structures; and
- Barracks, child development centers, kennels, or other repeatable facility types using volumetric modular construction, prefabricated components, 3D printing, or similar methods.
- What other construction capabilities or methodologies could provide greater flexibility or strategic agility by allowing facilities to be expanded, repurposed, relocated, or otherwise adapted as mission requirements change? Please identify the types of facilities for which these approaches may be suitable.
- To what extent are the materials, components, equipment, and specialized labor necessary for these construction methodologies available in Korea?
- If your company has completed projects using these methodologies, please describe the results, including, as applicable:
- Schedule or time savings;
- Cost benefits;
- Quality and performance;
- Customer satisfaction;
- Challenges encountered and lessons learned; and
- Any limitations or circumstances in which the methodology may not be appropriate.
Korean Best Practices
- Based on your experience, what design, construction, acquisition, or project delivery practices have been particularly successful in Korea that USACE FED should consider for future projects? Please explain why these practices have been successful.
- Are there U.S. Government requirements, processes, or practices that you believe could create challenges or barriers to implementing these approaches? If so, please identify the potential challenges and suggest possible alternatives or approaches that USACE FED should consider.
3. Industry Questions, Concerns, and Suggested Discussion Topics
In addition to considering the Government's questions above, USACE FED encourages companies to identify and submit their own questions, concerns, challenges, recommendations, or suggested topics for discussion prior to the Reverse Industry Day.
USACE FED is particularly interested in industry's perspectives regarding innovative or non-traditional contracting and project delivery methods, including any challenges that may affect their successful implementation in Korea.
Industry questions and feedback may address topics such as:
- Challenges or barriers associated with U.S. Government acquisition, design, or construction processes;
- Questions or concerns regarding innovative or non-traditional contracting and project delivery methods;
- Differences between Korean commercial or Government practices and U.S. Government practices that may affect implementation;
- Barriers Korean companies may encounter when participating in U.S. Government projects;
- Opportunities to improve communication, collaboration, and early industry involvement;
- Recommendations for improving project delivery timelines, cost control, quality, flexibility, or efficiency;
- Recommendations for adapting successful Korean industry practices for use on U.S. Government projects; and
- Any other questions, concerns, or topics that industry believes would contribute to a productive discussion.
Companies are highly encouraged to submit any questions, concerns, or suggested discussion topics in advance, particularly those for which they would like to receive a Government response or clarification during the Reverse Industry Day.
Submission Deadline: 11 September 2026, at 5:00 PM Korean Standard Time (KST).
USACE FED will consider the information received in developing the event agenda and discussion topics and, as appropriate, will address industry questions and concerns during the Reverse Industry Day.
The Government's questions identified in this notice are intended to serve as discussion points and areas of interest rather than a formal questionnaire. Industry participants are encouraged to review these topics before the event and come prepared to discuss relevant capabilities, successful projects, lessons learned, potential challenges, and recommendations.
The overall objective is to promote an open and meaningful exchange between USACE FED and Korean industry and to identify innovative contracting, project delivery, design, and construction approaches that may improve the delivery of future USACE FED projects.
4. Contact Information
Please submit your response to the following email address:
CT-BOBranch@usace.army.mil
Update #2 ·
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Title: Exploring Innovative Design and Construction Methodologies with Korean Industry
1. Introduction
This is a ‘Special Notice - Request for Information' (RFI) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Far East District (FED) to the Design-Build (DB) firms. We are conducting market research to learn about industry capabilities. This is NOT a request for proposals or bids. We will not award a contract from this RFI, and we cannot pay for your response or any costs you incur.
Your information is voluntary and will help USACE FED make decisions. We will keep your information within our agency. If you share confidential business information, please mark it clearly. We will protect it from public release under U.S. law (Freedom of Information Act - FOIA).
2. Purpose
Currently, USACE FED is looking for better ways to manage projects, improve project timelines, and control costs. To do this, we are exploring innovative and non-traditional methods such as:
- Progressive Design-Build (PDB): The project scope and price are developed in stages. The owner and the Design-Build team work closely together to define the project before setting a final price. This allows for more flexibility and collaboration.
- Design-Build to Budget (DB2B): The project is designed and built to fit within a specific, pre-set budget. The team must deliver the best possible project quality and features within that financial limit.
- Other Transaction Authority (OTA) as a procurement method for the Government: A flexible U.S. Government contracting method thatallows for faster and more innovative solutions, by reducing some standard contracting rules.
*See supplemental information attached to this notice.
We invite all interested companies in design, engineering, construction, architecture-engineering, and project management with relevant experience and expertise in Korea. This includes companies with strong experience in private sector or Korean Government projects. You do not need prior experience with the U.S. Government or with our acquisition procedures. We want to learn about your successful methods and how they work.
3. Requested Information.
Your expertise is valuable to us. While we encourage responses to all the questions, please feel free to answer only the questions relevant to your capabilities and experience.
Company Details:
- Company Name, Address, Website
- Main Contact Person (Name, Title, Email, Phone)
- A short description of your company's main business and any special skills.
- How many years has your company been in design and/or construction?
- Have you worked with the U.S. Government before?
- Tell us about your company's ability to handle large design and construction projects in Korea.
- Experience with Innovative Methods:
- Do you have experience with any of these methods, or similar Korean commercial/government practices?
- Design-Build (DB)
- Progressive Design-Build (PDB)
- Design-Build to Budget (DB2B)
- Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) or similar flexible contracts
- Other unique or fast project methods used in Korea.
- Do you have experience with any of these methods, or similar Korean commercial/government practices?
- Industrialized Construction Methodologies:
- What capability do you have to offer for using:
- Volumetric Modular Construction?
- Prefabricated components designed for a specific building that are brought onsite and then assembled?
- Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings?
- Tension Fabric Structures?
- Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) for onsite construction?
- Please describe how you can provide maintenance facilities using Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings?
- Please describe how you can provide aircraft hangars using Tension Fabric Structures?
- Please describe how you can provide barracks, child development centers, kennels, and other repeatable buildings using:
- Volumetric Construction?
- Prefabricated components?
- 3D Printing?
- What other capabilities do you have to provide strategic agility by providing structures which can be repurposed or relocated as missions change? What type of facilities can you do this for?
- Are the materials available locally?
- How satisfied were your customers with the facilities you provided using these other construction methodologies?
- What capability do you have to offer for using:
- Korean Best Practices:
- Based on your experience, what design, construction, or project methods are very successful in Korea that USACE FED should consider? Why?
- Are there any U.S. Government rules or practices that might make it hard to use these methods? If so, what are your suggestions for other ways to do it?
4. Submission Instructions
Please send your response by September 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM, Korean Standard Time (KST) to the points of contact below.
- Your response should be in English and in PDF format.
- It should be no longer than 7 pages (not including a cover page). Ensure proprietary information is properly marked.
- Email subject line: "RFI Response: Innovative Design and Construction - [Your Company Name]".
5. Contact Information
Please submit your response to the following email address:
CT-BOBranch@usace.army.mil
Update #1 ·
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Title: Exploring Innovative Design and Construction Methodologies with Korean Industry
1. Introduction
This is a ‘Special Notice - Request for Information' (RFI) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Far East District (FED) to the Design-Build (DB) firms. We are conducting market research to learn about industry capabilities. This is NOT a request for proposals or bids. We will not award a contract from this RFI, and we cannot pay for your response or any costs you incur.
Your information is voluntary and will help USACE FED make decisions. We will keep your information within our agency. If you share confidential business information, please mark it clearly. We will protect it from public release under U.S. law (Freedom of Information Act - FOIA).
2. Purpose
Currently, USACE FED is looking for better ways to manage projects, improve project timelines, and control costs. To do this, we are exploring innovative and non-traditional methods such as:
- Progressive Design-Build (PDB): The project scope and price are developed in stages. The owner and the Design-Build team work closely together to define the project before setting a final price. This allows for more flexibility and collaboration.
- Design-Build to Budget (DB2B): The project is designed and built to fit within a specific, pre-set budget. The team must deliver the best possible project quality and features within that financial limit.
- Other Transaction Authority (OTA) as a procurement method for the Government: A flexible U.S. Government contracting method thatallows for faster and more innovative solutions, by reducing some standard contracting rules.
*See supplemental information attached to this notice.
We know that Korean companies are industry experts, possessing incredible skills and innovative ideas in design and construction. We invite all interested companies in design, engineering, construction, architecture-engineering, and project management with relevant experience and expertise in Korea. This includes companies with strong experience in private sector or Korean Government projects. You do not need prior experience with the U.S. Government or with our acquisition procedures. We want to learn about your successful methods and how they work.
3. Requested Information.
Your expertise is valuable to us. While we encourage responses to all the questions, please feel free to answer only the questions relevant to your capabilities and experience.
Company Details:
- Company Name, Address, Website
- Main Contact Person (Name, Title, Email, Phone)
- A short description of your company's main business and any special skills.
- How many years has your company been in design and/or construction?
- Have you worked with the U.S. Government before?
- Tell us about your company's ability to handle large design and construction projects in Korea.
- Experience with Innovative Methods:
- Do you have experience with any of these methods, or similar Korean commercial/government practices?
- Design-Build (DB)
- Progressive Design-Build (PDB)
- Design-Build to Budget (DB2B)
- Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) or similar flexible contracts
- Other unique or fast project methods used in Korea.
- Do you have experience with any of these methods, or similar Korean commercial/government practices?
- Industrialized Construction Methodologies:
- What capability do you have to offer for using:
- Volumetric Modular Construction?
- Prefabricated components designed for a specific building that are brought onsite and then assembled?
- Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings?
- Tension Fabric Structures?
- Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) for onsite construction?
- Please describe how you can provide maintenance facilities using Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings?
- Please describe how you can provide aircraft hangars using Tension Fabric Structures?
- Please describe how you can provide barracks, child development centers, kennels, and other repeatable buildings using:
- Volumetric Construction?
- Prefabricated components?
- 3D Printing?
- What other capabilities do you have to provide strategic agility by providing structures which can be repurposed or relocated as missions change? What type of facilities can you do this for?
- Are the materials available locally?
- How satisfied were your customers with the facilities you provided using these other construction methodologies?
- What capability do you have to offer for using:
- Korean Best Practices:
- Based on your experience, what design, construction, or project methods are very successful in Korea that USACE FED should consider? Why?
- Are there any U.S. Government rules or practices that might make it hard to use these methods? If so, what are your suggestions for other ways to do it?
4. Submission Instructions
Please send your response by September 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM, Korean Standard Time (KST) to the points of contact below.
- Your response should be in English and in PDF format.
- It should be no longer than 7 pages (not including a cover page). Ensure proprietary information is properly marked.
- Email subject line: "RFI Response: Innovative Design and Construction - [Your Company Name]".
5. Contact Information
Please submit your response to the following email address:
CT-BOBranch@usace.army.mil
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Playbook - Executing PDB with OTA.pdf | ||
| PDB-OTA Process Overview Placemat.pdf | ||
| Placemat Design Build to Budget.pptx | PPTX presentation |
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