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B-146312-O.M. 1 (1961-11-28)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadble0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 1-is--- / I- a?4. UNITED STATES GENERA ACCOUNTING OFFICE j /L4 3 / 2- -rO#/. WASHINGTON 25, D. C. Ci- AccC1wfaDI AND AuDffl DIViION The Comptroller General During our review of the actlivties of the Public Buildings Service (Pas), General Services Administramon (GSA), questions have arisen as to the intended scope of the architct-engineer fee limitation contained In section 304(b) of the Federal Pneparty and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 254(b)), which precludes a fee in excess of 6 per cen- tum of the estimated costs of any pablic works or utility project. PBS is responsible for the design and construction, extension, re- modeling, repair and improvement of many public buildings. In discharg- tng some of its responsibilities PS negotiates contracts with architects to design, prepare working drawins and specifications, and perform certain pest-construction contract services on .mst of the buildings. In cases when the services required are primarily engineering, PBS negotiates con- tracts with professional engineers -i private practice. In some instances, the professional services contract with the architect or engineer include supervision of construction, or a supervision option. In other instances, supervision of projects is accomplished by PBS. The American Institute of Achitects (A.I,4. in A.I.A. Document vs. 308 (Rev. September 15, 1953) states3 among other things, that The Architect supervises the entire caestruction to assure that all provisions of working drawings and specifications are faithfully and properly carried out.* The 1958 A.I.A. handbook emitled Handbook of Architectural Prac- tice' states that the normal practice of an architect consists of: (1) con- sultations with his client, (2) tUe preparation. of designs and constructio documents; and (3) the administration of the construction of a building project. With respect to normal auchitectural services the A.I.A. handbook. Indicates that the normal services of a principal architect may be divided Into four phasess (1) schematic dmsignp (2) design development, (3) con- struction documents, and (4) conttruction. The Washington-Metropolitan Chapter of the A.I.A. prepared and issued In June 1947 a circular on architetural services and fees. A recent visit; to the A.I.A. Washington-MetropolfLtan Chapter revealed that the June 1947 circular had not been replaced by a new issuance and that the Chapter is currently working on a new fee scihedule which may take more than a year to prepare. In the 1947 circular it is stated that the architect's services are divided into preliminary, contract document and supervisory services.