Doing Submittals from UFGS Specs on Government Projects

Understanding UFGS, Product Specs, Submittal Descriptions, and the QC Process on Government Projects  

According to the AGC, the federal government spends almost $140 billion per year on construction, on everything from agricultural research facilities to embassy security to transportation infrastructure. Projects done by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, and NASA account for a good chunk of this spending.

As the old saying goes, there is the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. You’ll find specifications and submittal procedures work slightly differently on military projects than they do in commercial, non-military construction. Here are some of the differences we have observed.

UFGS vs. Commercial Construction Specs

In non-military work, other than DOT projects, specifications almost always use the numbers and titles found in MasterFormat. They also use the standard three-part spec format: PART 1 – GENERAL; PART 2 – PRODUCTS; and PART 3 – EXECUTION.

Do all of your UFGS submittals with Submittal.com. 21-day Free TrialMilitary projects use specifications based on the United Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS). These specs are in the public domain and are available to anyone. If you know MasterFormat, you’ll find a set of numbers and titles that are similar, but not quite the same. You’ll also find some distinct differences in the ways specs are presented. They include:

  • Numbering scheme
  • Product specs are 100% standards and performance based
  • A different way of identifying action, informational, and closeout submittals

Fortunately, UFGS specs use the standard three-part format – there is no extra learning there.

Numbering Scheme
Almost all commercial specifications use a standard outline format: Decimal number, then a capital letter, followed by a number and small letters.

An example of numbering for MasterFormat submittal specifications
Example of a commercial project spec for concrete form materials, showing the decimal, capital letter, number, and small letter format.

UFGS specs, by contrast, are all decimals.

An example of numbering for UFGS submittal specifications.
Outline for concrete form material spec on UFGS, showing the decimal format.

Product Specs

In commercial work, product specs tend to be “multiple choice,” providing a choice of manufacturers and products, or “generic”, providing a performance standard a product must meet. In cases like this, contractor makes the product selection, subject to approval by the architect or engineer. (Occasionally you will encounter a “proprietary” spec, allowing for only one product or system.)

In the UFGS world, there are no multiple-choice or proprietary specifications. Most likely this is because the government cannot be seen as endorsing particular products or manufacturers. Like the generic specs in commercial work, builders and their suppliers have to verify that the product they are choosing meets the standards set forth in the spec.

Builders also need to provide manufacturer data sheets as submittals. Many submittal procedures require the contractor to annotate the datasheet, highlighting the ASTM or other standards called out in the specs. If the product you submitted doesn’t meet the standard (or you forgot to highlight it), be prepared to get it back to “revise and resubmit.”

Example of acceptable product specification for submittal on a non-federal project
Example of a sealant spec on a non-federal educational project showing five product choices.
Example of a standard-based product specification for submittal on a federal project
UFGS sealant spec – product choice is entirely based on standards.

Action and Informational Submittals – UFGS Descriptions and Approval Notations

Submittals come in two basic flavors: action submittals, which require approval by the design team, and informational submittals, which become part of the project record but do not need design team approval. Some people consider closeout submittals, delivered at the end of the project, to be in their own special category. Some of these closeout submittals need to be approved, others do not. (For more info see: “What Are Construction Submittals, and What is the Point of Doing Them?”)

Most commercial specs callout action submittals, informational submittals and closeout submittals in separate parts of the outline format.

Example of Action and Informational submittal requirements in a commercial construction spec book
Commercial spec example of action and informational submittals in outline form.

UFGS projects work differently. The government has established 11 submittal descriptions (SD) or submittal types, as follows:

Submittal
Description
Types of Content
SD-01
Preconstruction Submittals
Certificates Of Insurance, Surety Bonds, List Of Proposed Subcontractors, Schedules, Submittal Log, Quality Control plan, etc. 
SD-02
Shop Drawings
Drawings, diagrams and schedules to illustrate portions of the work. 
SD-03
Product Data
Manufacturer product datasheets and submittal information. 
SD-04
Samples
Jobsite mockups and color samples. 
SD-05
Design Data
Design calculations, mix designs, and analyses.
SD-06
Test Reports
Lab reports and acceptance tests.
SD-07
Certificates
Manufacturer certificates, Confined space entry permits.
Text of posted operating instructions
SD-08
Manufacturer’s Instructions
Installation and handling details. 
SD-09
Manufacturer’s Field Reports
Testing and verification actions taken by manufacturers’ reps at the job site.
SD-10
Operation and Maintenance Data
Data needed by facility managers for operations. 
SD-11
Closeout Submittals
All requirements related to closing out the contract. 

In each specification section submittal requirements are classified using these SD types. The builder has to submit them in this form. Action submittals will also have a “G” designation, meaning that they will require government approval. If there is no G designation, then they are for information only. Just as in commercial work, action submittals must be done separately from informational ones.

Army Corps of Engineers projects will sometimes have additional designations after the G indicating what level of approval a submittal will need.

Regardless of whether you are the GC or subcontractor on a government project, it’s very important that you read Section 01 33 00, Submittal Procedures, before starting work. If you have questions on how to set up packages, we suggest you clarify them with the Construction Quality Control System Manager on the project.

Quality Control, Approvals, and Final Notes

On government projects submittals are often managed by a designated Construction Quality Control System Manager, or CQC. They are responsible for overall project quality control, making sure the builders are doing the job as the contract documents require.

As a contractor on the project, you’ll do your iterations with the CQC. When the CQC is satisfied, they approve and stamp the submittal and then send it to the design team for final government review and approval.

In summary, here are some important distinctions to keep in mind on projects with UFGS specs:

AttributesUFGS Approach
Numbering schemeAll decimals, such as: 2.1.1.3
Product SpecsAll generic, referencing ASTM and other standards. 
Submittal Types Identified by the SD-01 through SD-11 designations
Action and Informational
Submittals
Action submittals are noted “G”, for government approval.  
ManagementKey role of the Construction Quality Control System Manager.

Submittal.com can help you with government projects: we include easily usable presets for UFGS numbering and well as the full set of SD designations for submittal types.

As anyone who has worked on government projects can testify, submittal requirements can be onerous. Hopefully this article has shed some light on how submittals on UFGS-based projects work.

On that note, we wish you all the best on your next government project. Questions or comments? Please let us know – we would be delighted to hear from you.