Interior Designer V

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) directs the worldwide overseas building program for the U.S. Department of State. Working with other offices and bureaus, foreign affairs agencies, and Congress, OBO sets worldwide priorities for the design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, use, and sale of real properties and the use of sales proceeds. As the single real property manager for the U.S. government's diplomatic facilities overseas, OBO's portfolio spans 285 worldwide missions and over 80,000,000 square feet of functioning property.

OBO's primary mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support the Department's staff as they work to achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives abroad.

The Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate (PDCS) is responsible for the design, coordination, and management of OBO's construction and renovation programs.

The Office of Design and Engineering (DE) provides expertise in architecture; landscape architecture; space programming; space planning; interior design; graphic design; sustainability; civil, structural, seismic, blast, geotechnical, electrical, and mechanical engineering; energy; telecommunications; and security. Working with Planning and Real Estate, DE develops the Space Requirements Programs (SRP) which serves as the basis of design for all projects. DE also coordinates the design of OBO's building program, managing designs from planning through construction.

DE monitors the performance of architecture-engineering contractors hired to execute OBO's projects. The office serves as the building code official, confirms the technical adequacy of construction documents, and issues building permits. The Energy group (NRG) provides multidisciplinary expertise for high performance buildings, planning, design, engineering, construction, utility management, and maintenance of OBO projects.

This requirement will support the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Program Development, Coordination and Support Directorate, Office of Design and Engineering, Interior Design Division (OBO/PDCS/DE/).

• As an Interior Designer assigned to PDCS/DE/, the contractor is responsible for coordinating, tracking, and monitoring program-wide requirements and schedules to support the Department of State’s overseas building program. The contractor performs tasks and assignments that include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
• Serves as the skilled designer in the evaluation and selection of leased properties, working in partnership with appointed real estate specialists, in reviewing facilities for conformance to facility requirements; makes technical recommendations to a senior designer or management regarding the lease or improvements based on examination of surveys, plans and specifications; prepares studies indicating how properties may be utilized or improved.
• Assists in evaluation of architect/engineer and interior design contracts; reviews preliminary designs for program conformity, technical sufficiency, and general suitability; attends formal and informal meetings for design review and approval; provides design guidance to obtain desired results; participates in value engineering studies and examines and evaluates the commissioned architect/engineer’s recommendations.
• Assists with reconciliation of design issues with internal and external stakeholders; coordinates with engineering disciplines regarding structural, mechanical, security, fire protection, and telecommunications/electrical requirements of projects; oversees review of plans and specifications for fire protection, physical safety, and conformity with the International Building Code; participates in Integrated Design Reviews; evaluates performance of commissioned architects/engineers regarding adherence to contract terms, work progress, and payment for services;
• Supports and advises with the preparation of preliminary and final design for projects on which no contract architects or interior designers are commissioned; develops sketches illustrating possibilities for development of…