Advancing Federal Service through a Decade of Partnership
For a decade, HED worked side by side with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) through an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract that shaped a wide range of federal facilities. The IDIQ model created a steady, adaptable partnership that supported GSA’s evolving priorities while delivering clarity, speed, and design quality across every assignment. This long-term structure allowed HED to function as an extension of GSA’s own team, responding to mission needs with a mix of agility and technical depth across federal courthouses, offices, and operational spaces.
Each task order carried its own complexity. Some required rapid assessments and immediate recommendations. Others called for deep investigations, careful planning, and intricate design solutions in buildings that remained fully operational. Across the portfolio, HED approached every challenge with the same steady rhythm of responsiveness, rigor, and thoughtful collaboration—key attributes of the integrated design mindset reflected throughout the company’s federal work.
The Earle Cabell U.S. Courthouse and Santa Fe Federal Building in Dallas stands as a clear example of this partnership at work. As part of the IDIQ, HED completed a comprehensive physical and functional assessment of 1.6 million square feet across the two buildings.
Real estate data, facility conditions, building systems, and stakeholder needs were brought together into a unified evaluation that mapped a long-range strategy for modernization. The findings highlighted opportunities for system upgrades, spatial realignment, and energy optimization that supported GSA’s stewardship goals and the long-term viability of the federal asset.
These insights transitioned directly into built work. HED led targeted renovations throughout the courthouse, focusing on mission-driven spaces such as the 9th Floor U.S. Probation Courts, the U.S. Marshals Service processing and holding areas, and offices serving agencies including the Social Security Administration and the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services. Each renovation required careful phasing and close coordination to maintain continuous court operations, public access, and agency functions.
Technical precision guided every intervention. The team advanced upgrades to electrical systems and building automation, performed a chilled water distribution analysis that informed system redesign, and modernized courtroom technologies to support contemporary judicial needs. Accessibility and finish improvements across 58 public restrooms and drinking fountains further strengthened the building’s usability and long-term service to the public.
What set this IDIQ era apart was the consistency of approach across many different project types. The structure asked for efficiency without repetition and flexibility without drift. HED brought a steady, integrated mindset to each assignment, from the earliest site observations to the most complex technical upgrades. Together with GSA, the team advanced a shared goal: federal facilities that perform with greater reliability, adapt to shifting service demands, and continue to support the communities they serve.