The primary objective of the University Residential Building Systems (URBS) project was the achievement of significant gains in environmental qualities concurrent with reductions in the cost for construction, maintenance and alteration of student housing facilities. Evaluation of the bids for the URBS components indicates that the foregoing expectations have been achieved. This success is due partially to the performance specifications of the building components--(1) structure-ceiling, (2) heating-ventilating-cooling, (3) partitions, (4) bathrooms, and (5) furnishings. The derivation of the performance specifications from the user requirements translates qualitative statements about the needs of the user into quantitative criteria against which the performance of the final components can be compared and evaluated. The bidding procedure used required a preliminary design, a final design and a final priced proposal. This process separated questions arising from technical and aesthetic matters from questions of cost. Background information, priced proposals, bidder attrition and illustrations of URBS requirements and manufacturers proposals are supplied. (TC)