The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for a large-scale construction project with a construction magnitude between $100M and $250M for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) Consolidated Maintenance Facility (CMF) located at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming (WY). Email your responses no later than 2:00 PM central time on 1 April 2024 to
[email protected] and courtesy copy
[email protected]. Ensure your response is limited to 5 pages and the Subject Line of your response includes “ PLA Survey – GBSD CMF, F.E. Warren AFB, WY ”. Please provide your contact information in the body of the email. A PLA is defined as a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement between a Prime contractor and one or more labor organizations that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project and is an agreement described in 29 U.S. C. 158(f). Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 22.503) Policy provides that: (a) Executive Order (E.O.) 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, requires agencies to use project labor agreements in large-scale construction projects to promote economy and efficiency in the administration and completion of Federal construction projects. (b) When awarding a contract in connection with a large-scale construction project (see 22.502), agencies shall require use of project labor agreements for contractors and subcontractors engaged in construction on the project, unless an exception at 22.504(d) applies. (c) An agency may require the use of a project labor agreement on projects where the total cost to the Federal Government is less than that for a large-scale construction project, if appropriate. (1) An agency may, if appropriate, require that every contractor and subcontractor engaged in construction on the project agree, for that project, to negotiate or become a party to a project labor agreement with one or more labor organizations if the agency decides that the use of project labor agreements will— (i) Advance the Federal Government's interest in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement, producing labor-management stability, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations governing safety and health, equal employment opportunity, labor and employment standards, and other matters; and (ii) Be consistent with law. (2) Agencies may consider the following factors in deciding whether the use of a project labor agreement is appropriate for a construction project where the total cost to the Federal Government is less than that for a large-scale construction project: (i) The project will require multiple construction contractors and/or subcontractors employing workers in multiple crafts or trades. (ii) There is a shortage of skilled labor in the region in which the construction project will be sited. (iii) Completion of the project will require an extended period of time. (iv) Project labor agreements have been used on comparable projects undertaken by Federal, State, municipal, or private entities in the geographic area of the project. (v) A project labor agreement will promote the agency's long term program interests, such as facilitating the training of a skilled workforce to meet the agency's future construction needs. (vi) Any other factors that the agency decides are appropriate Please incorporate responses to the following questions within your submission: 1) Do you have knowledge that a PLA has been used in the local area on projects of this kind? If so, please provide supporting documentation. 2) Are you aware of skilled labor shortages in the area for those crafts that will be needed to complete the referenced project? If so, please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible. 3) Are you aware of time sensitive issues/scheduling requirements that would affect the rate at which the referenced project should be completed? If so, please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible. 4) Identify specific reasons why or how you believe a PLA would advance the Federal Government’s interest in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. 5) Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Government’s interest in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. 6) Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA on the referenced project. 7) Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the non-use of a PLA on the referenced project. 8) Will the inclusion of the PLA requirement affect industry proposal submission timeliness? Please provide anticipated time required to draft and include a PLA with a proposal package. 9) How would a PLA on this project impact small business participation? Include any relevant information regarding small business prime and/or subcontractors who may or may not be non-signatory to a PLA concurrently working a separate contract on the same project site. 10) How would a PLA impact costs, schedule, and overall execution of the contract? The information gathered in this survey should include the following information on projects completed in the last five (5) years: 1. Project Name and Location 2. Detailed Project Description 3. Initial Cost Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost 4. Was the project completed on time? 5. Number of craft trades present on the project 6. Was a PLA used? 7. Were there any challenges experienced during the project? GBSD CMF Project Description: This upcoming solicitation will be executed using a design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery method, which will require the contractor to provide the Government with a complete facility and warranty based on the Request for Proposal (RFP). This project includes a 188,000 SF maintenance facility consisting of offices, maintenance, and High Bay areas. The two-story facility will consist of reinforced concrete foundations, steel frame, precast concrete, and exterior metal paneling. Additional features include mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire detection and suppression, telecommunications, controls, cybersecurity, intrusion detection, access control, furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), uninterrupted power supply (UPS), electronic security systems (ESS), closed circuit televisions system (CCTV), audio and visual systems (A/V). Infrastructure will be constructed to support Government-installed systems and networks. Sitework includes grading, drainage, sanitary sewer, water, power, telecommunications, concrete and asphalt pavement, proof load test pit, and landscaping. All items listed are critical to support a complete and usable facility. The project will comply with all applicable Department of Defense (DoD), Air Force, and base design standards. The project will use local materials and construction techniques where cost effective. The Contractor must build facilities as permanent construction in accordance with the DoD UFC 1-200-01, "General Building Requirements" and UFC 1-200-02, "High Performance and Sustainable Building Requirements." This project will comply with DoD antiterrorism/force protection requirements per UFC 4-010-01, "DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings" and include cybersecurity measures per UFC 4-010-06, "Cybersecurity of Facility-Related Control Systems." Secure Areas will have security features as required by DoD Manual 5200.1 Volume 3.