36C10F22R0027_1.docx

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

Office of Construction and Facilities Management (00CFM3B) 425 I Street NW Washington DC 20001

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Isabell Coad isabell.coad@va.gov 224-610-7307

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

1 Jefferson Barracks Drive

St. Louis MO

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks expressions of interest for a construction contract at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Phase 5C with the use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).

Project Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive, St. Louis, MO 63125

Source Sought Notice

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks expressions of interest for a construction contract at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Phase 5C with the use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).

Project Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive, St. Louis, MO 63125

Project Description

This project provides for the Phase 5C of the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, located in St. Louis, MO. This project is to complete a cemetery expansion that will increase the burial capacity of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery for eligible veterans and their dependents in the St. Louis area. Phase 5C is an 8.5-acre cemetery expansion project to increase burial capacity of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (JBNC) to serve veterans in the St. Louis area. This cemetery expansion project identified as Phase 5C is expected to be the last expansion at JBNC. The expansion will include construction of a pre-placed crypts, in ground cremains areas, roadway expansion and improvements, irrigation, landscaping, GPS/GIS, utilities and signage in support of the expansion area.

The approximate project duration will be 548 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed. The estimated magnitude for this project is between $20,000,000 and $50,000,000. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) of 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction) with the size standard of $39.5 Million. CFM intends to conduct this acquisition as a “best value with tradeoffs” in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. This sources sought requires completion of the attached PLA questionnaire.

Sources Sought Notice

This sources sought notice is for market research purposes in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. It does not constitute a solicitation and is not to be considered as a commitment by the Government. All firms responding to this sources sought notice are advised that their response to this notice is not a request that will be considered for contract award. All interested parties will be required to respond to the resultant solicitation separately from their response to this sources sought. Firms interested in submitting their capabilities for this project must include the following information in the cover letter/introduction: (1) Company name, address, point of contact with phone number and e-mail address; (2) Business size determination and qualifying small business status, and (3) Bonding capacity (from surety). Please limit responses to fifteen (15) pages no less than 11 pt Calibri font. The Contractor capability statement shall include, but not be limited, to the following:

1) Corporate Experience:

· Provide at least three projects in the past five years that demonstrate experience with National Cemetery construction experience; if no national cemetery experiences provide at least three projects similar to parks, golf courses that contains at a minimum public restrooms, roads, landscaping and irrigation systems.

The Capability Statement must include Experience in all the elements of construction below:

I. Earth Work & Site Utilities

· The earth work must have been performed in the past five years with projects involving earth work and grading for cemeteries, parks or site development projects of at least 20 acres.

· Demonstrate experience with storm water management systems and site drainage for flat sites.

· Demonstrate experience with New York SWPPP systems and permits.

· Demonstrate experience with site utility construction.

II. Paving

· Paving projects of similar size and scope preferably with experience in State of New York road construction.

III. Landscaping

· Landscaping projects involving planting and lawn installation for cemeteries, parks, golf courses or other similar sites of at least 20 acres in climates similar to western New York.

IV. Irrigation

· The irrigation system installation for cemetery, park or golf course sites of at least 20 acres, including lakes and pumping systems.

V. Precast Concrete Burial Components

· Demonstrate experience with successful fabrication and installation of precast crypt and precast columbarium, preferably on multiple cemetery projects.

VI. Phasing and Continuity of Operations

· Demonstrate experience with best practices to successfully complete phased site work at an occupied and functioning facility in a way to minimize noise and dust and minimize detrimental effects on cemetery operations.

2) Current Project List:

Provide a detailed list of ongoing projects minor and major; the description shall include project type, award amount and period of performance.

3) Project Labor Agreement (PLA) questionnaire must be filled out and attached.

A PLA is defined as a pre-hire Collective Bargaining Agreement with 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:

(a) Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is a tool that agencies may use to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. Pursuant to Executive Order 13502, agencies are encouraged to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements in connection with large-scale construction projects.

(b) 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-

(1) 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

(2) Be consistent with law.

(c) Agencies may also consider the following factors in deciding whether the use of a project labor agreement is appropriate for the construction project:

(1) The project will require multiple construction contractors and/or subcontractors employing workers in multiple crafts or trades.

(2) There is a shortage of skilled labor in the region in which the construction project will be sited.

(3) Completion of the project will require an extended period of time.

(4) Project labor agreements have been used on comparable projects undertaken by Federal, State, municipal, or private entities in the geographic area of the project.

(5) 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.

(6) Any other factors that the agency decides are appropriate.

See FAR Provision: 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement and FAR Clause 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement for further details.

Please submit capability packages via email to: Isabell Coad, Contracting Officer at isabell.coad@va.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. CT on January 17, 2022, in the subject line state “Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Phase 5C and [Company Name]." At this time, no solicitation exists, therefore, DO NOT REQUEST A SOLICITATION PACKAGE.

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) QUESTIONNAIRE: (Please respond to the questions below)

1. Is your company familiar with Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and its use on construction projects?

Yes/No

Comments:

2. Would your company likely submit a proposal for the VA construction solicitation that requires the use of a PLA?

3. If VA requires a PLA, would your proposed construction cost likely to increase or decrease and what is the likely percentage of cost increase or decrease?

4. Does the VA requirement to use of a PLA on a construction project restrict competition?

5. Do you expect subcontractor resistance should VA requires the use of a PLA on this construction solicitation?

6. Do you have additional comments regarding the use of a PLA for this project?

Company's Name and DUNS:

Company's Address:

Today's Date:

Company Representative's Print Name:

Company Representative’s Signature:

Telephone number and email:

Please submit your PLA questionnaire by 4:30pm CT, January 17, 2022 isabell.coad@va.gov.

Sources Sought Notice