CUP Modernization PLA Sources Sought.pdf

TITLE: SOURCES SOUGHT Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Survey - NIST Central Utility Plant Modernization

Special Notice for Market Research for Use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for design-build construction services for the Modernization of the Central Utility Plant Complex (CUP) at Gaithersburg, MD for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Classification Product Service Code: Y1NB – Construction of Heating and Cooling Plants NAICS Code: 236220 – Commercial and Institutional Building Construction Place of Performance: Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA

Purpose This is a Special Notice for Market Research / Market Survey for Use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for design-build construction services for the Modernization of the CUP at NIST's Gaithersburg, MD campus. This is to inform whether it is in the best interest of the Government to pursue an exception to the requirement for PLAs for this large scale construction project. This is a NOT a solicitation announcement. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this PLA notice. No contract award will result from this Notice, as it does not constitute a commitment by the Government. Responses to this Notice will be used by the Government in making an appropriate acquisition decision.

Description of Work NIST is solicitating comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) on a FY25 Design-Build construction project on NIST's headquarters campus located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The project is the modernization of the Gaithersburg campus Central Utility Plant Complex (CUP). The CUP includes Building 302 -the Steam & Chilled Water Generation Plant (B302), Building 305 - Cooling Tower (B305), Building 305V - Electrical Service Building (B305V), Building 306 - Electrical Substation (B306), Building 316 - Electrical Service Building (B316), and Building 317 - Cooling Tower (B317).

• B302 is the Steam and Chilled Water Plant. It produces 150-psi steam by six watertube steam boilers and a cogeneration plant and 42°F chilled using seven water cooled chillers.

• B305 is two field erected, cooling towers serving chillers 1 through 6.

• B305V is electrical services for B305 condenser water system.

• B306 is electrical substation for distribution to the campus. Switchgear is rated 13.8-kV, 2000-Amp and configured in a ring-bus arrangement. The ring bus includes four bus segments. Three are directly connect to three 37.5-MVA PEPCO transformers.

• B316 is electrical services for B317 condenser water system.

• B317 is a cooling tower that serves chiller 7 and a free cooling heat exchanger.

The design-build construction project is based on a Program of Requirements (POR) completed in FY24. The POR defines the modernization and expansion of the CUP. It includes the replacement and expansion of campus cooling, heating systems, and electrical systems in phases to match growth outlined in the POR. Building modifications for CUP personnel are also defined in the POR and include toilet rooms, office, break rooms, storage, DDC monitoring/command center, and improved access for maintenance and operations. Requirements of the POR include:

1. Add 3,500-tons of peak cooling capacity

2. Replace existing cooling towers

3. Replace condenser water pumps

4. Connect cooling tower basins

5. Replace condenser water piping

6. Replace & expand secondary chilled water pumps

7. Replace boilers 5 & 6

8. Replace fuel oil pumps and monitoring system

9. Dedicated chemical treatment facility

10. Automate manual control processes

11. Replace controls

12. Replace chiller & boiler plant control booths/stations

13. Replace switchgear lineups

14. Replace motor control centers

15. Replace low voltage panel boards

16. Command Center for Campus / CUP Monitoring

17. Replace control system

18. Warehouse Storage with roll-up door for large parts

19. Document Storage

20. Expand Workroom

21. Meeting/Conference Room

22. Employee Break Room with Kitchen

23. Group Leader (Chief’s) Office

24. Bunk Space

25. HVAC for the building including air conditioning of employee spaces.

26. Update plumbing systems/fixtures to comply with current codes

27. Address building envelope deficiencies in Bldg 305V.

The campus will remain in operation during all construction activities. Access to building must be maintained for employees, visitors, and emergency response. Work is anticipated to be phased to accommodate this requirement.

Magnitude The magnitude of the estimated construction cost range for this project is between $150,000,000 and $270,000.000.

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 22.502 Definitions Project labor agreement means 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).

FAR 22.503 – Policy PLAs are a tool that agencies are required to use for the promotion of economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. This is pursuant to Executive Order 14063 for large-scale construction projects where total estimated cost to the Government is $35M or more. PLAs are required unless an exception applies.

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 PLA with one or more labor organizations if the agency decides that the use of PLAs will:

Advance the Federal Governments 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; Be consistent with law. (Refer also to FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for PLA and FAR 52.222-34 PLA).

Responses / Requested Information:

Responses must include the following information and shall not exceed a total of ten pages:

1. Would the requirement of a PLA under this project impact your interest in any way? Explain in detail.

2. How much time do you anticipate for submission of a proposal that includes a PLA requirement to be provided at time of proposal submission in accordance with FAR Clause 52.222-33?

3. 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 with the following items:

a. Project Name and Location

b. Project Description

c. Project Cost – Initial Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost

d. Was the project completed on time?

e. Number of craft trades present on the project.

f. Were there any challenges experience during the project (delays, investigations, safety issues, labor shortages, management/organizational issues, etc.)?

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Would the work involve specialized construction that is available from only a limited number of contractors or subcontractors? Explain in detail.

7. Identify specific reasons why or how you believe OR do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Government’s interest in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement.

8. Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use OR non-use of a PLA on the referenced project.

Letters simply indicating support for or opposition to labor unions do not offer any useful information and will not be considered.

After review of the responses to this special notice, the Government intends to decide on whether to pursue an exception to the mandatory use of a PLA or not. The Government will not contact the responders for clarification of information provided. This survey is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this market survey or otherwise pay for the requested information. The Government will not provide a debriefing on the results of this survey. All information will be held in a confidential manner and will only be used for the purposes intended.

Submission Instructions: Responses shall be submitted via email to Cheryl.Allen@nist.gov and Teresa.Harris@nist.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, 16 October 2024. Please title the subject line of your e-mail as “CUP Modernization PLA Sources Sought”.

mailto:Cheryl.Allen@nist.gov mailto:Teresa.Harris@nist.gov