PN 103069 PLA SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR PROJECT LABOR AGGREEMENTS (PLAs) TO

CONSTRUCT PN 103069 Net-Zero Carbon – Unaccompanied Personnel Facility, Fort Liberty, North Carolina

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for a large-scale construction project (exceeding $25 million) within the Ft Liberty, North Carolina area. This procurement is for project PN 103069, to construct a Net-Zero Carbon – Unaccompanied Personnel Facility, Fort Liberty, North Carolina

The project scope of work consists of construction of a Net-Zero Unaccompanied Personnel Housing Facility at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. The housing facility will provide a new 146 soldier 4-story Barracks meeting the 2021 Army Standard requirements. This barracks will include dwelling units that consist of sleeping quarters with walk-in closets, kitchen, living area, bathroom, and laundry. Common areas include a dayroom, lobby, Charge of Quarters, fitness room and vending area. The building exterior wall will utilize materials and products with “low” Global Warming Potential as defined in the Carbon Leadership Forum’s 20 July 2021 Material Baselines reports. The projects include materials such as: Concrete, Masonry, Steel, Aluminum, Insulation and Cladding. Additional Sustainable features are to include optimal solar orientation and shading, daylighting, natural ventilation, superinsulation, high performance glazing, elimination of thermal bridges and increased airtightness of construction.

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) 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 14063, 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. Reference: Provision: 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement and Clause 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

Please provide the below requested information on projects completed in the last 5 years:

Project Name / Location

Detailed Project Description

Initial Cost Est. / Actual final cost

Was the project completed on-time?

Number of craft trades present on the project

PLA

(Y/N)

Were there any challenges experienced during project? (delays, investigations, health and safety issues, labor shortages, management/organizational issues, etc)

1)

2)

3)

Requested are responses to the following:

(1) Category of Construction (residential, commercial, highway, heavy industrial)

(2) Estimated cost, duration, deadline and complexity

(3) Which trades are expected to be employed on the projects?

a. Are you likely to need some union skilled trades for at least part of this project?

(4) What market share does union labor have in the geographic area for this project or type of construction?

(5) Does the local market contain the sufficient number of available skilled workers for this project?

a. Are the other projects in the vicinity going to limit the pool of skill labor available for your project?

(6) Has a project like this been done before in the local market?

(7) What investments have been made to support registered apprenticeship programs?

(8) Will the completion of the project require an extended period of time or have sensitive deadlines?

(9) Have PLAs been used on comparable projects undertaken by the public or private sector in this geographic region? Have PLAs been used on this type of project in other regions?

(10) Which CBAs are likely to expire during the course of the project under consideration that might cause delays? (local building trades and contractors can provide information)

(11) How do prevailing wage rates in the local market compare to Davis Bacon rates?

a. What impact does unionization in the local market have on wages?

(12) Could a PLA contribute to cost savings in any of the following ways?

a. Harmonization of shifts and holidays between the trades to cut labor costs?

b. Minimizing disruptions that may arise due expiration of CBA?

c. Availability of trained, registered apprentices, efficient for highly skilled workforce?

d. Allowing for changes in apprentice to journeyman ratio.

e. Serving as a management tool that ensures highly skilled workers from multiple trades are coordinated in the most efficient way?

f. Other?

(13) Could a PLA minimize risk and contribute to greater efficiency in any of the following ways?

a. Mechanisms to avoid delays

b. Complying with labor standards, safety rules and EEO laws.

c. Ensuring a steady supply of skilled labor in markets with low supply or high competition for workers.

(14) Are there ways in which a PLA might increase costs on this particular project?

Responses shall be submitted via email to Karri Mares at karri.l.mares@usace.army.mil and John Hill at john.t.hill@usace.army.mil no later than 2:00 PM EST on Friday, December 22, 2023.

This is NOT a Request for Proposal and does not constitute any commitment by the Government.

Responses to this labor market survey will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this survey.