Market Research – Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Applicability for NIST CUP Modernization
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- OFPM_TEAM_SS26_05
- Agency
-
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
- Place of performance
- Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency under the Department of Commerce, is conducting market research to assess the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and competitive impact of implementing a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the design-build construction of the Central Utility Plant (CUP) Modernization at NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland campus. NIST is seeking vendor feedback on critical factors including cost impacts, competitive considerations, labor market availability, and administrative implications associated with a potential PLA requirement. This is an unrestricted solicitation open to all qualified offerors in the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector (NAICS 236220). Interested parties must submit PDF responses not exceeding 10 pages by 1:00 PM EST on January 21, 2026, to Brandon Butler via email. The evaluation of responses will focus on the practical and financial viability of requiring a PLA for this modernization initiative.
This pre-solicitation notice involves no set-aside designations and carries no identified incumbent contractors. The CUP Modernization project encompasses modernizing, replacing, and expanding utility infrastructure including steam and chilled water systems, cooling towers, electrical service buildings, and various system upgrades, with a planned capacity expansion of 3,500 tons of cooling capacity. The size standard for this procurement is $39.5 million, which will guide the determination of small business eligibility. While specific award values are not disclosed in the market research phase, the scope and scale of infrastructure modernization suggest a substantial capital construction project. The market research represents a preliminary phase intended to inform whether a PLA will be practicable and cost-effective before formal solicitation of actual design-build construction services.
Notice text
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to determine the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and competitive impact of requiring a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the design-build construction of the Central Utility Plant (CUP) Modernization at NIST Gaithersburg, MD. Please see attached CUP PLA Market Research document for details.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| CUP PLA Market Research.docx | DOCX document |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| This notice | Pre-Solicitation | |
| Amendment 2-Solicitation - CUP - Two-Phase Design-Build Acquisition for Modernization and Expansion of Central Utility Plant | Solicitation | |
| Presolicitation Notice - Two-Phase Design-Build Acquisition for Modernization and Expansion of Central Utility Plant | Pre-Solicitation | |
| SOURCES SOUGHT Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Survey - NIST Central Utility Plant Modernization | Pre-Solicitation | |
| SOURCES SOUGHT Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Survey - NIST Central Utility Plant Modernization | Pre-Solicitation |
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