National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) Secure Operations and Admin Facility

The Corps of Engineers Norfolk District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the following large scale (exceeding $25 Million) construction project: National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) Secure Operations and Admin Facility, Rivanna Station, Virginia.

Project Description: Construct an 80,800 square feet Secure Operations and Administration Facility (SOAF) Addition and multilevel parking structure. Addition will extend the secure boundary of the existing Nicholson building, and include critical laboratory spaces on the first two levels, with workstations and meeting areas on the third level that are structured to accommodate mission, collaboration and training either in a secure or non-secure environment. The addition will tie into the 2nd, 3rd and 4th levels of the existing facility, and include raised access flooring, elevators and restrooms, a fire detection system, fire suppression systems, and mechanical systems that are independent but tied into the existing Nicholson building systems chiller and EMCS. A temporary SCIF boundary wall will be constructed on the connections to the existing facility to keep the existing SCIF accreditation prior to connections from the new addition. Electrical power for the addition will be provided with electrical power from an expansion of the existing building switchgear, and include redundant standby generators and a UPS system for the SCIF information technology center. The building will be designed to comply with TEMPEST standards and accommodate AT/FP requirements including design for progressive collapse. Rock excavation is included to make the addition possible using a cantilever design to reduce construction costs. Supporting facilities will include electric, water and gas distribution, sanitary and storm water drainage systems on and offsite. The parking structure will be built over existing on-grade parking to minimize the amount of additional parking that needs to be provided - 250 additional spaces will be provided on two levels. Facilities will be designed to a minimum life of 40 years in accordance with DoD's Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC 1-200-02) including energy efficiencies, building envelope and integrated building systems performance.

Magnitude of construction cost: Between $25,000,000 and $100,000,000. Estimated completion date is 1200 calendar days from notice to proceed.
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).
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 organization if the agency decides that the use of project labor agreements will:
c) Advance the Federal Government's interest in achieving economy and efficiency I 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
d) Be consistent with law.

Reference: Provision 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement
Clause 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement

In consideration of the above factors, and any others which may be deemed appropriate, the construction community is invited to comment on the use of PLAs. Of particular interest to the Government are response to the following questions:
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? Are these large scale construction projects I the area (over $25M, within 50 miles of Fort Eustis, VA) which could impact availability of skilled labor for this project? What is the anticipated volatility in the labor market for the trades required for execution of the project? Please provide supporting documentation.
3. Are you aware of time sensitive issues/scheduling requirements that would impact the rate at which the referenced project should be completed? If so, please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible.
4. Is the proposed schedule/completion time one which would benefit for a PLA - if so, how? Will a PLA impact the completion time? Would a PLA benefit a project which contains a unique and compelling mission-critical schedule?
5. Are there any concerns regarding labor-management stability related to this project? Will the use of a PLA produce labor-management stability on this project? Have labor disputes or other labor issues contributed to project delays in the local area? Are you aware of examples of labor-management conflicts in the area which could impact the efficiency of this project, which a PLA could positively impact/resolve?
6. Identify specific reasons why or how you believe a PLA would advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement.
7. Please identify and additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA on the referenced project.

Please provide your comments via e-mail to Mr. Stephen Astwood at email: stephen.d.astwood@usace.army.mil and a copy to Ms. Dianne Grimes, Contracting Officer at Dianne.k.grimes@usace.army.mil no later than 10:00 AM EST on November 13, 2019.

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 market survey.