PLA for CLR049 84 Person Dormitory

Special Notice for Market Research for Use of a Project Labor Agreement on Alaska District Corps of Engineers Project CLR049, 84 Person Dormitory, Clear SFS, Alaska.

Classification Code:  Y1FC – Construction of Troop Housing Facilities

NAICS Code:  236220 – Commercial and Institutional Building Construction

Synopsis:

The Corps of Engineers, Alaska District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on FY23 Design Build project for the CLR049 84 Person Dormitory, Clear SFS, Alaska.  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 13502, agencies are encouraged to consider requiring the use of PLAs 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 the law.  Reference: FAR Provision 52.222-33, Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement and Clause 52.222-34, Project Labor Agreement.

In order to assist in the evaluation as to whether the use of a PLA is appropriate for project CLR049, 84 Person Dormitory, Clear SFS, Alaska, the Alaska District is soliciting information on historical use of PLAs in Alaska.  Any interested party (contractors, project owners, contractor associations, labor unions, construction management firms, etc.) may respond.

LETTERS SIMPLY INDICATING SUPPORT FOR OR OPPOSITION TO LABOR UNIONS AND/OR PLAs DO NOT OFFER ANY USEFUL INFORMATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

Please provide responses to any, or all, of the following questions:

1. What market share does union labor have in the Clear, Alaska geographical area?
2. Are any Collective Bargaining Agreements expected to expire between January 2022 and January 2023
3. Could a PLA contribute to cost savings on the CLR049 project?  How?
4. Could a PLA minimize risk to the Government on the CLR049 project?  How?
5. Are there ways a PLA would increase costs on the CLR049 project?  How?
6. Are there concerns by prime contractors on the availability of skilled construction labor in the Clear, Alaska labor market?
7. What is the time impact to the completion of the contract due to a PLA?
8. Have PLAs been used on private sector construction projects in the Clear, Alaska geographical area?  If so, please provide the following details:

1. Project Name and Location
2. Project Description
3. Project Cost
4. Was the project completed on time?
5. Number of craft trades present on the project?
6. Were there any challenges experienced during the project (delays, investigations, safety issues, labor shortages, management/organizational issues, etc.)?

Please limit your responses to NO MORE THAN TWO (2) PAGES IN LENGTH.

Provide your comments via email to Ron Jackson, Contract Specialist, at ronald.k.jackson@usace.army.mil, NO LATER THAN 1 November 2021.

Contracting Office Address:

ATTN:  CEPOA-CT

P.O. Box 6898

JBER, Alaska 99506-6898

United States

Place of Performance:

Clear SFS, Alaska

Primary Point of Contact:

Ron Jackson

ronald.k.jackson@usace.army.mil

Fax:  907-753-5596