PLA SURVEY - Test Maintenance Fabrication Facility, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) SURVEY for:

Test Maintenance Fabrication Facility, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland.

SOLICITATION NUMBER: W912DR25RA009

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (NAB), has been tasked to solicit for and award construction services for the Test Maintenance Fabrication Facility, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. The proposed project will be a competitive, firm-fixed-price (FFP), design-bid-build (DBB) contract procured in accordance with FAR 15, Contracting by Negotiations, under a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) process.

The project will consist of a Design Bid Build (DBB) new construction of a 113,800 square foot slab on grade Test Maintenance Fabrication Facility (TMFF) at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG).  The TMFF includes secure areas (no SCIF), tool crib, material storage area with overhead cranes, administrative areas, conference area, technical publication reference area, restroom facilities, and employee break and locker rooms. Supporting facility elements include all pertinent utilities, employee parking area, fenced secure vehicle parking area, concrete hardstand, walks, curbs and gutters, storm drainage, storm water management, landscape plantings, fencing and signage, as well as utilizing structural soil stabilization practices (i.e. soul cement technologies). Access for persons with disabilities will be provided in the administrative and common areas only. Heat and air conditioning will be self-contained systems.  The project will also include the identification and relocation of an existing ductbank which traverses the proposed site, and the demolition and disposal of an existing 10,556 square foot building and associated above ground 2,000-gallon fuel storage tank. No HAZMAT concerns have been identified for the building to be demolished.  Force protection measures include the use of standoff distances and security fencing. Design and construction will comply with, and include, where feasible, components for Sustainable Design & Development (SDD), Low Impact Development (LID), Renewable Energy, Net-Zero Water, and LEED. The facility 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.

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 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 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; and (2) Be consistent with law. Reference: Provision: FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement Clause FAR 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

The construction community is invited to comment on the use of PLAs. Of particular interest to the Government are responses to the following questions:

1.  Should PLAs be executed on selected large dollar contracts, specifically, to the Test Maintenance Fabrication Facility, located on Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland?
2.  Are you aware of any skilled labor shortages in the areas for those crafts that will be required on order to complete the referenced project? If so, please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible.
3.  What type of project should not be considered for PLA clauses? Why?
4.  What is the time impact to the completion of the contract due to a PLA?
5.  What is the cost impact to the bid due to a PLA?
6.  Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA on the referenced project?

Responses shall be submitted via email to Ms. Amber Rose at amber.L.rose@usace.army.mil no later than 12 noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) 29 January 2025. 

PLA SURVEY NUMBER: W912DR25R13MK

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.