Project labor agreement (PLA) market survey: east campus building 4 (ECB4), fort george G. Meade, maryland

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for a large scale construction project (exceeding $25million) located on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Project Description:

Construct a new State-of-the-Art operations facility at approximately 864,000 gross square feet (GSF) in size including supporting facilities with associated site work and environmental measures. The facility will be built on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The primary facility will be comprised of a multi-story structure with full basement. The facility includes open office areas, operations areas, collaboration spaces, food market, fitness center and remote learning/unclassified VTC areas. The mission support areas provide joint staff offices, executive offices, machine rooms, storage, and meeting rooms.

The project consists of core and shell structure and foundation; elevator conveyance systems; electrical/mechanical service and distribution components and systems; fire protection, alarm and suppression; information technology infrastructure, communications, and security support infrastructure; exterior finishes and weatherproofing. Interior build out will provide raised access floor systems, acoustically-rated interior partitions and ceilings, power, lighting, environmental control and communications. The primary facility is not a standard design. The majority of the structure will be built to Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) standards. Project includes redundant primary power and Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) systems to ensure continuity of operations. This project requires comprehensive interior design.

Site infrastructure will include primary electrical service to the site, water, sewer, and telecommunications pathways. The supporting facilities include, site preparation and telecommunication improvements, utility services, perimeter security measures. Site preparation will include standard clearing, grubbing, cut, fill, grading and environmental protection structures. Additional site work consists of curb and gutter, walkways, courtyards and roads. Perimeter security reconstruction and extension is required with road improvements.

The project also includes a multi-level modular parking structure to support approximately 3,240 parking spaces with future expansion capability, pedestrian bridges connecting the adjoining East Campus User buildings and the parking structure and preparations for future bridge connection to potential future adjoining buildings.

PLA Background Information:

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 Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 22.503, Policy states: 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. 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 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: 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 PLA's by responding to the following questions:

(1) Do you have knowledge that a PLA has been used in the local areas on projects of this kind? If so, please provide supporting documentation.
(2) Are you aware of skilled labor shortage in the areas for those crafts that will be needed to complete the referenced project? If so, please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible.
(3) Are you aware of time sensitive issues/scheduling requirements that would affect the rate at which the referenced project should be completed? If so, please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible.
(4) Identify specific reasons why or how you believe a PLA would advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement.
(5) Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement.
(6) Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA on the referenced project.
(7) Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the non-use of a PLA on the referenced project.

The information gathered in this exercise should include the following information on projects completed in the last 2-5 years:

(1) Project Name and Location
(2) Detailed Project Description
(3) Initial Cost Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost
(4) Was the project completed on time?
(5) Number of craft trades present on the project
(6) Was a PLA used?
(7) Were there any challenges experienced during the project?

Responses are to be sent via email to Sierra Marshall at sierra.s.marshall@usace.army.mil no later than 11:00 AM (EST) on 30 October 2019. Responses are limited to seven (7) pages

This is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL and does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Reponses 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.

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