Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Survey-VA Long Beach Medical Center Mental Health Inpatient and Outpatient Facilities, Los Angeles County, CA

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for large scale construction project (exceeding $25 million) within the Los Angeles County, state of California. 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) 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: 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement Clause 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

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

(1) Should PLAs be executed on selected large dollar, large scale civil works construction contracts in Los Angeles County, California? If yes, describe how a PLA will achieve economy and efficiency in the procurement, produce labor management stability, and/or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing safety and health, equal employment opportunity, labor and employment standards? If no, describe why?

(2) Are there concerns by prime contractors on the availability of skilled construction labor?

(3) Would a PLA benefit a project which contains a unique and compelling mission-critical schedule? How?

(4) What type of project should not be considered for PLA clauses?

(5) What is the time impact to the completion of the contract due to a PLA?

(6) What is the cost impact to the bid/proposal due to a PLA?

(7) What other factors should the Corps consider before deciding to include PLA provisions in a Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District contract?

Please limit your responses to no more than three (3) pages in length. Provide your comments via e-mail transmission to Wendell.L.Mendoza@usace.army.mil not later than 6 Oct 2017.