Project Labor Survey - Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System (VASTLHCS) John Cochran (JC) Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri

PROJECT LABOR MARKET SURVEY FOR PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS (PLA) FOR:

REPLACE BED TOWER, CLINICAL EXPANSION, AND PARKING GARAGE, JOHN COCHRAN DIVISION, ST. LOUIS, MO.   

The Corps of Engineers Kansas City District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for a large scale construction project (exceeding $500 million) within the St. Louis Metropolitan area. 

John Cochran VA hospital Requirement:  The construction of new and replacement facilities at the John Cochran VA hospital in St. Louis, MO. The project is tentatively scheduled for large scale construction to start in FY 26. The hospital complex may consist of the following facilities/improvements (quantities subject to change):

• New Bed Tower (500,000gsf)
• New Central Energy Plant (75,000gsf)
• New IT/Engineering/Warehouse (95,000gsf)
• New Water Storage Structure
• New Elevated Parking Structure (1,500spaces)
• Construction related site work
• Demolition of existing ancillary structures

This Project will begin to right-size the VA’s John Cochran Division Medical Center by demolishing several deficient and underutilized buildings, constructing multiple new seismically compliant structures & facilities and planning for future expansion and demolition of primary facilities under a coordinated master plan. This project will design and build those features identified in coordination to the adjacent and active medical center, including a new substance abuse treatment clinic, new site electrical service, relocated utilities and upgraded security features. New parking structure(s) are necessary to support current and future parking demands. New central energy plant is necessary to replace existing aged and undersized plant in support of current and future facilities.

A project labor agreement is defined as a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor organization 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). See FAR 22.503 policy for details.

Executive Order (E.O.) 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, requires agencies to use project labor agreements in large-scale construction projects to promote economy and efficiency in the administration and completion of Federal construction projects.

(b) When awarding a contract in connection with a large-scale construction project (see 22.502), agencies shall require use of project labor agreements for contractors and subcontractors engaged in construction on the project, unless an exception at 22.504(d) applies.

The Kansas City District requests responses to the following construction labor 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?  The information should include the following information on projects completed in the last 2-5 years:

a) Project Name and Location

b) Detailed Project Description

c) Initial Cost Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost

d) Was the project completed on time?

e) Number of craft trades present on the project

f) Was a PLA used?

g) Were there any challenges experienced during the project?

1. Are you aware of skilled labor shortages in the area for those crafts that will be needed to complete the referenced project?  If so please elaborate and provide supporting documentation where possible.
2. Does the local market contain the sufficient number of available skilled workers for this project? 
3. Are the other projects in the vicinity going to limit the pool of skill labor available for your project?
4. 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.
5. Are there collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that are likely to expire during the course of the project under consideration that might cause delays?
6. Identify specific reasons why or how you believe a PLA would advance the Federal Government’s interest in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement.
7. Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement.
8. Please identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA for the referenced project.
9. How would the use of a PLA impact project costs?
10. How would the use of a PLA impact the small business participation as subcontractors?
11. How would a PLA on this project impact small business prime and subcontractors who are non-signatory to a PLA concurrently working a separate contract on the same project site.
12. A signed and executed copy of the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer: 
    1. By each offeror as part of their proposal, (or)
    2. By the apparent successful offeror prior to contract award, (or)
    3. No later than a specific time after contract award.

Considering construction for this project will not take place until a construction option is exercised approximately 14 months after award, when is the best time to submit a signed and executed copy of the PLA, and why?

Please send your labor market survey responses via email to jay.b.denker@usace.army.mil and stephanie.r.kretzer@usace.army.mil no later than February 28, 2024