VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics Phase I

*Draft Solicitation has been attached; due date extended to 14 Oct 2025.*

Project Labor Agreements (PLA) Survey Follow-On Questions:

This is a SPECIAL NOTICE for Market Research ONLY.  NO AWARD will be made from this Sources Sought Notice.

To better inform industry, a DRAFT Design-Build solicitation (phase 1) for the project will be uploaded 30 Sep 25. Requirements and scope included in the draft solicitation are subject to change.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Office of Construction and Facilities Management team (DVA-CFM) Central Region and the Portland District (NWP) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) team (i.e., the Government) are partnering to provide new buildings, life and health safety upgrades, and facilities improvements to the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) in White City, Oregon.

SORCC, located in Jackson County, north of Medford, Oregon, serves veterans living in southwestern Oregon. Current services offered at SORCC include primary care, radiology, social work, mental health, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and laboratory services, among others.  As background, the current SORCC campus is located on the same grounds as the original U.S. Army Camp White Station Hospital. The original hospital was constructed in 1942 during World War II. The camp was deactivated in 1946, and the Camp White Station Hospital was transformed into the VA Domiciliary in 1949. Many of the current buildings utilized in the campus were constructed during the Camp White era.  As such, they are generally two (2) stories, long and linear in shape, and of hollow-clay tile wall construction with brick veneer exterior.

SORCC PLA Survey September 2025:

As the Portland District finalizes its project scope for the subject requirement, it is also revalidating its project cost estimate to ensure funding is available for the anticipated contract value, including costs associated with the project but that aren't direct construction costs. One of these costs relates to the potential inclusion of a requirement for a project labor agreement. As there is little to no information available regarding the costs associated with a PLA requirement on a USACE managed, Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility construction project, additional market research is being conducted. If you are interested in proposing on the subject project, please complete the survey below. If you answer “No” to any question, skip the remaining questions and submit the survey response with the remaining questions blank.

1. Do you have experience executing Design-Build construction contracts greater than $100M as a prime contractor?
2. The project solicitation is expected to include a Construction Cost Limitation of $250M. Based on the draft scope information provided would you anticipate submitting a proposal on this project if PLAs are not required? (i.e. would you expect a proposal under $250M for this project to be feasible?)
3. The project solicitation is expected to include a Construction Cost Limitation of $250M. Based on the draft scope information provided, and your understanding of cost risks associated with a PLA on a firm-fixed-price contract, would you anticipate submitting a proposal on this project if PLAs are required? (i.e. would you expect a proposal under $250M for this project, that includes a requirement for a PLA, to be feasible?)
4. In what ways might, if any, a requirement for a PLA increase a proposal price on a project of this type in the project’s region?  If so, how much of an increase to your proposal price do you anticipate in terms of percentage? Are there ways the Portland District could reduce price risk while including a requirement for a PLA that would lower the percentage increase? Explain in detail.
5. Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use or non-use of a PLA on the referenced project.

Project Labor Agreements (PLA) Survey Follow-On Questions:

This is a SPECIAL NOTICE for Market Research ONLY.  NO AWARD will be made from this Sources Sought Notice.

To better inform industry, a DRAFT Design-Build solicitation (phase 1) for the project will be uploaded 30 Sep 25. Requirements and scope included in the draft solicitation are subject to change.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Office of Construction and Facilities Management team (DVA-CFM) Central Region and the Portland District (NWP) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) team (i.e., the Government) are partnering to provide new buildings, life and health safety upgrades, and facilities improvements to the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) in White City, Oregon.

SORCC, located in Jackson County, north of Medford, Oregon, serves veterans living in southwestern Oregon. Current services offered at SORCC include primary care, radiology, social work, mental health, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and laboratory services, among others.  As background, the current SORCC campus is located on the same grounds as the original U.S. Army Camp White Station Hospital. The original hospital was constructed in 1942 during World War II. The camp was deactivated in 1946, and the Camp White Station Hospital was transformed into the VA Domiciliary in 1949. Many of the current buildings utilized in the campus were constructed during the Camp White era.  As such, they are generally two (2) stories, long and linear in shape, and of hollow-clay tile wall construction with brick veneer exterior.

SORCC PLA Survey September 2025:

As the Portland District finalizes its project scope for the subject requirement, it is also revalidating its project cost estimate to ensure funding is available for the anticipated contract value, including costs associated with the project but that aren't direct construction costs. One of these costs relates to the potential inclusion of a requirement for a project labor agreement. As there is little to no information available regarding the costs associated with a PLA requirement on a USACE managed, Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility construction project, additional market research is being conducted. If you are interested in proposing on the subject project, please complete the survey below. If you answer “No” to any question, skip the remaining questions and submit the survey response with the remaining questions blank.

1. Do you have experience executing Design-Build construction contracts greater than $100M as a prime contractor?
2. The project solicitation is expected to include a Construction Cost Limitation of $250M. Based on the draft scope information provided would you anticipate submitting a proposal on this project if PLAs are not required? (i.e. would you expect a proposal under $250M for this project to be feasible?)
3. The project solicitation is expected to include a Construction Cost Limitation of $250M. Based on the draft scope information provided, and your understanding of cost risks associated with a PLA on a firm-fixed-price contract, would you anticipate submitting a proposal on this project if PLAs are required? (i.e. would you expect a proposal under $250M for this project, that includes a requirement for a PLA, to be feasible?)
4. In what ways might, if any, a requirement for a PLA increase a proposal price on a project of this type in the project’s region?  If so, how much of an increase to your proposal price do you anticipate in terms of percentage? Are there ways the Portland District could reduce price risk while including a requirement for a PLA that would lower the percentage increase? Explain in detail.
5. Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use or non-use of a PLA on the referenced project.

Project Labor Agreements (PLA) Survey:

This is a SPECIAL NOTICE for Market Research ONLY.  NO AWARD will be made from this Sources Sought Notice.

A Draft Request for Proposal will be posted in January/February 2025.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Office of Construction and Facilities Management team (DVA-CFM) Central Region and the Portland District (NWP) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) team (i.e., the Government) are partnering to provide new buildings, life and health safety upgrades, and facilities improvements to the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) in White City, Oregon.

SORCC, located in Jackson County, north of Medford, Oregon, serves veterans living in southwestern Oregon. Current services offered at SORCC include primary care, radiology, social work, mental health, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and laboratory services, among others.  As background, the current SORCC campus is located on the same grounds as the original U.S. Army Camp White Station Hospital. The original hospital was constructed in 1942 during World War II. The camp was deactivated in 1946, and the Camp White Station Hospital was transformed into the VA Domiciliary in 1949. Many of the current buildings utilized in the campus were constructed during the Camp White era.  As such, they are generally two (2) stories, long and linear in shape, and of hollow-clay tile wall construction with brick veneer exterior.

A Project Labor Agreement (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 as described in 29 U.S.C. 158 (f).  Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) policy states: Executive Order (E.O.) 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, requires agencies to use PLAs in large-scale construction projects (defined as a construction projects with a total estimated cost at or above $35M) to promote economy and efficiency in the administration and completion of Federal construction projects.  When awarding a contract in connection with a large-scale construction project, agencies shall require use of a PLA for contractors and subcontractors engaged in construction on the project, unless an exception(s) at FAR 22.504(d) applies. Reference is made to: FAR Subpart 22.5 Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects; provision, FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement; and to clause, FAR 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

In consideration of the above factors, and any others which may be deemed appropriate, the public is invited to provide responses on the use of a PLA for this construction project by answering the questions below.

Summary of Scope

The scope of this project, referred to as “Package 1”, is to:

• Support Building 300.  Design and construct approximately 80,000 building gross square feet (BGSF) for office and support services, including two connecting corridors.
• Primary and Specialty Care Building 301.  Design and construct approximately 100,000 BGSF for primary care, radiology, dental, and pharmacy functions, including a connecting corridor. 
• Site work.  Site work to accommodate pedestrian and vehicular access to the new B300 and B301.  Design and construct a new parking lot with approximately 188 spaces.
• Demolition.  Demolish buildings, connecting corridors, parking lots, and utilities that are in the footprint of the new buildings. 

Additional scope will be reserved for Package 2 to be addressed in a separate acquisition at a later time.

i.  Anticipated Construction Schedule:  CENWP intends to advertise this requirement in 2nd quarter FY25, and an award is anticipated 3rd quarter FY26. 

ii.  Estimated Construction Cost (ECC):  The current ECC is between $100M and $250M. Reference FAR 36.204, Disclosure of Magnitude and DFARS 236.204 Disclosure of Magnitude.

iii.  Number and Type of Contracts:  NWP contemplates awarding a Firm Fixed-Price Construction Contract. NWP anticipates advertising this project as a two-phase Design Build procurement. Responses to this sources sought announcement will be used by the Government to review existing small business capabilities for both the Prime and subcontracting opportunities and to determine, if appropriate, a small business set-aside acquisition strategy determination.

iv.  Anticipated Source Selection Process:  The expected method to determine the best value to the government is Best Value Trade Off.

Project Specific Constraints and Challenges:

1. Construction on an active medical campus
2. Design and Construction will conform to very prescriptive constraints and criteria as established by the VA Technical Information Library.
3. This will be a major construction project in a geographical area with potential labor and material resource limitations.

Information submitted will be used in determining an acquisition strategy. We ask that you provide adequate detailed information for the Government to determine, without doubt, an effective acquisition approach for the required construction project.

Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Survey:  Please respond to the following questions:

1. Are you responding as a representative of a government entity, union, contractor (union or non-union) and/or qualified small business?

2. Do you have knowledge that a PLA has been used in the local area on projects of this kind? If so, please explain in detail.

3.  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 explain in detail.

4.  What is your understanding of the availability of union labor and non-union labor in this area for this type of project? Would the remoteness of the construction site impede your efforts to hire local unions and/or employees?  Are you otherwise aware of national, regional, or local interest in participating in this project by union or non-union contractors? Explain in detail.

5.  As a qualified contractor/subcontractor for a project of this type and size, would you be interested in participating in this project?  Would the requirement of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) under this project impact your interest in any way?  Explain in detail.

6.  Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would or would not advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement.

7.  Are there any ways in which the requirement of a PLA might increase costs on a project of this type in this area?  If so, how much of a cost increase do you anticipate in terms or percentage? Explain in detail.

8.  Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use or non-use of a PLA on the referenced project.

This special notice is used to identify concerns with the capability to provide these services, and the applicability of a Project Labor Agreement for this project. This is not to be considered as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for any information solicited or delivered. Response is not required for eligibility to participate in any subsequent Request for Proposal. 

All responses under this Special Notice must be emailed (no phone calls please) to the Contracting Officer, Jonathan Nadig at Jonathan.m.nadig@usace.army.mil and the Contract Specialist, Dana Western at dana.m.western@usace.army.mil.

Responses are due 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday, December 27, 2024

This is not a solicitation, and no plans or specifications are available.

Project Labor Agreements (PLA) Survey:

This is a SPECIAL NOTICE for Market Research ONLY.  NO AWARD will be made from this Sources Sought Notice.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Office of Construction and Facilities Management team (DVA-CFM) Central Region and the Portland District (NWP) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) team (i.e., the Government) are partnering to provide new buildings, life and health safety upgrades, and facilities improvements to the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) in White City, Oregon.

SORCC, located in Jackson County, north of Medford, Oregon, serves veterans living in southwestern Oregon. Current services offered at SORCC include primary care, radiology, social work, mental health, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and laboratory services, among others.  As background, the current SORCC campus is located on the same grounds as the original U.S. Army Camp White Station Hospital. The original hospital was constructed in 1942 during World War II. The camp was deactivated in 1946, and the Camp White Station Hospital was transformed into the VA Domiciliary in 1949. Many of the current buildings utilized in the campus were constructed during the Camp White era.  As such, they are generally two (2) stories, long and linear in shape, and of hollow-clay tile wall construction with brick veneer exterior.

A Project Labor Agreement (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 as described in 29 U.S.C. 158 (f).  Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) policy states: Executive Order (E.O.) 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, requires agencies to use PLAs in large-scale construction projects (defined as a construction projects with a total estimated cost at or above $35M) to promote economy and efficiency in the administration and completion of Federal construction projects.  When awarding a contract in connection with a large-scale construction project, agencies shall require use of a PLA for contractors and subcontractors engaged in construction on the project, unless an exception(s) at FAR 22.504(d) applies. Reference is made to: FAR Subpart 22.5 Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects; provision, FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement; and to clause, FAR 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

In consideration of the above factors, and any others which may be deemed appropriate, the public is invited to provide responses on the use of a PLA for this construction project by answering the questions below.

Summary of Scope

The scope of this project, referred to as “Package 1”, is to:

• Support Building 300.  Design and construct approximately 80,000 building gross square feet (BGSF) for office and support services, including two connecting corridors.
• Primary and Specialty Care Building 301.  Design and construct approximately 100,000 BGSF for primary care, radiology, dental, and pharmacy functions, including a connecting corridor. 
• Site work.  Site work to accommodate pedestrian and vehicular access to the new B300 and B301.  Design and construct a new parking lot with approximately 188 spaces.
• Demolition.  Demolish buildings, connecting corridors, parking lots, and utilities that are in the footprint of the new buildings. 

Additional scope will be reserved for Package 2 to be addressed in a separate acquisition at a later time.

i.  Anticipated Construction Schedule:  CENWP intends to advertise this requirement in 2nd quarter FY25, and an award is anticipated 3rd quarter FY26. 

ii.  Estimated Construction Cost (ECC):  The current ECC is between $100M and $250M. Reference FAR 36.204, Disclosure of Magnitude and DFARS 236.204 Disclosure of Magnitude.

iii.  Number and Type of Contracts:  NWP contemplates awarding a Firm Fixed-Price Construction Contract. NWP anticipates advertising this project as a two-phase Design Build procurement. Responses to this sources sought announcement will be used by the Government to review existing small business capabilities for both the Prime and subcontracting opportunities and to determine, if appropriate, a small business set-aside acquisition strategy determination.

iv.  Anticipated Source Selection Process:  The expected method to determine the best value to the government is Best Value Trade Off.

Project Specific Constraints and Challenges:

1. Construction on an active medical campus
2. Design and Construction will conform to very prescriptive constraints and criteria as established by the VA Technical Information Library.
3. This will be a major construction project in a geographical area with potential labor and material resource limitations.

Information submitted will be used in determining an acquisition strategy. We ask that you provide adequate detailed information for the Government to determine, without doubt, an effective acquisition approach for the required construction project.

Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Survey:  Please respond to the following questions:

1. Are you responding as a representative of a government entity, union, contractor (union or non-union) and/or qualified small business?

2. Do you have knowledge that a PLA has been used in the local area on projects of this kind? If so, please explain in detail.

3.  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 explain in detail.

4.  What is your understanding of the availability of union labor and non-union labor in this area for this type of project? Would the remoteness of the construction site impede your efforts to hire local unions and/or employees?  Are you otherwise aware of national, regional, or local interest in participating in this project by union or non-union contractors? Explain in detail.

5.  As a qualified contractor/subcontractor for a project of this type and size, would you be interested in participating in this project?  Would the requirement of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) under this project impact your interest in any way?  Explain in detail.

6.  Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement.

7.  Are there any ways in which the requirement of a PLA might increase costs on a project of this type in this area?  If so, how much of a cost increase do you anticipate in terms or percentage? Explain in detail.

8.  Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the non-use of a PLA on the referenced project.

This special notice is used to identify concerns with the capability to provide these services, and the applicability of a Project Labor Agreement for this project. This is not to be considered as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for any information solicited or delivered. Response is not required for eligibility to participate in any subsequent Request for Proposal. 

All responses under this Special Notice must be emailed (no phone calls please) to the Contracting Officer, Jonathan Nadig at Jonathan.m.nadig@usace.army.mil and the Contract Specialist, Dana Western at dana.m.western@usace.army.mil.

Responses are due 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday, December 27, 2024

This is not a solicitation, and no plans or specifications are available.