Inactive

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Kansas City District (NWK), is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for large-sc... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Kansas City District (NWK), is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for large-scale construction projects (exceeding $25 million) to repair stone dikes and revetments on the Missouri River in support of the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Program (BSNP), the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP), and other miscellaneous Missouri River operations, maintenance, and repair projects due to damage caused by the FY19 Flood Event for Phase II. Phase I was to repair and remove known restrictions that would immediately address critical areas of concern to make the channel passable and allow for unrestricted navigation for fall 2020 season and 2021 Navigation Season. Phase I was accomplished in FY21. Phase II is to repair the navigation system to pre-flood conditions to repair additional damaged structures along the Missouri River System where there are currently no known restrictions but are at risk of forming as these compromised structures continue to degrade. These construction projects are planned to be awarded in FY22. Bank Stabilization Navigation Program, Phase II Requirements will include rock placement for designated structures as well as rock and other material removal from designated structures. The work includes, but is not limited to, construction and /or excavation of dikes and revetments. Work consists of transport and placement of new, quarry run rock for repairing existing structures or constructing new structures, as well as removal or notching of existing structures and spoiling the excavated material as directed by the Administrative Contracting Officer. There is an estimated 5,000 number of existing structures. Work will primarily be the placement of up to 800,000 to 3,000,000 tons of rock on designated structures within the 500 river miles of the project area. Work consists of the transport and placement of new, well graded quarry-run rock ranging from fines less than ½ inch in diameter up to 3,000 pounds, for the work stated above. Rock specification will include up to 4 intermediate gradation sizes and a range of permissible percent finer for each gradation size. Blasting, loading, and placement must be carefully controlled so that the gradation specification is met on each barge load of rock. Tonnage on each structure will range from 500 tons up to 30,000 tons with an average tonnage per structure of 2,500 tons. Placement rates per foot will range from 3 tons per linear foot up to 40 tons per linear foot with an average placement rate per linear foot of 6 tons per foot. The project is tentatively programmed for construction in late FY22 through FY25. 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). Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 22.503 provides the following guidance: (a) Project Labor Agreements are a tool that agencies may use to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. Pursuant to Executive Order 14064, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, , 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. (Refer also to FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement and FAR 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement). The Kansas City District requests responses to the following questions in order to assist with decision to utilize a PLA or not: 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? 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Government’s interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement. 6. Please identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA for the referenced project. 7. Please identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the non-use of a PLA for the referenced project. 8. How would the use of a PLA impact project costs? 9. How would the use of a PLA impact the small business participation as subcontractors? 10. How would a PLA impact small business prime contractors concurrently working small business set-asides on the same project site. Please send your responses via email to laura.l.hedrick@usace.army.mil and david.m.best@usace.army.mil. Submissions must be received by 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, 15 April 2022.