Arkabutla SOURCES SOUGHT for the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA)

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT notice to address the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for a large-scale construction project (exceeding $35 million) within the Mississippi area by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District.  This notice does not constitute a solicitation announcement, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach.  No solicitation or technical scope of services is available at this time. The Government will use the responses to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice to make acquisition decisions. 

Arkabutla Dam is a high hazard potential dam located in Desoto County, Mississippi with portions of the lake extending into Tate County, Mississippi. The dam is located on the Coldwater River, a tributary of the Tallahatchie River, and it stores floodwater to provide flood damage reduction in the Yazoo River Basin. The dam is located approximately 4.25 miles north of Arkabutla, Mississippi and approximately 35 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The project is authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1928, as amended by the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938. The Flood Control Act of 1936 authorized a plan of improvement for control of headwater flooding in the Yazoo River Basin and the Flood Control Act of 1939 authorized construction of the project under the Flood Control Mississippi River and Tributaries appropriation. Construction of the project began in August 1940 and was completed in June 1943. The reservoir at Arkabutla was constructed as part of the Yazoo River Basin Headwater Project. The authorized project purposes include flood control and recreation.   

The project consists of an embankment dam, abutment dikes, outlet works, spillway, and closure dikes. The project features are founded on alluvial deposits composed of clay and sand. The total length of the dam including the abutment dikes is 10,700 feet. The maximum height above the valley floor is 85 feet. The current outlet works consists of a three-gated reinforced concrete intake tower, single reinforced concrete conduit, reinforced concrete stilling basin, and outlet channel. A service bridge connects the intake tower with the crown of the main embankment and allows access from embankment to the intake structure operating floor. The spillway is an uncontrolled overflow type, in a natural saddle about 3,000 feet north of the dam. The spillway comprises a reinforced concrete approach apron, weir, chute, stilling basin, and riprap lined outlet channel. The two small closure dikes are located northwest of the spillway and have a total length of approximately 1,300 feet and a maximum height of 35 feet.

Based on the 2023 Existing Condition Risk Assessment, Arkabutla Dam is currently categorized as a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) 1. The primary risk driving potential failure modes (PFMs) of Backward Erosion Piping (BEP) into the outlet works drainage (PFM 8) and into the conduit were identified (PFM 10). An unfiltered exit exists through the outlet drains into the stilling basin.  To reduce risk of potential failure, the Government determine the outlet works shall be replaced by relocating it north of the existing outlet works and properly abandoning the existing outlet works.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District requests participation from qualified

  construction contractors capable of performing construction services for the following project. 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:

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Policy: Pursuant to Executive Order 14063 and FAR Subpart 22.5, it is the policy of the Federal Government to require the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on large-scale construction projects (exceeding $35 million) to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. An agency may grant an exception to this requirement only under specific circumstances defined in FAR 22.504(d), such as if a PLA would substantially reduce the number of potential offerors to such a degree that the Government cannot meet its requirements at a fair and reasonable price, or if the project involves specialized construction work available from only a limited number of contractors

All interested contractors should provide a response by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, July 17, 2026.

Submit your response via the Microsoft Forms link: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/6G5TSHqmry

Any additional documentation can be sent via email to lillie.v.bodie@usace.army.mil and Kristin.d.blake@usace.army.mil.