Design-Build Construction of ARS/WSU Plant Bioscience Research Building

THIS IS A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) SURVEY ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, REQUEST FOR QUOTE, OR INVITATION FOR BID. THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLICITATION, SPECIFICATIONS OR DRAWINGS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. This is a SPECIAL NOTICE. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this notice. The Corps of Engineers Seattle District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of PLA for large scale construction projects (exceeding $75 million) within Pullman, WA and surrounding area. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: Design and construct a new ~105,000GSF Research Facility on the WSU campus. The new facility will be a joint ARS and WSU use facility containing laboratory and office space to support four ARS Research Units: (1) Wheat Health, Genetics and Quality Research Unit (WHGQRU), (2) Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit (GLGPRU), (3) Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research Unit (NSARU), and (4) Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing research Unit (PGITRU). Key considerations include connection to the existing Vogel Plant Biosciences Building which has laboratory but no office space for ARS and WSU scientists. Inclusion of additional offices to support ARS scientists with labs, but no offices, in the Vogel building is critical. Connection to the Research and Education Complex (REC) Spine which includes collaborative space, loading docks and utility connections. The new facility will provide joint ARS and WSU laboratory and office space for plant biosciences. The project site selected, in accordance with the WSU Research and Education Complex (REC) master plan, is located on the WSU campus. The A-E will register the design for third-party certification using either the USGBC or GBI. FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED: Some of the factors that may be considered regarding PLA use are: 1. The project will require multiple construction contractors amd/or subcontractors employing workers in multiple crafts or trades. 2.There is a shortage of skilled labor in the region in which the construction project will be sited 3. Completion of the project will require an extended period of time. 4. PLAs have been used on comparable projects undertaken by Federal, State, municipal, or private entities in the geographic area of the project. 5. A PLA will promote the agency's long term program interests, such as facilitating the training of a skilled workforce to meet the agency's future construction needs. 6. Any other factors that the agency decides are appropriate. A PLA is defined as a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement (CBA) 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) 22.503 - POLICY: 1. 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 PLAs in connection with large-scale construction projects. 2. 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 PLA with one or more labor organizations if the agency decides that the use of PLAs 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: FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for PLA and Clause: FAR 52.222-34 PLA. Accordingly, the construction community is invited to comment on the use of PLAs. Of particular interest to the Government are responses to the following 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. 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 affect 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 Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement. 5. Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Governments interest in achieving economy and efficiency in federal procurement. 6. Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the use of a PLA on the referenced project. 7. Identify any additional information you believe should be considered on the non-use of a PLA on the referenced project. 8. Please provide a list of recent (2-5 years) construction projects in the local labor market of the project under consideration. The information gathered in this exercise should include the following information: 1. Project Name and Location 2. Detailed Project Description 3. Initial Cost Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost 4. Was the project completed on time? 5. Number of craft trades present on the project 6. Was a PLA used? 7. Were there any challenges experienced during the project? 9. Which trades are expected to be employed on this project based on the description above? Are you likely to need some union skilled trades for at least part of this project? 10. What market share does union labor have in the geographic area for this FPF project or type of construction? 11. Does the local market contain the sfficient number of available skilled workers for this project? Are there other projects in the vicinity going to limit the pool of skill labor available for your project? 12. Has a project like this been done before in the local market? 13. What investments have been made to support registered apprenticeship programs? 14. Have PLAs been used on comparable projects undertaken by the public sector in this geographic region? 15. Have PLAs been used on this type of project in other regions? 16. Which CBAs are likely to expire during the course of the project under consideration that might cause delays? 17. How do open shop and union wage rates influence prevailing wage rates in the local market and compare to Davis Bacon rates? What impact does unionization in the local market have on wages? 18. Could a PLA contribute to cost savings in any of the following ways? Harmonization of shifts and holidays between the trades to reduce labor costs? Minimize disruptions that may arise due to expiration of CBA? Availability of trained, registered apprentices, to promote efficiency for highly skilled workforce? Allowing for changes in apprentice to journeyman ration. Serving as management tool that ensure highly skilled workers from multiple trades are coordinated in the most efficient way. Other reasons? 19. Could a PLA minimize risk and contribute to greater efficiency in any of the following ways? Mechanisms to avoid delays Complying with Davis Bacon and other labor standards, safety rules and EEO and OFCP laws. Ensuring a steady supply of skilled labor in markets with low supply or high competition for workers. 20. Are there ways in which a PLA might increase costs on this particular project? THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ANY COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. Responses to this labor market survey will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitations announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Interested firms shall respond to this Special Notice no later than 2:00 PM (Pacific Time) on 30 October 2021. The responses should be forwarded to Debbie Knickerbocker, Contract Specialist, by email at debbie.a.knickerbocker@usace.army.mil.