PLA MARKET SURVEY - RECAP OF UTILITIES LOAD CENTERS & UPS EE-FF-GG

The Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for a large scale construction project. In accordance with DFARS 236.204 - Disclosure of the Magnitude of Construction Projects, the magnitude for this project is between $25,000,000 and $100,000,000. The potential project is for the construction (recapitalization) of Recapitalization of Utilities 2, Load Centers EE, FF, and GG, at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, CO. This project is planned to be a design-bid-build construction project anticipated to be procured under a two-phase design-bid-build selection procedures. Project Description: The Recapitalization of Utilities 2, Load Centers EE, FF, and GG. Work will include the replacement of the Technical Load Center and UPS EE, FF, and GG, and their associated switchgear, batteries and associated electrical infrastructure. These systems were put into service in 1992 and are past their useful service life. Recent incidents indicate continued deterioration and aging is resulting in decreased reliability. PLA BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 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 described in 29 U.S.C. 158(f). Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 22.503 states: (a) Project Labor Agreement (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 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. Ref: Provision - FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement; Clause - FAR 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement. The construction community is invited to comment on the use of PLAs by responding to the questions below: 1. Which trades are expected to be employed on the projects? Are you likely to need some union skilled trades for at least part of this project? 2. What market share does union labor have in the geographic area for this project or type of construction? 3. Does the local market contain the sufficient number of available skilled workers for this project? Are the other projects in the vicinity going to limit the pool of skill labor available for your project? 4. Has a project like this been done before in the local market? 5. What investments have been made to support registered apprenticeship programs? 6. Will the completion of the project require an extended period of time (e.g., extending beyond one construction season or beyond the expiration date of one or more collective bargaining agreements covering trades likely to be involved in the project) or have sensitive deadlines? 7. Have PLAs been used on comparable projects undertaken by the public or private sector in this geographic region? 8. Have PLAs been used on this type of project in other regions? 9. Which CBAs are likely to expire during the course of the project under consideration that might cause delays? (local building trades and contractors can provide information) 10. How do prevailing wage rates in the local market compare to Davis Bacon rates? What impact does unionization in the local market have on wages? 11. Could a PLA contribute to cost savings in any of the following ways? a. Harmonization of shifts and holidays between the trades to cut labor costs? b. Minimizing disruptions that may arise due expiration of CBA? c. Availability of trained, registered apprentices, efficient for highly skilled workforce? d. Allowing for changes in apprentice to journeyman ratio. e. Serving as a management tool that ensures highly skilled workers from multiple trades are coordinated in the most efficient way? f. Other? 12. Could a PLA minimize risk and contribute to greater efficiency in any of the following ways? a. Mechanism to avoid delays. b. Complying with labor standards, safety rules and EEO laws. c. Ensuring a steady supply of skilled labor in markets with low supply or high competition for workers. 13. Are there ways in which a PLA might increase costs on this particular project? This is NOT a Request for Proposal 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 solicitation announcements separately from responses to this survey. PLACE OF CONTRACT PERFORMANCE: Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, CO