Y1PC--Sources Sought

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS (PLA s) Survey and request for CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY STATEMENT PACKAGE This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE for Market Research ONLY. NO AWARD will be made from this Sources Sought Notice. This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is for market research purposes in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e), to determine the availability and technical capabilities of qualified sources. It does not constitute a solicitation and is not to be considered as a commitment by the Government. All firms responding to this notice are advised that their response to this notice is not a request that will be considered for contract award. All interested parties will be required to respond to the resultant solicitation separately from their response to this notice. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Sylvan Springs, Phase 1A Expansion Project Scope The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeks expressions of interest for a construction contract at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Sylvan Springs, Phase 1A Expansion with the use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) of 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction) with the size standard of $45.0 Million. The approximate project duration will be 912 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed. The estimated magnitude for this project is between $50,000,000 and $100,000,000. VA is considering conducting this acquisition as a best value with tradeoffs in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. Project Description: The purpose of this Phase 1A Expansion project for Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is to enable the existing national cemetery to continue to provide burial services for eligible veterans in Missouri. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is located near St. Louis, Missouri. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) contracted this 33.6-acre cemetery expansion project to increase burial capacity of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (JBNC) to serve veterans in the St. Louis area. This cemetery expansion project identified on new land. The proposed development will provide continued service to an estimated Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 veteran population of approximately 208,000 within a 75-mile service area. This proposed development will provide an additional 15 years of continued burial service to a veteran population who has been served by this national cemetery since 1827. This project will provide for an additional 15-year inventory of the more efficient casketed, double-depth, pre-placed crypts before depletion of the current inventory, and extend the full range of burial options until FY 2044, as well as provide several nominal cemetery operational and infrastructure improvements within the older cemetery grounds. This project will provide for the following elements and features: Base Bid General Construction: The Base Bid work of this contract includes phased requirements. These phases are referred to as ETO and Remainder of the work. The ETO shall be completed within the established time frame indicated in the Contract. Completion of the ETO work will follow procedures like those for final completion and acceptance, with the facilities within the ETO being completed and turned over to the Cemetery for use to begin operation of the Cemetery while the remaining work is completed. ETO shall be completed and accepted by NCA for operation within 252 calendar days from Notice to Proceed. While the work of the ETO is being performed, work for the remainder of the project can also be performed. Work of the Contract includes site demolition, general construction, relocation and installation of new site utilities, installation of pre-placed burial crypts, columbarium niches, roadway improvements, new roads, walks, grading, drainage, site furnishings, landscaping and irrigation necessary removal of existing structures and construction and certain other items and all other work necessary to construct the project. The Contractor shall obtain state/local construction permitting as required and conduct all Protected Habitat Preservation, Wetlands, and Mitigation efforts as required to meet governing body mandates. By the end of the performance period all work shall be satisfactorily completed and ready for custody, transfer, and acceptance by NCA. All punch list items shall be satisfactorily addressed, all commissioning completed, and all training accomplished. Replace and upgrade carpeting and painted finishes in the Administration/ PIC Building. Replace select electrical service panels in Maintenance Buildings 3001, 3002, and 3003. Interment Areas: Casketed remains: a) Approximately 18,500 pre-placed crypt full casket gravesites b) Approximately 2,100 traditional casket gravesites Cremated remains: a) Approximately 10,900 in-ground cremation b) Approximately 5,000 columbarium niches Base Bid Furnish Pre-Placed Crypts: Procure, manufacture, deliver, off-load and store Furnish and deliver to the site all pre-placed crypts. ADDITIVE ITEMS SUBJECT TO BUDGET ADEQUACY: Additive #1 Maintenance Yard: Install Maintenance Storage Yard and associated site work, including but not limited to pavements, curbs, drainage, fencing and gates, signage, landscaping, and irrigation. Additive #2 Storage Building: Install maintenance material storage building including but not limited to sitework, pavements, curbing, concrete foundations, concrete walls, structural steel, and standing seam metal roofing. Additive #3 Satellite Maintenance Building: Install Satellite Maintenance Building and associated site work including but not limited to sitework, utilities, concrete foundations, concrete slab, engineered metal building, HVAC system, concrete masonry walls, metal wall panels, standing seam metal roof, doors, windows, interior finishes, landscaping, irrigation, signage and all other work necessary to construct the building. Additive #4 Demolish/Replace Committal Shelter #4: Demolish and Replace Committal Shelter #4(in main cemetery) along with associate sitework, concrete foundations, concrete piers, curbs, paving, standing seam metal roof, landscaping, irrigation, site furniture and signage. --- End of Project Scope --- Project Labor Agreement (PLA): 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) 22.503 Policy: (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 Government's 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. (c) Agencies may also consider the following factors in deciding whether the use of a project labor agreement is appropriate for the construction project: (1) The project will require multiple construction contractors and/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) Project labor agreements have been used on comparable projects undertaken by Federal, State, municipal, or private entities in the geographic area of the project. (5) A project labor agreement 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. See FAR Provision: 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement and FAR Clause 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement for further details. PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) QUESTIONNAIRE (Please respond to the questions below) 1. Is your company familiar with Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and its use on construction projects? Yes/No Comments: 2. Would your company likely submit a proposal for the VA construction solicitation that requires the use of a PLA? Yes/No Comments: 3. If VA requires a PLA, would your proposed construction cost likely to increase or decrease and what is the likely percentage of cost increase or decrease? Comments: 4. Does the VA requirement to use of a PLA on a construction project restrict competition? Yes/No Comments: 5. Do you expect subcontractor resistance should VA requires the use of a PLA on this construction solicitation? Yes/No Comments: 6. Do you have additional comments regarding the use of a PLA for this project? Yes/No Comments: --- End of PLA Questionnaire --- CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY STATEMENT PACKAGE: Firms interested in submitting their capabilities for this project must include the following information compiled into a Contractor Capability Statement package: Cover letter/introduction that includes company name, address, System for Award Management database at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM SAM.gov Unique Entity ID Numbers, point of contact with phone number and e-mail address. Business size determination. State your firm s socioeconomic type and Business Size: such as (Service-Disabled Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, Small Business, Woman Owned Small Business, Large Business, etc.). If identifying as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) firm (or JV), Veteran Owned Small Business firm (VOSB) (or JV), you must be registered in the U.S. Small Business Administration Veterans Small Business Certification (VetCert) database at: https://veterans.certify.sba.gov. Provide evidence of certification. Bonding capacity: Provide a letter from your surety, on surety letterhead that affirms your company s bonding capacity to furnish a bid bond, payment bond, and performance bond for a project between $50 - $100 Million. Contractor Capability Statement shall include, but not be limited, to the following: Corporate Experience: Provide projects in the past five (5) years that are Valued at approximately $30M or greater in construction costs, and Demonstrate your company s experience constructing or managing the construction of projects that match the following characteristics: a. VA/NCA National Cemetery projects. (If no national cemetery experiences provide projects similar such as regional parks, multiple sport-fields complexes, or multi-phased land development projects larger than 10 acres). b. State/local/private cemetery projects. c. Projects requiring the construction of multiple features typical to a National Cemetery such as pre-cast, placed crypts; columbaria niches, memorial walls, cast or natural stone columbarium caps, cast or natural stone veneers, turf (sod) placement and maintenance, tree and shrub placement and maintenance, irrigation systems with mainlines exceeding 4-inch in diameter, irrigation central control systems, roadways, wetlands/environmental remediation or restoration. d. Building construction, building remodel, mass/fine grading & excavation, site utilities, paving, new golf courses or expansions, regional parks, multiple sport-fields complexes, or multi-phased land development projects larger than 10 acres. Describe your experience with as many of the elements of construction identified, below, as you can: i. Mass/fine Grading & Excavation Site Utilities Prefer to see projects involving earth work and grading for cemeteries, parks, or site development projects of at least 10 acres. ii. Site Utilities Demonstrate experience with storm water management systems and site drainage for flat sites. Demonstrate experience with potable water distribution from a well, or municipal source. Demonstrate experience with sanitary waste systems, both POWTS & municipal. iii. Paving Paving projects may include private & local asphalt roads; concrete curb & gutter, asphalt parking lots, and concrete sidewalk, on site development projects of at least 10 acres. Experience in Missouri or similar climates is preferred, but not required. iv. Landscaping Landscaping projects involving planting and lawn installation for cemeteries, parks, golf courses or other site development projects of at least 10 acres in climates similar to St. Louis, Missouri. v. Irrigation Irrigation system installation for cemetery, park, golf course, or other types of development sites of at least 10 acres. Include experience with irrigation ponds, wells, pumping systems if you have it. vi. Precast Concrete Burial Components Demonstrate experience with successful fabrication and installation of precast crypt and precast columbarium, if you have it. vii. Phasing and Continuity of Operations Demonstrate experience with best practices to successfully complete phased site work at an occupied and functioning facility in a way to minimize noise and dust and minimize detrimental effects on cemetery operations. Current Project List: Provide a detailed list of ongoing contracts & projects. The description shall include: Project Type Award Amount Award Date Estimated Completion Date ---- End of Contractor Capability Statement Package --- Please submit your comments to the PLA Questionnaire and the Contractor Capability Statement package via email to Joshua Gibson, Contracting Officer, at contact@example.gov, no later than 3:00 PM ET on January 6, 2025, in the subject line state Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Phase 1A Expansion and [Company Name]". Note that this mailbox will only accept e-mails of 15MB in size or smaller, so you may break your submission into multiple emails if needed. All information concerning this requirement, when it proceeds to solicitation, will be posted only on the Federal Business Opportunities website (https://SAM.gov). --- End of Sources Sought Notice ---