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Project Labor Survey – DEPT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) ST. LOUIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM (STLHCS) JOHN COCHRAN (JC) DIVISION
The Corps of Engineers Kansas City District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for a large scale construction project (exceeding $500 million) within the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
John Cochran VA hospital Requirement: The construction of new and replacement facilities at the John Cochran VA hospital in St. Louis, MO. The project is tentatively programmed for construction in late FY22 through FY27. The hospital complex may consist of the following facilities/improvements (quantities subject to change):
This Project will begin to right-size the VA’s John Cochran Division Medical Center by demolishing several deficient and underutilized buildings, constructing multiple new seismically compliant structures & facilities and planning for future expansion and demolition of primary facilities under a coordinated master plan. This project will design and build those features identified in coordination to the adjacent and active medical center, including a new substance abuse treatment clinic, new site electrical service, relocated utilities and upgraded security features. New parking structure(s) are necessary to support current and future parking demands. New central energy plant is necessary to replace existing aged and undersized plant in support of current and future facilities.
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 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. (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:
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 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. 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 Sources Sought responses via email to [email protected] and [email protected]. Submissions must be received by 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, December 15, 2021.