USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) Building 002 Renovation   5

USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) Building 002 Renovation

W912DR21R0024

The U.S. 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 (exceeding $20 million) located at the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Route 295).

Project Description:

The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) is located northeast of Washington D.C, between US Route 1 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Route 295). This facility houses several laboratories and office buildings which support the United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). Building 002 is to be renovated as part of this project support research units for Crop and Food, Human Nutrition, and Natural Resources Research Unit. This project will consist of "gut and rebuild" renovations to modernize the building and create state of the art laboratory facilities. This building has historic features which must be preserved and contain environmental hazards which must be mitigated. A survey of hazardous materials will be completed by USACE Baltimore and provided to contractor.

Building 002 is a 34,080 SF, three (3)-story building (basement/2 floors/attic) laboratory/office building located on the BARC-West campus (west of Route 1), serving the Crop and Food Research Units. The building's exterior is historic and was originally constructed in 1938. The building has a concrete frame building with wood truss roof. There is a connecting wing from Building 002 to Building 003 that will require window replacement on both floors. The buildings contain ACM and/or other environmental concerns. The scope includes a gut interior renovation with replacement of demolished features, upgrade of all utilities and laboratories, mitigating environmental concerns, and providing office/lab swing space or sequencing as needed. Historic preservation coordination and LEED certification will be included. This building is currently occupied, and employees will be relocated during construction.

PLA Background Information:

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 Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 22.503, Policy states: 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. 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 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.

Reference: 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 PLA's by responding to the following questions:

1. Do you have knowledge that a PLA has been used in the local areas on projects of this kind? If so, please provide supporting documentation.
2. Are you aware of skilled labor shortage in the areas 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.

The information gathered in this exercise should include the following information on projects completed in the last 2-5 years:

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?

Responses are to be sent via email to McKenna Heath at mckenna.n.heath@usace.army.mil no later than 11:00 AM (EST) on 31 March 2021. Responses are limited to seven (7) pages

This is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL and does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Reponses 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.