PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) MARKET SURVEY - CONSTRUCTION OF MICROGRID AT FORT SILL, OK

THIS IS A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) SURVEY ONLY.

This is a SPECIAL NOTICE. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this PLA notice.

The PLA Market Survey is conducted prior to release of the solicitation. This is a SPECIAL NOTICE only. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing use of a PLA for this construction project at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Description:

The Corps of Engineers Louisville District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for a large-scale construction project (exceeding $35 million) for the following:

Project scope: The Design-Bid- Build (D/B/B) construction of a power generation and smart microgrid system with a base scope of a 10.3MW of natural gas reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE - Generator 1) power plant, including a compressed air starting system, distribution feeders, paralleling switchgear, transformer, protective relays, shared load bank, medium voltage circuit breakers, SCADA system, reclosers and microgrid controls. This will be a design bid build project.

The microgrid system will provide energy resilience for at least (14) days to mission critical functions utilizing fossil fuel to support Fort Sill.  The system shall be capable of connecting to and disconnecting from the electric utility grid for exchange of power as well as islanding the installation from the electrical grid, shedding non-critical loads and providing emergency support to the IEWP identified critical facilities. 

The 10.3 MW RICE power plant (18.0 MW if Bid Option 1 is accepted, using two 9.0 MW generators) will be located within a weather-proof shelter on an elevated plot of open land to the southeast of Building 3933.  The project involves installing a 6-inch natural gas branch line to service the new generation plant.  Bid Options 2 and 3 are for (2) MW/MWh of BESS each.

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).  For further awareness on PLAs, please visit  https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/project-laboragreement-resource-guide.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Policy:

1. 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.
    
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 project labor agreement with one or more labor organizations if the agency decides that the use of project labor agreements will:

• 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  
• Be consistent with law.
  References:
  Provision: 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for Project Labor Agreement
  Clause: 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

In consideration of the above factors, and any others which may be deemed appropriate, 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 Government’s interest in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement.
    
5. Identify specific reasons why you do not believe a PLA would advance the Federal Government’s 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. What are the likely cost impacts, if any, to your bid/proposal price if a PLA requirement is included in the solicitation?  Please provide as much detail as possible regarding any anticipated cost impacts (positive or negative) of the inclusion of a PLA requirement, including any information you can provide about the magnitude of the anticipated impact.

        9. Do you have any previous or current experience as a prime contractor with a PLA? 

       10. Have you prepared or submitted proposals that included a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) component?

        11. Please select one of the following:

1. 1. My company will not submit a proposal if PLA is required but is interested in proposing if a PLA is not a requirement.
   2. My company plans to submit a proposal whether PLA is required or not.
   3. My company only plans to submit a proposal if PLA is required.

In addition to affirmative responses, we are seeking negative responses to identify any potential actions we may take to improve the competitive environment. Please provide a response with feedback including rationale for not wanting to submit a proposal and any recommendations that could promote interest.

* Please provide your comments via e-mail to Jacob Pridemore at Jacob.S.Pridemore@usace.army.mil no later than 1:00 PM Eastern Time on 05 February 2026.