Project Labor Survey Contaminated Waste Plant LCAAP MO

Project Labor Survey – LCAAP Contaminated Waste Plant Construction Independence, MO

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 (between $100,000,000 and $250,000,000) within the Kansas City Metropolitan area.

The adoption of Next Generation Ammunition at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) will result in the addition of many new chemical compounds to the existing manufacturing base. Currently, ten (10) of these new compounds are believed to be incompatible with existing LCAAP waste streams. Many new materials are energetic in nature and will require specific processing to neutralize the energetic hazard prior to discharge into the local water sewage system or discarding as solid waste.

This project is anticipated to include construction of a new contaminated waste plant consisting of a new decontamination facility, renovating buildings 160/161 to accommodate the new waste streams and replacement of a critical lift station in support of the new Next Generation Squad Weapon program.

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?
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 responses via email to angelique.m.oldsen@usace.army.mil & David.j.walsh@usace.army.mil.  Submissions must be received by 11:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, 10 December 2024.