PLA Survey - Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) Power Generation and Microgrid Project, Anniston, AL

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

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 the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) ERCIP Microgrid Construction project in Anniston, AL.  The solicitation is forthcoming via solicitation number W912QR25R0021.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The Government is planning to issue a Design-Bid-Build Construction project to provide energy resiliency by providing an on-site, automated energy control / generation storage management system: Construct a microgrid system that will have full islanding capability. The microgrid will integrate the new and existing generation assets with the Nichols, Demil, and Eulaton 46kV / 12.47kV substations to enable islanding for all critical loads. During a grid outage, the automated switching and microgrid controls will enable direct routing of electricity generated by the onsite assets to mission critical loads and load shedding of large blocks of non-critical loads.  The microgrid will be designed in accordance Unified Facility Criteria 4-010-06 Cybersecurity of Facility Related Control Systems, or policy current at time of design, as well as with emerging distribution system operator requirements. This project will be tasked with Construct an installation-wide black-start capable microgrid incorporating 10MW of new firm natural gas (NG) generation and medium voltage distribution switchgear connected at the Eulaton substation that will be owned and operated by Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) to combine with ANAD existing Demil substation solar photovoltaic (PV) array, owned by Alabama Power Company (APC), and the existing Depot-owned NG generation. This project expands upon the previous FY20 ERCIP microgrid, which consists of a 7.5MW natural gas generation and an existing 2.65MW PV array installed at the Nichols substation. This microgrid will integrate the previous microgrid assets, as well as 4.75MW of additional existing APC-owned onsite solar PV at the Demil substation. Additionally, this project will install NG generators, SCADA microgrid controls and communication upgrades at the Nichols, Demil, and Eulaton substations, as well as substation interconnection points between the Nichols and Demil substations, and reclosers to isolate noncritical loads across the Depot. The completed system will utilize automatic switching to isolate from the APC’s electrical distribution system and prioritize critical loads to maintain continuity of operations across ANAD during electrical outages for a minimum of 14 days (required resilience period) IAW 10 USC 2914. Each generator will be equipped with a weather-proof sound attenuating enclosure. A fire hydrant along with a new water line will be installed by the new power plant. A storage shed currently located at the proposed project site will be relocated to a location determined by ANAD Directorate of Public Works (DPW) personnel. This project will tap into an existing natural gas line to feed the newly installed natural gas Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators.  Load shedding during utility outages via the microgrid switching system will also ensure continuous energy to critical loads regardless of the intermittency of solar power.

The microgrid system will support energy resiliency by providing on-site energy generation, this includes solar panels, mounts, inverters, transformers, controls and communication, AC/DC wiring with conduit, low voltage switchgear, and security measures.  The net metering and interconnection agreements will require approval by the utility provider.

MAGNITUDE:

In accordance with DFARS 236.204, the magnitude of the estimated cost of construction (ECC) range for this project is between $25,000,000.00 and $100,000,000.00.

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED:

Some of the factors that may be considered regarding PLA use are:

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.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGUATIONS (FAR) 22.502 DEFINITIONS:

Project labor agreement means 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).

FAR 22.503 – POLICY:

PLAs 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 PLAs 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 PLA with one or more labor organizations if the agency decides that the use of PLAs 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; Be consistent with law. (Refer also to FAR 52.222-33 Notice of Requirement for PLA and FAR 52.222-34 PLA).

INDUSTRY COMMENTS:

The construction community is invited to comment on the solicitation’s

inclusion of a PLA using 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. Include the following information on projects completed in the last five (5) years with your response:

Project Name and Location Detailed Project Description

Initial Cost Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost Was the project completed on time?

Number of craft trades present on the project Was a PLA used?

Were there any challenges experienced during the project?

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ANY

COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. Responses to this PLA market survey will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitations announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Responses are due no later than 03 December 2024 at 2:00 PM ET. Responses are to be emailed to the contract specialist, MAJ Lesa Sylve at lesa.b.sylve@usace.army.mil.