Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Market Survey - Rock Island Arsenal Microgrid

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 Microgrid construction project at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA), Illinois.

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: Design-Bid-Build (DBB) construction project.  Construct a microgrid system at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) powered by natural gas-fired (NG) Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators with a total capacity of 14 Megawatts (MW), 3 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and a 400-kilowatt (kW)/1.6 Megawatt-hour (MWh) Energy Storage System (ESS). This system will integrate with the existing 2.8 MW hydroelectric power plant. During an electric utility grid outage, the new microgrid system will provide sustained power to the entire RIA electrical distribution system when islanded from the grid, ensuring uninterrupted support for RIA’s Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence.

The system will include automated isolating switchgear to form the microgrid, paralleling switchgear for the generators, and other necessary controls. It is designed to support approximately 12 MW of critical load and 4 MW of non-critical load, covering the entire RIA installation’s electrical demand. The microgrid will operate as a stand-alone, autonomous electrical power system with the capability to provide a data link connection to the installation’s monitoring and control system.

Supporting facilities will include site development, utilities and connections, lighting, paving, parking, walkways, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, landscaping, and signage. The project will also incorporate all necessary building information systems, as well as fire detection, fire hydrants, and security protection and alarm systems.

Sustainable principles, including life-cycle cost-effective practices, will be integrated into the design, development, and construction of the project. The design will adhere to the Army Sustainable Design and Development Policy and comply with all applicable laws and Executive Orders. 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:

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 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

• My company will not submit a proposal if PLA is required but is interested in proposing if a PLA is not a requirement.
  • My company plans to submit a proposal whether PLA is required or not.
  • 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 12 February 2026.