SOLICITATION NOTICE
Z -- Sources Sought for Project Labor Agreement Market Research, Addicks & Barker New Outlet Structures and Cut-Off Walls
- Notice Date
- 9/17/2014
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 237990
— Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
- Contracting Office
- USACE District, Galveston, 2000 Fort Point Road, PO Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229
- ZIP Code
- 77553-1229
- Solicitation Number
- W9126G-14-S-0016
- Response Due
- 9/29/2014
- Archive Date
- 11/16/2014
- Point of Contact
- Traci Robicheaux, 4097666306
- E-Mail Address
-
USACE District, Galveston
(traci.d.robicheaux@usace.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Solicit Comments Use of Projects Labor Agreements at Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Addicks and Barker Dams, Harris and Fort Bend Counties, Texas Sources Sought W9126G-14-S-0016 for PLAs Regarding future Solicitation No.: W9126G-15-R-0001 Title: Galveston District Corps of Engineers Soliciting Comments on the Potential Use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) at Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Addicks and Barker Dams, Modification of Dams, New Outlet Structures and Cutoff Walls, Harris and Fort Bend Counties, Texas. Description: The Corps of Engineers Galveston District is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for large scale construction projects (exceeding $25 million) for the following project: Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Addicks and Barker Dams, Modification of Dams, New Outlet Structures and Cutoff Walls, Harris and Fort Bend Counties, Texas. Full Description of the Project to Include: 1. These modifications will be performed within, through and adjacent to the existing dams and outlet structures while they maintain operational capabilities. This work is highly sensitive due to dam safety concerns and enormous consequences that could occur in the event of adverse conditions. For these reasons, this project will demand strict technical capabilities and oversight standards throughout the entire construction period. 2. Construction operations that the contractor shall satisfactorily perform include: a.Preparing sites for dam modifications, including clearing and grubbing vegetation, stripping and stockpiling topsoil, developing haul roads and borrow areas. Constructing compacted earthen cofferdams to the same elevation as the nominal top of the existing dams that will serve as the dam embankment and to protect the sites and the public during construction of the new outlet structures using properly conditioned soil from onsite borrow areas. Each cofferdam shall require a cutoff wall to further protect downstream from under seepage. Designing, furnishing, installing, and maintaining dewatering systems to remove and control groundwater to stabilize cut slopes and excavation bottom and to allow excavations and construction of embankments, outlet works and appurtenant features to proceed uninterrupted and in-the-dry; free of standing water, running water, and/or adverse uplift pressure. Constructing cement bentonite cutoff walls beneath the new outlet structures, tied into the existing soil bentonite slurry cutoff walls in the existing dam embankments. b.A Quality Control (QC) program will be required for proving and documenting that the minimum dimensions, continuity, homogeneity, strength, permeability, and quality requirements of the seepage barrier have been achieved. Quality control methods will ensure conformance with specifications, assure full-depth barrier continuity, and include verification borings. Three-dimensional digital drawings, clear QC data presentation methods, and a dedicated staff for data collection, reduction and transmission to the Government will be required. c.Constructing new reinforced concrete outlet structures and appurtenant features at both Addicks and Barker Dams to include an intake tower, steel lined conduits, parabolic chute slab, stilling basin and the fabrication/installation of structural steel trash racks and machinery platforms and the installation of heavy duty slide gates and operators. The new outlet structures shall be located through the existing dam embankment, about 400-ft from the existing outlet structures. The new outlet structure for Addicks Dam includes three 10-ft diameter steel lined conduits with 10-ft x 10-ft rectangular steel gates at the intakes. The new outlet structure for Barker Dam includes three 12-ft diameter steel lined conduits with 12-ft x 12-ft rectangular steel gates at the intakes. Reconstructing the compacted earth fill embankment about the new outlet structures complete with downstream sand filters and gravel drainage elements. Constructing new approach and outlet channels that shall be excavated to connect the new outlet structures to existing channels. These channels shall be located in the existing project footprints. d.After the new outlet structures and embankments are completed and serviceable: Removing the earthen cofferdams. Demolishing and/or otherwise removing the respective existing upstream and downstream outlet structure features that including the steel machinery platforms, gates, operators, concrete slabs, wing walls, tower intakes, gage houses, access bridges, parabolic chute slab, and stilling basin. Grouting the remainder of the existing concrete conduits designated for abandonment in place. Constructing compacted earth fill embankments including sand filters upstream and downstream of abandoned conduits and constructing cement bentonite cutoff walls tied into existing soil-bentonite slurry walls and new cement bentonite cutoff walls (under new conduit). Placing compacted earth fill in the abandoned portions of the existing outlet channel. e.The work shall also include compacted earth fill, subdrainage systems, bridge construction, asphalt-surfaced hike and bike trail and pedestrian bridge construction, gravel-surfaced maintenance roads, turfing, site lighting, site restoration, slope and erosion protection, fire detection and intrusion detection system, telecommunications, installation of generators, and pre-fabricated building construction. A 1,400-ft long cement bentonite slurry cut-off wall shall also be constructed along the upstream embankment of Barker Dam at Noble Road to address seepage issues at this location. Magnitude of Construction: Between $25,000,000.00 and $100,000,000.00. Period of Performance: 1180 calendar days after Notice to Proceed. Some of the factors that may be considered regarding their use are: a. The involvement of multiple contractors and/or subcontractors working in multiple crafts or trades. b. The complexity of the project. c. Shortage of skilled labor in the region. d. Completion of the project will require an extended period of time. e. The use of PLA's on other comparable projects. f. The promotion of the Governments long term programs interests such as training of skilled workforce for future projects. g. The possibility of labor disputes that threaten timely completion. h. Additional costs from use of PLAs may be cost prohibitive. 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 Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Policy: a. 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. 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. Reference: 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: a. Should PLAs be executed on selected large dollar contracts within the above referenced location by the Galveston District? What other factors should the Corps consider before deciding to include PLA provisions in a Galveston District contract? What type of project should or should not be considered for PLA? b. Is the use of PLAs effective in achieving economy and efficiency in Federal procurement? What is the estimated relative cost impact, or any other economies or efficiencies derived by the Federal Government, if using PLAs? Will a PLA impact the cost of submitting an offer? c. Is the use of PLAs effective in producing labor-management stability? Have labor disputes or other labor issues contributed to project delays in the local area? d. Is the use of PLAs conducive to ensuring compliance with laws and regulations governing safety and health, equal employment opportunity, labor and employment standards, and other relevant matters? Are there instances where these standards have not been met on Federal contracts in the local area? Were PLAs used for those specific contracts? e. Projects will require multiple construction contractors and/or subcontractors employing workers in multiple crafts or trades. Do you foresee any work on projects that may result in both the prime contractor and at least one subcontractor, or two or more subcontractors, employing the same trade? f. Are there concerns by prime contractors on the availability of skilled construction labor? Information may reference current apprenticeship statistics and workforce age demographics. g. Completion of anticipated projects will require an extensive performance periods. Will a PLA impact the completion time? What is the anticipated volatility in the labor market for the trades required for the execution of the project? Would a PLA benefit a project which contains a unique and compelling mission-critical schedule? h. Where have PLAs been used on comparable projects undertaken by Federal, State, municipal, or private entities in the geographic area of this project? i. Will the use of PLAs impact the ability of potential Offerors and subcontractors to meet small-business utilization goals? Please provide your comments via e-mail to Traci D. Robicheaux, Contract Specialist at traci.d.robicheaux@usace.army.mil no later than close of business on 29 Sep 2014. Agency/Contracting Office: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District ATTN: CESWF-CT 2000 Fort Point Road Galveston, Texas 77550-1229 Place of Performance: Addicks and Barker Dams Harris and Fort Bend Counties Houston, Texas Point of Contact: Ms. Traci D. Robicheaux Corps of Engineers Traci.D.Robicheaux@usace.army.mil Fort Worth District@Galveston
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/COE/DACA64/W9126G-14-S-0016/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USACE District, Galveston 2000 Fort Point Road, PO Box 1229 Galveston TX
- Zip Code: 77553-1229
- Zip Code: 77553-1229
- Record
- SN03515892-W 20140919/140918000111-177e9e9b200bb984c0c9ce5912484972 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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