Army Issues Project Labor Agreement Surveys for Alabama, Kentucky and Colorado

0 November 3, 2011  Federal Construction, Uncategorized

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently issued surveys requesting feedback from the construction industry about the potential use of project labor agreements (PLAs) for three federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total costs at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., Ft. Campbell, Ky., and Colorado Springs, Colo.

ABC members and construction professionals are encouraged to respond to the PLA surveys. Tell the USACE that government-mandated PLAs injure competition, increase costs, and will not advance the economy and efficiency in government contracting.

Below is a link to each project’s survey, response deadline, and submission contact information:

The USACE and other federal agencies have issued PLA surveys as a result of President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502 and federal regulations implementing the discriminatory and costly order. The order and regulations encourage federal agencies to mandate anti-competitive and costly PLAs on a case-by-case basis on federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total cost.

In compliance with the USACE’s Oct. 15, 2010 policy memo on government-mandated PLAs, USACE district offices across the country have issued dozens of similar surveys requesting information about the potential use of PLAs on large USACE construction projects. ABC National has taken the opportunity to respond to surveys as they are issued and is encouraging ABC members and the merit shop contracting community to do the same.

It is important to express your opposition to government-mandated PLAs today before they are mandated or encouraged on future USACE projects, as well as non-federal state and local projects in your community by other government officials once anti-competitive and costly PLA mandates take root in your community.

The survey results are an important source of information used to determine whether a PLA is appropriate for federal projects.

During the Obama Administration, the USACE has issued dozens of similar surveys requesting information about the potential use of PLAs on construction projects in USACE districts nationwide. ABC National has responded to surveys as they are issued by the USACE and encourage ABC members to do the same.

Here are ABC National’s responses to the USACE’s recent PLA surveys:

For contractors, taxpayers and construction professionals unfamiliar with the problems with federal PLAs and regulations implementing President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502, please review the previous letters sent by ABC National to the USACE, which may be helpful information for contractors to review before responding to the USACE PLA survey.  If you need help responding, please contact us and we can provide you with some helpful tools and information.

Responding with accurate and timely information is critical and effective. In 2010, the USACE removed government-mandated PLAs from the Army Reserve Center in Los Alamitos, Calif. and the Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Fla. after a strong grassroots response and survey participation from the contracting community. The USACE removed a PLA mandate on the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Camden, N.J. following a legal challenge and robust grassroots response from the construction stakeholders.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to these surveys. Your responses will help maintain an open and competitive environment that will allow all qualified contractors to fairly compete for contracts to build the best possible construction projects at the best possible price.

Additional helpful links:

This post was written by and tagged Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *