U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Bid Protests #W9128F25RA076

Major Renovation and Construction Project for B-21 Support at Ellsworth AFB

This opportunity involves a major construction project at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, managed by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers. - Government Buyer: - Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Scope of Work: - Renovation of a 48,500 sq ft building - Construction of a new 11,500 sq ft building - Both buildings will support B-21 aircraft operations and maintenance - Estimated Value: - Approximately $55 million - Requirements: - Mandatory Project Labor Agreement (PLA) as per FAR 52.222-33 and 52.222-34 - Project is set aside for small businesses - Specialized construction work includes radio frequency (RF) shielding for secure facilities - Notable Details: - HHI Corporation protested the PLA requirement, citing competition and specialized work concerns - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied the protest, affirming the PLA requirement - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named for the construction work - Unique Aspects: - PLA requirement is highlighted as a key condition - Secure facility construction (RF shielding) is a notable technical requirement

Description

The Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers issued solicitation No. W9128F25RA076 for a design-bid-build project involving renovation of a 48,500 sq ft building and construction of an 11,500 sq ft building at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The project supports B-21 operations and aircraft maintenance with an estimated value of $55 million. The solicitation includes a mandatory project labor agreement (PLA) requirement, which was protested by HHI Corporation on grounds of limiting competition and the need for a PLA exception due to specialized construction work. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied the protest, finding the PLA requirement reasonable and consistent with FAR regulations, and that no exception to the PLA applied based on market research and survey responses.

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