# Alaska Contractor Challenges Federal PLA Mandate

Slayden Plumbing & Heating is asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska to invalidate the federal project labor agreement (PLA) mandate for most federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more. The requirement was implemented through the Federal Acquisition Regulation in 2024, and the court has not ruled. Slayden says it withdrew from two Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson projects because of the PLA requirements, illustrating how the rule can affect contractor participation in federal construction procurements.

- Contractors bidding on covered projects should continue treating the PLA requirement as operative unless a court or agency changes it.
- The case may affect bid planning and labor arrangements for federal construction projects at or above the $35 million threshold; Slayden’s withdrawn bids show a potential participation impact.
- Procurement professionals and contractors should account for the requirement in current solicitations and evaluate any court ruling or appeal for changes to applicable obligations.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 21, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Eleventh Circuit)
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

### Vendors
- Slayden Plumbing & Heating (Plaintiff and prospective federal construction bidder)

### Sources
- [Alaska Mechanical Contractor Asks Judge to Strike Federal PLA Mandate | ACHR News](https://www.achrnews.com/articles/166885-alaska-mechanical-contractor-asks-judge-to-strike-federal-pla-mandate) - ACHR News