SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR PROJECT LABOR AGGREEMENTS (PLAs) TO COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT (CSRM) FOR CAPE MAY TO LOWER TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY, BRIGANTINE INLET TO GREAT EGG HARBOR INLET (ABSECON ISLAND), NEW JERSEY, AND BARNEGAT INLET TO LITTLE EGG, INLET

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Enterprise Dredge Delivery Center (EDDC), is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for a large-scale construction project (exceeding $35 million) within the Cape May To Lower Township, New Jersey, Brigantine Inlet To Great Egg Harbor Inlet (Absecon Island), New Jersey, And Barnegat Inlet To Little Egg, Inlet (Long Beach Island), New Jersey area. This procurement is for Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM).

Cape May to Lower Township, NJ (Navigation Mitigation – Beachfill): Work for the beachfill placement dredging will require a hopper and pipeline/mechanical dredge(s). The dredge(s) must have the capability to dredge material up to a depth of -40 ft NAVD88 and to transport the dredged sand to the designated areas approximately 2.6 miles away. The project for navigation mitigation (beach nourishment) is located on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, extending from the Cape May Inlet southwest jetty to the 3rd Ave terminal groin in Cape May City.  It includes the communities of the City of Cape May and Lower Township, and the US Coast Guard Training Center. The contract work will consist of a base bid to conduct pre-placement condition surveys and pump/place 600,000 cubic yards of sand from two borrow areas approximately 2.6 miles south of the Cape May Inlet jetties onto the beach at 2 locations: Area 1 (540,000 cu yds), the US Coast Guard Training Center and Area 2 (60,000 cu yds), Wilmington Ave. Options to place additional sand (100,000 cu yds) from the same borrow areas to achieve the full project design template at these same two beach locations will also be included.  Sand must come from the offshore borrow areas.  Trucking-in sand will not be permitted under this contract.  All work under the contract must be completed no later than 1 March 2028.

Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Harbor Inlet (Absecon Island), NJ (CSRM – Beachfill):  Contract work consists of a base bid to place approximately 1,500,000 cubic yards of beachfill, along the Atlantic Ocean coastline of Absecon Island, Atlantic County, New Jersey. The project area encompasses the municipalities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport.  The contract work may also consist of separate options to place additional amounts of beachfill per option, if awarded, in locations within and outside of the Base bid areas.  The project work for the Base Bid and Options, if awarded, also may include, in addition to beachfill: the construction or repair of pedestrian, vehicle, and ADA compliant dune crossovers; planting dune grass; installing sand fencing; the repair or extension of existing storm water outfalls and drainage structures; and the relocation or removal of various existing structures or fill to accommodate the beachfill and dunes.   The beachfill material for this contract must come from the authorized borrow areas, which are shown on the contract drawings, located within and adjacent to the Absecon Inlet in the Atlantic Ocean, and a separate designated area located approximately 2 – 3 miles offshore of Absecon Island in the Atlantic Ocean.

Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg, Inlet (Long Beach Island), NJ (CSRM – Beachfill):  Contract work consists of a base bid to place approximately 2,000,000 cubic yards of beachfill to repair the dune and berm system along the Atlantic Ocean coastline of Long Beach Island, Ocean County, New Jersey. The project area encompasses the municipalities of Long Beach Township, Borough of Harvey Cedars, Borough of Surf City, Borough of Ship Bottom, and Borough of Beach Haven. The contract work may also consist of separate options to place additional amounts of beachfill per option, if awarded, in locations within and outside of the Base bid areas. The project work for the Base Bid and Options, if awarded, also may include, in addition to beachfill: the construction or repair of pedestrian, vehicle, and ADA compatible dune crossovers; planting dune grass; providing sand fencing; and the relocation or removal of various existing structures to accommodate the beachfill, dunes and other project features. The beachfill material for this contract must come from the authorized borrow areas located approximately 2-3 miles offshore of Long Beach Island in the Atlantic Ocean, and/or the Little Egg Inlet as designated on the contract drawings.

The solicitation is expected to be available in FY2027.
 

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 14063, 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 Government's 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 and Clause 52.222-34 Project Labor Agreement.

(i) Requested are responses to the following:

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 the Government should take into consideration regarding the use of a PLA on the referenced project.

7) Does your company intend to bid/propose on this project if a PLA requirement is included in the solicitation? Does your company intend to bid/propose on this project if a PLA requirement is not included in the solicitation?

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.

 (ii) The information gathered in this exercise should include the following information on projects completed in the last 2-5 years (or other timeframe, as appropriate):

1) Project Name and Location:

2) Detailed Project Description:

3) Initial Cost Estimate vs. Actual Final Cost:

4) Was the project completed on time?

5) Number of craft trades present on the project:

6) Was a PLA used?

7) Were there any challenges experienced during the project?

Responses shall be submitted via email to Terri Adams at terri.m.adams@usace.army.mil and Ros Shoemaker at rosalind.m.shoemaker@usace.army.mil no later than 3:00 PM EDT on 15 September 2026.

The email should be titled: New Jersey CSRM PLA Response

This is NOT a Request for Proposal and does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Responses to this labor market survey will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this survey.