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March 27, 2024 - Update attached

PROJECT UPDATE: SOLICITATION #W912DQ24R4013, REPLACE BED TOWER, CLINICAL EXPANSION & PARKING GARAGE, JOHN COCHRAN DIVISION, ST. LOUIS, MO (John J. Cochran Veteran’s Hospital)

Good morning contractors,

On January 29, 2024 we posted a program update and a draft IDaC Request for Proposal based on our optimism of receiving favorable funding to issue the IDaC RFP in March.

This month’s signed FY24 appropriation act contained neither the required FY24 funding nor the future commitment language needed to advertise the IDaC RFP. We are not going to advertise the IDaC construction solicitation for the major features of the John Cochran Project until funding and/or a firm funding profile is available. We will provide iterative updates as information becomes available in an effort to communicate a reliable timeline on the solicitation of the IDaC contract and avoid unnecessary requests for information. The earliest we anticipate the appropriation of adequate funding is in the FY26 budget cycle.

Meanwhile, we will continue to update the RFP and compete / award contracts for the early services and smaller construction features. Detailed updates and procurement schedules will be shared as we learn more over the next few months.

Draft Request for Proposal Comments:

We recognize and appreciate your effort in reviewing the draft RFP. Rest assured, your submitted bidder inquiry comments have been reviewed and are being used to better the acquisition and resulting contract. A report of the closed bidder inquiry comments and responses is attached. Feel free to submit additional comments and suggestions at any time during this pause.

Summary of key industry activities that occurred over the past year:

-March 2023: Industry Webinar

-April 2023: Draft IDaC Request for Proposal. (Thank you all for the high quality feedback and comments. Your comments are incorporated into the drat IDaC RFP).

-May 2023: One-on-one feedback meetings were offered to interested firms and completed in mid-May.

-August 2023: Notice of a target IDaC solicitation posing in November 2023

-October 2023: Project and funding update, delay in posting the solicitation

-January 2024: Issued draft IDaC RFP for comments

-March 2024: FY24 appropriation act signed without favorable project funding. IDaC RFP postponed.

Project Milestones (Draft Target Dates Only - Subject to Change):

-May 2024: Waterline relocation contract advertised

-December 2025: FY26 VA Appropriation signed with adequate project funding / funding profile for major construction

Please send feedback, comments, or questions to: Jay.B.Denker@usace.army.mil and Stephanie.R.Kretzer@usace.army.mil .

January 29, 2024

PROJECT UPDATE: SOLICITATION #W912DQ24R4013, REPLACE BED TOWER, CLINICAL EXPANSION & PARKING GARAGE, JOHN COCHRAN DIVISION, ST. LOUIS, MO (John J. Cochran Veteran’s Hospital)

Good morning contractors,

In our October 30, 2023, update, we shared the project status and our decision to delay issuing the Request for Proposal due to lack of funding and funding certainty for the construction options. At this time the project has funding for the base award of preconstruction services and the South parking garage option, but we do not have funding or a firm funding profile for the other two major features of construction to confidently post the Integrated Design and Construction (IDaC) solicitation.

We are optimistic about receiving favorable funding information within the next two months, which is why we are putting the draft RFP out at this time. However, USACE NWK does not anticipate advertising the IDaC construction solicitation for the major features of the John Cochran Project until funding and/or a firm funding profile is available.

Funding profile information:

• VA is committed to funding the program.


• Full funding or Incremental funding for the entire program is highly unlikely.


• We are likely to receive a large portion of funding in FY24, but probably not be enough to fully fund the Bed Tower.


• Anticipate funding for the Bed Tower to come in the FY26 or FY27 budget.


• The project schedule and the draft RFP can accommodate the anticipated profile.

Early and ancillary services and construction activities currently planned and being worked include:

• Street Vacations


• Demolition services


• Misc. utility relocations


• Temporary VA Medical Center swing-space


• Temporary Government office space


• Miscellaneous services

Major phased complete and usable construction features and services:

• Preconstruction Services (part of IDaC contract award, ~22 month duration)


• Construction of South Parking Structure


• Construction of a new CUP, Engineering Facility, Motor Pool and related infrastructure


• Construction of new Bed Tower


• Construction of N.E. Parking Structure (Planned for Small Business)


• Construction of Opioid Treatment Program Clinic (Formerly known as the “SAC”. Planned for Small Business)

Request for Proposal (RFP) open for comments:

A draft RFP is posted and available for download from the Bidder Inquiry system. Downloading requires registration and an access key. Please coordinate access with Contracting Officer Jay Denker, jay.b.denker@usace.army.mil .

The draft IDaC RFP is structured with full funding for the base preconstruction services and the South parking garage. It supports optimistic FY24 funding for the construction of a new CUP, Engineering Facility, Motor Pool and related infrastructure, and anticipates FY26-FY27 funding for the new Bed Tower. A timeline is provided in 01 11 00, para. 1.7.

An economic price adjustment formula is included at 00 72 00 , FAR Clause 52.217-7, that will be used to adjust a negotiated Bed Tower option’s FFP in the event there is a delay in the FY26 full funding of this option.

Use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for Federal Construction Projects:

On 22 December 2023, Executive Order 14063 (EO14063) was published in the Federal Register with an effective date of 22 January 2024. EO 14063 mandates that Federal Government agencies require the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for large-scale Federal construction projects, where the total estimated cost to the Government is $35 million or more.

The current draft RFP was created prior to EO 14063’s effective date and prior to the receiving implementing guidance. Because of this, the current draft does not include the required provisions and clauses to implement EO14063. The final RFP will include all mandatory PLA requirements.

The EO and implementing guidance requires an updated project specific labor market survey and documentation prior to updating the RFP. To help with this documentation, new Project Labor Survey questions are provided with this posting. Please provide comments and feedback to the PLA questions in a separate document or email no later than February 28, 2024.

The Project Labor Survey will also be posted as a stand-alone request on www.sam.gov

Summary of key industry activities that occurred over the past year:

-March 2023: Industry Webinar

-April 2023: Draft IDaC Request for Proposal. (Thank you all for the high quality feedback and comments. Your comments are incorporated into the drat IDaC RFP).

-May 2023: One-on-one feedback meetings were offered to interested firms and completed in mid-May.

-August 2023: Notice of a target IDaC solicitation posing in November 2023

-October 2023: Project and funding update, delay in posting the solicitation

Project Milestones (Draft Target Dates Only - Subject to Change):

-February 2024: Issue draft RFP for comments

-Late April 2024: Anticipate receiving project funding / funding profile

-Mid May 2024: Post the IDaC Request for Proposals (solicitation date +75 days)

-Mid May 2024: Pre-Proposal Webinar (soon after posting the RFP)

- Late July 2024: Proposals Due

-Early August: Offeror’s Oral Presentation of Proposal

-NLT December: IDaC Contract Award

The Kansas City District plans to issue a DRAFT for industry comment the week of February 5, 2025.

Please email Jay.B.Denker@usace.army.mil and Stephanie.R.Kretzer@usace.army.mil if your firm is interested in reviewing the DRAFT and providing comments to make this a better RFP.

Projnet will be open for comments with all comments due back by 14 March 2024.

Please send feedback, comments, or questions to: Jay.B.Denker@usace.army.mil and Stephanie.R.Kretzer@usace.army.mil .

Attachments/Links