This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) notice. This RFI is for market research purposes only and IS NOT A SOLICITATION nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparation of a response to this notice. 

I.    PURPOSE. The Government is seeking to identify qualified sources under the North American Industry Classification System code 236220 - Commercial and Industrial Building Construction, with a Small Business size standard of $45 million. This RFI aims to 

•    Identify capable firms with experience in building construction

•    Gather information regarding the benefits of utilizing Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)

•    Assess industry capabilities for projects in the following foreign jurisdictions:

o    Middle East/North Africa Locations: Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel. 

o    Asia/Pacific Locations: Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Cuba, Australia

o    Europe Locations: Azores, Germany, Kwajalein, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, England, Belgium, Netherlands

o    Remote/Island Locations: Kwajalein, Greenland, Diego Garcia, Shemya Island, Ascension Island 

•    Validate a proposed acquisition approach

II.    IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS.

•    Safety & Compliance. All work will require compliance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Safety and Health Requirements Manual (EM385-1-1: https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer-Manuals/), all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, and host nation requirements for overseas work.

•    Small Business Set-Asides. The Government is considering reserving awards for small businesses (including 8(a) concerns) and is evaluating industry capabilities to support this.

•    Contractor Suites. A potential acquisition strategy involves three contractor suites: 8(a), Small Business, and Unrestricted. 8(a) firms can compete in both the 8(a) and Small Business suites. Other than Small Business awardees cannot compete in the other suites, but Small Businesses can compete in the Unrestricted suite.

•    PLA Determination. In accordance with FAR 22.5, PLAs will be considered for construction projects over $35 million.

•    Foreign Locations Assessment. The Government seeks information regarding contractor capabilities and challenges working in foreign locations, particularly concerning Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs).

III.    ADDITIONAL CAPABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE.

Please provide concise and specific responses to the following PLA and SOFA questions. 

1.    PLA Experience & Local Projects. Have you been involved with projects utilizing PLAs, either federally or locally? Please provide examples, including project cost, schedule adherence, and any challenges encountered (labor shortages, safety issues, etc.). Do you know of similar projects in the target regions (see previous RFI sections) where PLAs were used?

2.    Labor Availability & Volatility. Do you anticipate skilled labor shortages in the project locations? Are there large-scale projects that could impact labor availability? What is the expected volatility of labor costs for required trades?

3.    Schedule Impact. Do you believe a PLA would positively or negatively impact project schedules, particularly for mission-critical projects? How?

4.    Economic & Efficiency Benefits. How could a PLA advance the Federal Government’s interests in economy and efficiency in federal procurement? Are there other potential benefits?

5.    Potential Drawbacks. What concerns do you have regarding the use of a PLA and its potential impact on economy and efficiency?

6.    Labor-Management Stability. Are there existing labor-management stability concerns in the target regions? Would a PLA improve stability and potentially prevent disputes? What is the current market share of union labor in these areas?

7.    Safety & Compliance. Would a PLA enhance compliance with safety, health, equal employment opportunity, and labor standards? Are there instances of non-compliance on Federal contracts in the target regions?

8.    Cost Impact. What is your estimated relative cost impact (including offer preparation) of utilizing a PLA?

9.    Small Business Impact. Would requiring a PLA impact the ability of potential offerors and subcontractors to meet small business utilization goals?

10.    Overall Recommendation. Based on your experience and knowledge, should a PLA be considered for these projects? What additional factors should the Government consider?

11.    SOFA & Host-Nation Authorization. For each country below, please respond Yes/No. A "Yes" response indicates your company (directly or through a partnership) currently possesses the necessary registrations, licenses, permissions, clearances, and recognized status to legally perform construction services. Provide brief comments supporting your answer.

(A) Middle East/North Africa: Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel 

(B) Asia/Pacific: Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Cuba, Australia 

(C) Europe: Azores (Portugal), Germany, Kwajalein (USAG), Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, England, Belgium, Netherlands 

(D) Remote/Island: Kwajalein, Greenland, Diego Garcia, Shemya Island (Alaska), Ascension Island

12.     Capabilities (For each country answered "Yes" in Section 1). 

Briefly describe:

•    Authorization: How is your company authorized to operate (e.g., license, registration, partnership)?

•    USG Experience: Prior experience with U.S. Government construction/facility works in this country?

•    Personnel: Do you have in-country personnel, or do you rely on deployments?

•    Limitations/Risks: Unique limitations or risk factors your firm manages in this country?

13.     Compliance & Mobilization.

•    Labor/Tax/Visas: Does your firm have experience complying with host-nation labor, tax, and visa requirements for SOFA construction? (Yes/No)

•    Prequalification: Is your company prequalified/registered with host-nation ministries or base access systems (e.g., Japan DPRI, Korean base access)? (Yes/No - list any registrations)

•    Mobilization: Can your firm mobilize a project within 60-90 days in any of the "Yes" countries? (Yes/No)

14.     Challenges & Concerns.

•    Visa/Work Permits: Do you anticipate significant challenges obtaining visas/work permits for personnel in any listed countries? If so, which ones?

•    Local Content: Are you aware of local content requirements (labor, materials) that could impact costs/timelines in any target countries? If so, which ones?

•    Security: Do you foresee security concerns impacting project execution in any locations? If so, which ones?

•    Additional Comments: Please provide any additional information, barriers, or recommendations for the Government regarding contractor readiness under SOFA/host-nation requirements.

15.    Does your company still have interest in the FRR Design Build IV requirement and plan to submit a proposal under the Solicitation, anticipated for FY26 QTR1? 

          Yes

          No

• See Attached RFI Special Notice in PDF. 

Please provide responses  by e-mail to the Contract Specialist, Ines Corbett, at [email protected] and the Contracting Officer, LaShonda Smith at [email protected] by 12:00 Noon Central Time on 8 July 2025. 

Please include "FRR Design Build VII RFI" in your e-mail subject line response. 

Please Note. No phone calls or emails correspondences for additional information or questions will be answered at this time.