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Gov. Culver: Welcomes project labor agreements for new construction
3/16/2010

Contact:
Erin Seidler, Governor’s Office
(515) 281.0173
erin.seidler@iowa.gov

Signs letter to use PLAs for two major Dept. of Corrections projects

DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver today accepted the recommendation by Department of Administrative Services Director Ray Walton to use Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for construction of two major projects for the Department of Corrections – the new Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison and improvements to the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchellville. The Governor signed a letter today to include as a specification in the bid packages for each project the PLA.

The decision follows Governor Culver’s Executive Order 22 that directs state agencies to consider using PLAs for construction projects exceeding $25 million.

“This agreement ensures Iowa workers are paid the wages and receive the benefits they deserve, while keeping these critical projects on time and budget,” said Governor Culver.

While PLAs are common practice by many other states and the federal government, this will mark the first time such a pact has been used for a State of Iowa project. In his recommendation letter to Governor Culver, DAS Director Walton related his extensive research of PLAs, interviews with several trades groups and extensive negotiations with the two trade councils – the Southeast Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council (SEIBCTC) and the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council (CIBCTC) – that will be involved with the two projects.

John Baldwin, Director of the Iowa Department of Corrections, agreed that PLAs are the right fit for these massive projects.

“Prison construction presents unique challenges,” said Director Baldwin. “Hundreds of craftsmen will be on these jobs at the same time and it is imperative to have firm control of the building process. PLAs keep projects on time and on budget.”

In Fort Madison, the project will rebuild a prison originally completed in 1839. The project in Mitchellville, while not as extensive, is critical in that it is the only women-specific facility in the state and must provide for a wider range of offenders.

Work is scheduled to begin in Fort Madison in spring of 2010 with an estimated budget of $130.6 million. The facility in Mitchellville is budgeted at $68 million, with bid letting beginning in August 2010.


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