ABC Applauds Court Decision Removing PLA Mandate From Federal Construction Project

Associated Builders and Contractors welcomed a ruling by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that struck down a project labor agreement (PLA) mandate on a federal construction project valued at $35 million or more. The court ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove the PLA requirement from the solicitation, finding it unlawful and harmful to competition.

The decision reinforces prior court rulings that PLA mandates restrict competition, increase costs, and favor special interests without proven taxpayer benefits. While the ruling applies only to the challenged project, it is expected to impact 15 additional federal solicitations, as ABC continues its legal efforts to protect merit shop contractors, worker choice, and fair competition.