City council is choosing not to go with the lowest bidder in awarding the contract for construction of change rooms in Willow Point Park.
Council has typically gone with the lower quote to save taxpayers money but in this case, the lowest bidder did not provide the city with what it was looking for.
A request for proposals was issued by the city to build and install a flush washroom and change building to serve the new splash park, playground, tennis and basketball courts, and park users. Three companies – RecTec Industries, Scott Richmond, and K&L Spooner – responded and each provided a different price tag for the work.
Clinton Crook, the city’s senior buyer, said RecTec provided the highest quote ($161,793) while Scott Richmond ($117,800) gave the lowest.
“Even though Scott Richmond Ltd. did submit a lower price, their offer consisted of two separate buildings, instead of one, with potable water tanks, grey water sewage tanks, and did not offer several of the preferred features including electric heat and water, electric hand dryers, exhaust fans, and floor drains,” said Crook in a report to council.
“As such, their proposal did not suit the city’s requirements.”
So council on Tuesday decided to go with local company K&L Spooner Construction, which offered its services for $142,514 and scored the highest on the city’s ranking system.
The city budgeted $300,000 for the change room, which will be paid for from the city’s Parks Capital Fund.
“The change house will serve as an overdue facility for Willow Point Park and the Sportsplex,” said Coun. Ryan Mennie at a January financial meeting. “The washroom portion will be a very important piece – an overdue function to serve a facility we’ve had for many years.”
The change house became necessary after the new splash park, which is expected to open in late May or early June, was built.