A construction company sent a message expressing disappointment with the lack of consultation of local companies to the Northern Rockies regional municipal council, who advised staff to reply.
The email, with the subject line “Local Contractors Public Works,” was sent to all active members of the municipal council by a construction company in Fort Nelson who felt wronged to learn the council only heard from one local company when contracting out the work.
“The end result is pleasing as it went to a local contractor. However, being another local contractor of the same industry, I was troubled when I learned that two out of town contractors and only one local contractor were invited to quote on these jobs,” they said.
Large municipal projects require construction bonds. These documents outline the work being done and ensure the company keeps up their end of the deal and delivers the final project on time – smaller projects, however, can be offered to local companies without these agreements. To qualify for a bond, companies must have completed a certain amount of work, and the construction group told the council by awarding smaller contracts to them they could “obtain the work history for bonding.”
In their verbal report to council, the municipality’s chief administrative officer Scott Barry said, “there has been significant work done in the past to give opportunities to provide content, and local work, for local contractors in the municipalities.”
He also explained the need for urgency in some projects, “the quotes were done in such a way to get a quick turnaround,” but said staff should consider more than the minimum three quotes from various companies when awarding contracts.
The Northern Rockies regional municipal council voted in favour of responding to the concerned construction company. As the municipality moves forward with various projects, its chief administrator officer said staff will ensure they broaden their scope to include local contractors when possible.
