Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of North Bay has issued a Request for Pre-qualification (RFPQ) to pre-qualify general contractors for the construction of a new community and recreation centre at the existing Steve Omischl Sports Complex on Lakeshore Drive.
The purpose of the RFPQ is to shortlist general contractors with qualifications and experience to manage and oversee the construction of the facility, featuring dual-pad ice surfaces, a walking track, multi-use change rooms to service year-round activities and a multi-purpose community hall.
The pre-qualification process is the first step in the procurement process for the potential construction of the new community centre. Based on the evaluation of responses, qualified respondents will be eligible to participate in an invitational second-stage competitive process for the potential construction of the new community centre. A pre-qualification stage of a procurement process is commonly used for construction projects of this scale.
As previously communicated through the deliberations and passing of the 2021 capital budget, the second-stage (tendering) of the procurement process will be initiated upon final direction from Council.
The submission deadline for the pre-qualification for the North Bay Community Centre General Contractors is March 15.
See details about the RFQ here.
A local contractor (and former candidate for Mayor) says the criteria “appear to be unnecessarily harsh and exacting so that no construction company in North Bay is eligible.”
Gary Gardiner’s letter to the editor was published on the baytoday.com website.
“Shouldn’t a growth-focus agenda promote local expertise and ensure well-paying jobs remain in North Bay?” he asked.
“I realize that council oversight is difficult to exercise in all matters, however I don’t believe that the strict criteria are justified,” Gardiner wrote. “In fact, the criteria are so exacting that perhaps only one company in all of Ontario can lay claim to have constructed no less than 3 facilities and at least six ice pads in the last eight years.”
“Please give our local companies the opportunity to compete.”