Whether you are a regular contractor that has done multiple projects for the Municipality over the years, or you’re the new kid on the block, that doesn’t matter anymore and the new look Strathroy-Caradoc Council proved that this week. Coming up in May the Drury Lane reconstruction project will commence and council had to decide which contracting company out of 10 bidders would be the right fit for the project.
The two lowest bids were newcomer and possibly less experienced Schouten Excavating and the more experienced Van Bree Drainage, both out of the Watford area and Schouten coming in with the lowest bid by almost $250,000. A concern was raised that Schouten appeared to be inconsistent as they had bid the lowest on this project yet they bid the highest bid on another tender project but Ward 2 Councillor Brian Derbyshire says that shouldn’t matter.
Councillor John Brennan made an original motion to accept Van Bree for the contract, but that was rejected by a majority of Council. A second motion then was moved by Deputy Mayor McGuire to accept Schouten which was approved by a narrow majority margin.
The project will be between Albert and Saulsbury Streets including Peach Avenue and Anderson Avenue. The project includes the upgrade of the local roadways from semi-urban to full urban road standard with full municipal services and utility upgrades, and is projected to start May 1st, 2023 and the target completion date is October 30th, 2023.
The Drury Lane Reconstruction project was posted publicly on the Bids & Tenders website on February 13, 2023.
The tender closed on March 7, 2023 with 10 bids received.
The tender results excluding HST are as follows:
1. Schouten Excavating Inc. $3,709,115.40
2. Van Bree Drainage and Bulldozing Limited $3,948,737.25
3. Omega Contractors Inc. $4,100,564.82
4. Aar-Con Excavating $4,283,069.50
5. Birnam Excavating Ltd. $4,344,885.73
6. 598424 Ontario Ltd. o/a R. Russell Construction $4,358,191.00
7. PV-EX Construction Ltd. $4,508,263.11
8. 291 Construction Ltd. $4,551,948.44
9. L82 Construction Ltd. $4,782,239.82
10. 2044970 Ontario Inc. $4,900,585.00
written by: C. Soares