CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Some Charlottetown architectural firms say they are losing faith in the city’s tendering process.
It stems from a dispute between Chandler Architecture and the City of Charlottetown over the company’s bid to design a third fire station.
Late last year, the city awarded a tender worth more than $300,000 to SableArc Studios to supply design and consulting services.
However, Chandler Architecture, which finished with the best overall score among the six firms that bid for the contract, is still considering challenging the decision.
“I have had zero update from the city,’’ said Bill Chandler, who owns Chandler Architecture. “I have heard nothing ... and I will not be letting this go.’’
Chandler is considering legal action but is waiting for the city to respond to his inquiries about the matter.
Doug Coles with Coles Associates said the city mishandled things.
“That was Bill’s job,’’ Coles said. “He won it, pure and simple, and to say he didn’t was an embarrassment. It’s an embarrassment throughout the (Atlantic) region for City Hall.’’
When the city issues a request for proposals (RFP) the process normally is that council, which makes the final call based on recommendations from staff, takes the lowest bid.
However, in the case of the fire station, the dollar figure only amounted to about 10 per cent of the criteria used to determine the winner. The RFP was set up so that the technical ability of the firms mattered the most. And, Chandler’s bid was ranked the highest.
The city initially rejected all the bids that came in on the design for the fire station and reissued the tender.
"It’s an embarrassment throughout the (Atlantic) region for City Hall.’’
Doug Coles, Coles Associates
Silva Stojak with Nine Yards Studio said the second RFP was issued as just an excuse.
“Basically, they were shopping for a lower price,’’ Stojak said with a sigh. “I mean, this is a very complex building. They have no understanding of the complexity of things that they are asking for and then they shop for low prices. This is a building that needs full expertise and they are trying to make it on a low budget.’’
Coles said he concurred with Stojak.
“I think the thing that caused us the greatest amount of frustration ... (was the city) seems to follow the rules that they set to reject a couple of firms, then they took the rules and threw them out the window and chose who they wished and that’s as simple as it is.’’
Coles said architectural firms spend thousands of dollars each time they bid on a contract.
“These are people’s livelihoods that are being played with and that is very disconcerting as a business owner with 25 staff members,’’ Coles said.
The Architects Association of P.E.I. is also asking the city for clarity on the bidding process.
“We have sent a letter to the city regarding the future tendering process and whether they will be following the process as outlined in the Simmons RFP,’’ said Scott Stewart, executive director of the association, adding that letters to the city have also gone out from Engineers P.E.I. and the Association of Consulting Engineers of P.E.I. “The fairness of the tendering process is of paramount concern to our association.’’
Mayor Philip Brown defends the process, saying people have to keep in mind that all RFPs clearly state that council makes the final decision.
Brown added that disagreements are nothing new with the bidding process.
“Anytime you do something and issue an RFP, you’ll get backlash,’’ Brown said.
The city now has an RFP out for the Simmons Sport Centre. The aging rink and the adjacent pool will be replaced.
Stojak said her firm isn't happy with the way the city handled the fire station contract and will not be bidding on the Simmons design.
Chandler said he hasn’t decided on the Simmons bid yet.
“I’ve asked the mayor to give us some assurance that the process will be followed and that it will be fair, unlike the fire hall one,’’ Chandler said.
Coles said his firm is hesitant as well.
“We would normally be interested, without question,’’ he said. “It’s the business that we’re in. The conflict comes from confusion.’’
Brown said the city is in the process of replying to all parties over the concerns raised.
Dave Stewart is The Guardian's municipal reporter. He can be contacted by email at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @DveStewart.
