CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Efforts to design a third fire station in Charlottetown have hit a snag.
SableArc Studios had been awarded the tender to supply design and consulting services in the amount of $328,000.
However, Bill Chandler with Chandler Architecture, one of three other bidders, told The Guardian on Thursday it is challenging that decision, saying SableArc's bid actually finished third in the city's ratings.
Chandler said the request for proposals had very specific requirements and specific point ratings for various categories on factors such as experience and methods. Normally, council will lean toward the firm that submits the lowest bid, which SableArc did in this case, but the size of the bid was only a part of the consideration here. The RFP was meant to scope out the firm most qualified for the job. Chandler Architecture finished with the high score.
Talks about a third fire station have been ongoing for years. More than once this year, members of council have stated the project was moving forward, but only now is it starting to get off the ground.
The tendering process began at one point this year only to be hauled off council’s agenda at its monthly public meeting in October.
The project appears to have some traction now.
Coles Associates and Roots Architecture also bid for the project. DSRA Architecture and Nine Yards also bid on the project but were disqualified.
Coun. Greg Rivard, chairman of council’s standing committee on protective and emergency services, said Tuesday it’s nice to be moving forward after all the talk the past four years.
Rivard said the bids were competitive.
“We are confident that the end product will be something the firefighters and the community can be proud of,’’ Rivard said, adding that the goal is to have Station 3 built by November or December 2022, barring any unforeseen delays.
Station 3 will be built in the neighbourhood of West Royalty. The city paid $870,000 for 4.5 acres of land on Malpeque Road between the Atlantic Cat dealership and Moore Well and Drilling Inc.
In June, members of council were given a tour of the new Cross Roads Fire Department in Stratford to get an idea of what Station 3 might look like and how large it will be.
An insurance underwriters report, which came out a number of years ago, indicated fire coverage in Charlottetown was becoming a concern in the west end due to the growth in the neighbourhoods of Winsloe and West Royalty as well as the expanding West Royalty Industrial Park and biocommons area.
The Charlottetown Professional Firefighters Association, the union representing full-time firefighters, is also concerned about staffing levels.
The association has been pushing hard to ensure that all three stations are staffed at all times by a minimum of four firefighters, as per national and international standards.
