ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 17, 2001
Author/Local: A. Arnold/7617

RTS No. 2240

CC File No.1805

Council: November 20, 2001

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager, Fire and Rescue Services and Director, Facilities Development
SUBJECT:	Replacement of Firehall No. 13 - 790 East 24th Avenue, Award of Construction Contract

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THAT the contract for the replacement of Firehall No. 13 be awarded to PAX Construction Ltd. up to a maximum amount of $1,654,654 plus GST; source of funding to be the Fire Protection funding available from the 2000-2002 Capital Plan.

B. THAT $150,000 be allocated for post-tender contingencies from the unused portion of the 1994-1996 Capital Plan for an E-Comm backup dispatch centre in the then proposed Firehall No. 15; said reallocation falls within the original purpose of the borrowing authority.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.

POLICY

· Council approval is required for contracts over $300,000.

· Contracts are to be awarded on the basis of best value for the City.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request Council's approval to award a contract for the reconstruction of the existing Firehall No. 13 located at 790 East 24th Avenue to the low bidder PAX Construction Ltd. and to seek reallocation of $150,000 from unallocated Fire Capital account.

BACKGROUND

The 2000-2002 Capital Plan for Fire Protection included a total of $2.75 million for the reconstruction of Firehall No. 13. In October 2000 Council approved the appointment of Roger Hughes and Partners Architects as the architects for the design and the replacement of Firehall No. 13.

DISCUSSION

From an open request of expressions of interest for prequalification of general contractors, eleven contractors were prequalified to submit tenders for the project. Complete tenders were received as follows:

PAX Construction Ltd.	$ 1,654,654
Bird Construction Company	$ 1,699,000
Fairmile Construction Ltd.	$ 1,710,000
Darwin Construction (Western) Ltd.	$ 1,715,000
Haebler Construction Project Inc.	$ 1,745,000
Smith Bros. and Wilson (BC) Ltd.	$ 1,785,366
DGS Construction Company Ltd.	$ 1,800,000

Alternate price savings were sought for certain structural elements. If accepted, the contract price could be reduced by $25,000.

On the basis of best value, it is recommended the contract be awarded to PAX Construction Ltd., the low bidder, up to a maximum amount of $1,654,654 plus GST. PAX Construction Ltd. has complied with all requirements of the tender. The estimated date of completion is November 2002.

All tenderers have been advised of this recommendation.

PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS

As the facility replaces an existing building no additional staff is required.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The 2000-2002 Capital Plan for fire protection provided $2.75 million for the construction of Firehall No. 13. Since approval of the project, revised estimates for the project now projects that approximately $150,000 of additional funding might be required for routine post-tender changes typical of these projects, and revisions that might arise during the permit application stages.

As reported in September 2001, the 1994-1996 Capital Plan provided $500,000 towards the design of a new Firehall No. 15, to accommodate at backup dispatch centre for E-Comm. The backup centre was deferred, leaving an unallocated $477,000 in the Firehall Capital Account. It is recommended that $150,000 of this amount be transferred to the Firehall No. 13 account to provide for the above post-tender construction contingencies.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver