City Awards Engineering Services Contracts

February 22, 2012

Grande Prairie mayor Bill Given says he is confident that the formula used for determining winning RFP's for contracts such as engineering consultant services works.

The issue was raised yesterday when Focus Corporation asked council to re-consider it's decision to award an engineering consultant contract for the city's three year road rehabilitation, overlay and road resurfacing program to Beairsto, Lehners and Ketchum.

The proposal from Focus was cheaper, but mayor Bill Given says money is just one part of the evaluation process.

"Price makes up about 40 percent of the total weighting in the award.  And the balance comes from the technical requirements.  So somebody who scores particularly high on the technical requirements may be slightly more expensive.

Past performance, staff experience and certification, and completion of the proposal are some of the technical requirements that are considered.

Given adds all prospective bidders are aware of all of the criteria that will be judged on when they enter the RFP process