Ottawa Construction News staff writer
If you want to bid as a general on a fixed price contract for City of Ottawa projects, you’ll need to prove you have experience and the ability to “demonstrate satisfactory performance in the construction of works that are similar in magnitude and complexity” to the contract for which you are bidding – and show that your subtrades, suppliers and superintendent are also qualified.
The “experience” policy went into effect on March 1 with “the latest revision of the Standard Tender Documents for Unit Price Contracts in 2001,” Elizabeth Lang, the city’s program manager, Quality Assurance and Standards, said in a May 12 statement.
“This section provides a consistent approach for the minimum experience qualifications required from the general contractor, project manager, project site superintendent and sub-contracts and suppliers. These documents provide staff, consultants and contractors with the city’s expectation and requirements for the design and construction of capital projects.”
In a revised technical bulletin issued on May 10, the city made things a little easier, extending “the amount of time for the general contractor to submit the mandatory experience, if requested, from 24 hours to three days,” Lang wrote in an email to Ontario Construction News. “This additional time will allow for a wholesome submission.”
“The city will continue to collaborate with our industry partners, and at this time, is not anticipating any impact to the approval process for contacts,” she wrote.
In the “Special Provision-General” section of the contract bidding documentation, the city says it “reserves the right to request additional information from Tenderers and shall be the sole judge to whether a bidder meets the requirements of this special provision.”
The city requires on request the contractor to provide documentation demonstrating:
Experience of the general contractor
The general contractor must have successfully completed a minimum of three projects of similar magnitude and complexity within the last five years in the capacity of the general contractor. Failure to meet the requirements will result in the tender being deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for contract award.
Experience of the project manager
The general contractor shall confirm the name and experience of the project manager who will the have responsibility of the overall management of the project. The project manager must have the authority to enter into binding agreements on matters concerning this tender on behalf of the company.
The project manager’s experience shall demonstrate at least three successful construction projects of similar magnitude and complexity managed. Failure to meet the experience requirements will result in the tender being deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for contract award.
Experience of the project site superintendent
The general contractor shall confirm the name and experience of the site superintendent to be supervising all operations and activities on site on a full-time basis. The superintendent’s experience shall demonstrate at least three successful construction projects of similar magnitude and complexity supervised, with proven experience in dealing with strict construction schedule and high public scrutiny. Failure to meet the experience requirements will result in the tender being deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for contract award.
Sub-contractors and suppliers
The general contractor shall confirm the name(s) and experience of the sub-contractors and suppliers to be used on the project. Sub-contractors shall have proven experience in the supervision of the scope of work they are required to complete under this contract.
