CORRECTION: The city has no plans to re-tender the South End Community Centre construction contract, a spokesperson says. This article previously indicated new bids would be sought, but the construction manager request for proposals process fills that purpose.
Faced with continually changing construction supply and labour shortage issues, the city is looking to bring in a construction manager to help guide potential changes to the planned South End Community Centre (SECC).
The position is likely to roll into a general contractor role, said Ian Scott, the city’s manager of facilities design and construction.
“We’re bringing them on now to help us look at the scope, schedule and budget, and obviously help us realign the project to help us meet the city’s goals,” he explained. “Given the current market volatility, things are changing rapidly and so this gives us insight into those changes and how they could affect decisions for construction moving forward.”
Finding a construction manager to work with city staff on the project is the first major step for the planned 165,000-square-foot facility since project bids came back in April significantly above the council-approved budget of $80 million.
“This is what the city’s been working on since the tender closed,” said Scott, referring to the April deadline that saw three of five pre-qualified companies bid on the project – all way over budget.
The lowest bid came from Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. of Brampton, at $121,201,000. Mississauga’s EllisDon Corporation bid $134,754,730 for the project. In the middle was JR Certus Construction Co. Ltd. at $126,328,700.
"The project will not be re-tendered," states city spokesperson Michelle Williams in an email.
In response to the over-budget bids – for the SECC and other efforts – city staff put the project on hold and city council gave staff them the ability to reprioritize capital projects through the end of next year within the existing approved funding envelope, which may include putting some on hold.
The SECC is to be built off Clair Road beside Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School, just north of the Larry Pearson baseball complex, and is currently set to include a 25-metre pool with eight lanes, two gyms, two ice pads, indoor walking track and five meeting rooms.
Any major changes to the project’s scope or budget would require council’s approval, Scott noted.
