The Town of Minto has selected a local firm to provide consulting engineering services.
Since amalgamation, Minto’s engineering consulting services have been provided by several different firms, with work allocated based on historical involvement and re-allocated as needs and firms evolved.
In December, council called for proposals for consulting engineering work in:
– capital project design, review, tendering, project management, approvals and assistance with grant applications;
– plan review, evaluation and comment;
– wastewater treatment facility operation and sewage collection system maintenance;
– water treatment plant operation and water distribution system maintenance;
– rural road, culvert and bridge maintenance and design;
– Drainage Act matters;
– storm water management;
– facilitating and/or completing annual bridge and culvert inspections and roads needs study as per MTO Criteria; and
– other duties as needed from time to time regarding structural engineering, contaminated sites, traffic and similar specialized services.
A report from the proposal review team at the March 29 meeting indicated 11 firms submitted proposals.
A “two-envelope” proposal system was used. Envelope one, representing 70 per cent of the scoring criteria, contained the firm’s background, primary contact qualifications, team member expertise, and the methodology of approach to the work. Envelope two contained the firm’s pricing and was only opened for firms that scored over 50 per cent on their first envelope submission.
CAO Bill White reported that 10 of the 11 bidders “qualified to go to the costing stage.”
“The municipal review team believes the Triton Engineering proposal provides the best overall value to the town, and most likely the lowest cost as their ‘all-in’ hourly rate is still below average. Their main contact Paul Ziegler lives in Minto,” states a report from review team members White, treasurer Gordon Duff and public works director Brian Hansen.
The review team, which also included deputy mayor Ron Faulkner, water foreman Wayne Metzger and chief building official Terry Kuipers, recommended all eight areas of work be awarded to Triton and that the firm find a “sub” consulting firm to provide work required under the Drainage Act.
The firm that has been handling the town’s drainage matters did not submit a bid, White noted. He pointed out that Fergus-based Triton, which recently opened a second office in Harriston, was one of three firms submitting bids below the average hourly rate of $120, but was the only firm “that didn’t have any costs beyond that.” All other proposals involved additional charges for items such as mileage, labour and equipment.
“I think it was a fair process and I like the way it was handled,” said Mayor George Bridge.
Duff noted, “We’re now 17 years in on amalgamation and why we kept the predecessor firms is they were familiar with one case or the other and now Minto’s got a bit more history, we’ve got a bit more common standards and we’ve got a style to it too.”
Since 2008 town engineering expenses have ranged between $280,000 and $600,000 per year for all services. Councillor Ron Elliott asked if any financial savings would come of the arrangement.
“That’s difficult to say. It’s more like a range of services, so it depends on the year,” said Duff. However, he added, “There’s going to be some efficiencies.”
Also, said Duff, “a big part of my job that keeps increasing is reporting on the grants and you’re very dependant on your engineers for some of the technical aspects of that.”
Council accepted the recommendation the consulting work be awarded to Triton subject to completion of an agreement with a five-year term and 90-day cancellation clause.
