A special meeting of Yorkton Council was called Monday where they unanimously approved a tender for the North Sanitary Sewer System upgrades.
The contract went to Accurate HD Ltd., from New Bothwell, MB. with a lower tender of $3,486,926, taxes included.
As a matter of background, Michael Buchholzer, Director of Environmental Services and Capital Projects told Council “In January of 2017, Council supported the application for the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component (PTIC) Grant titled “North Sewer System Upgrades.” The project provides for the construction of a new sanitary trunk sewer main and upgrade to the north drainage channel that includes replacing the existing culverts with a concrete bridge.”
The project selection was based on the flood mitigation report (by Integrated Engineering) that identified the storm water drainage ditch, as requiring upgrading. The drainage culverts are collapsing and the 100 year old sanitary outfall pipe, which is 1.4 kilometers long, and 1-meter in diameter requires replacement. The drainage channel and the sanitary outfall are a major component of the city’s infrastructure. The channel diverts the majority of the City’s storm water to Yorkton Creek and the sanitary outfall line is the only connecting pipeline from the City to the wastewater treatment plant, detailed a report circulated to Council.
“The project is part of the $11,130,000 budget of which one-third (1/3) will be funded from the waterworks utility reserve and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) from the PTIC National and Regional Projects grant,” said Buchholzer.
“This is a federally and provincially supported program with the objective to support infrastructure projects related to economic growth, a clean environment and stronger communities. As government funding was secured, the project was tendered in February 2019. The City received ten bids, three of which were non-compliant.”
To determine the successful bid to bring before Council, Buchholzer said administration reviewed the tenders carefully.
“The tender process followed the City’s Purchasing Policy, which allows Administration to evaluate tenders using the “best value” method, similar to the way the Saskatchewan Provincial Government operates their bid process. It complies with the Trade Agreements and provides an appropriate degree of bid evaluation. The evaluation committee consisted of City Administration from the Engineering, Public Works, and Environmental Departments. The bidder exhibiting best value in accordance with the Contractor’s Qualification Statements, is Accurate HD Ltd. with a total bid, less taxes, of $3,141,375.00,” he said.
The two low bids were scrutinized, including checking references, a process taking a week, he added.
The above bid amount, plus applicable taxes, a contingency fund (estimated 10 per cent of the contract price), and engineering fees is within the approved budget. This bid is one part of the North Sewer System Upgrades Project and Administration will ensure that all subsequent expenditures related to this project are within budget.
The work is a critical element of the overall City drainage plan.
“We have to start at the end,” said Buchholzer. “It is the discharge point for a large portion of the drainage system … We have to increase the velocity through the channel (by re-sloping it).”
The work will be undertaken as the weather allows, and again if the weather cooperates, should be completed by October.
