Westside re-tendering RCMP building

by Wayne Moore - Nov 17, 2008 CASTANET:

RCMP had hoped to be in a new detachment building on the Westside a year or two ago. They'll now have to wait until the spring of 2010 at the very earliest. Westside Council has decided to re-tender the much delayed project. Re-tendering means work won't likely begin until spring of 2009. It will take 13 to 14 months to build. The price tag for the 16,000 square foot detachment on Pamela Road has risen dramatically over the last couple of years. The original cost of $8.2 million has risen to more than $9.4 million.

Council voted unanimously to re-tender the project as it is currently designed in an effort to lower costs and lower the risk on the municipality and its taxpayers. Staff will tender the job, looking for a general contractor to oversee the project. The general contractor will then tender the individual components of the construction job. Westside is hoping the softening of the construction market will translate into lower tenders. Omicron spokesman, Cameron Kemp, told council the softening of the market is primarily in the residential sector. "We are not seeing changes in construction costs in terms of labour, materials or equipment costs. What we are seeing is profit margins are shrinking," says Kemp. "How long that will last is anyone's guess."

Omicron was hired in 2006 to design the building. Earlier this year, Omicron was also hired by the Regional District to carry out a Construction Management at Risk, allowing them to obtain bids from subcontractors. The company could re-bid on the new tender to become the general contractor of the project.