Infrastructure Ontario adds local knowledge in bidding

After appeals by the Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO), the province’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation and Infrastructure Ontario have agreed to modify their procurement practices. From now on knowledge of local construction matters will count for points in all future Infrastructure Ontario requests for proposals.

Barry Steinberg, P.Eng., chief executive officer of Consulting Engineers of Ontario and chair of CDAO, says the change “will send a message to foreign consortia bidding on Infrastructure Ontario projects that using Ontario firms is an important consideration.”

Infrastructure Ontario also agreed to revise its practice of “bundling” its projects. The practice of combining miscellaneous projects into a large lot for bidding sometimes excludes smaller companies from being able to compete. From now on Infrastructure Ontario says it will submit bundling packages for review by an industry panel.

The Construction Design Alliance of Ontario comprises 12 construction groups, including Consulting Engineers of Ontario, the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, Ontario Association of Architects, Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario, Ontario Contractors Association and Ontario Road Builders Association.