Mayor raises concerns over engineering contracts
Norfolk Mayor Kristal Chopp reminded county staff this week to be mindful of potential conflicts-of-interest in the area of procurement.
Chopp was disturbed Tuesday to see that a contract was awarded last summer to a Simcoe firm for engineering services related to bridge design. She noted that county staff, in a separate report, was prepared to award a contract in April this year to the same firm for – among other services – bridge inspections.
“We can’t have the same engineer that is awarded inspections also awarded the design (for) engineering,” Chopp said. “It’s a conflict-of-interest.”
Chopp also reminded council that wasn’t the first time she raised this issue regarding bridges and the county’s need for engineering services.
“I was assured, in open session, on several occasions that we were going to address this problem and that we would re-tender,” the mayor said. “And yet we’re in the exact same position again.”
Shelley Darlington, general manager of corporate services, said she would review the situation to determine if something slipped through the cracks. Darlington noted that the second contract, which has an inspections component, has not been formally awarded and that there is an opportunity yet to review it.
The engineering firm in question – G. Douglas Vallee Ltd. – counts bridge inspections, design and project management among its service offerings. A bridge inspection typically produces a condition report with recommendations on whether repairs or replacement are in order.
The contract issued to Vallee Ltd. last year was for engineering services for three bridges in need of repair. Valley Ltd. submitted the low bid of $137,600 among five competing firms.
Under Norfolk’s procurement policy, division managers are authorized to award contracts through a tender process for projects worth between $50,000 and $250,000. Council adopted this policy to prevent its meeting schedule from delaying the approval and execution of essential work.
Valley Ltd. was also the low bidder for a more recent contract involving engineering services for the rehabilitation and replacement of six bridges and culverts this year and next. Seven firms submitted tenders, with Vallee Ltd. providing the low bid of $266,300.
A note attached to the latter tender report says the pedestrian bridge over the Lynn River immediately east of Hawthorne Avenue was slated for repair this year. However— under the heading “Change of scope” – the report says “after further consideration, it is very likely the engineer will recommend a full replacement for this project.”
John Vallee, spokesperson for G. Douglas Vallee Ltd., was invited Thursday to comment on Chopp’s concerns. A reply was not received by press time.