Mr. Ally and Mr. Solorzano submitted a formal bid protest regarding Flexible Traffic Bollards. They provided an overview of their tender process and submitted a dispute. They noted the mechanism, installation and visibility comparisons of their traffic bollards.
Matthew Sweet, Manager of Active Transportation presented on City Bollard Specifications. Mr. Sweet provided an overview on the key specifications not met by Almon Equipment’s deflex posts and specification rationale.
Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised questions and concerns pertaining to Ontario specifications, Canadian or locally made products, replacement schedule and other municipalities that have installed the Almon Equipment product.
Mr. Ally, Mr. Sweet, Helen Noehammer, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Services, Ken Lauppe, Manager of Works Operations and Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works, Erica Edwards, Manager of Materiel Management - External Service and Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer responded to questions from the Committee.
- Almon Equipment does not meet the Ontario specifications.
- None of the bases of the bollards have been replaced and the posts are rarely replaced.
- The same holes may be utilized depending on the impact to the cement from the anchors.
- The successful bidder is not providing Canadian-made products.
- Staff will report back to the Councillor directly on whether the successful bidder is listed under the DSM (Designated Source of Materials) and TRA (The Road Authority).
- Works Operation and Maintenance oversees the replace of city bollards.
- The process for a replacement and/or maintenance request for a city bollard can be done through 311 or the resident’s Ward Councillor’s office.
- Ally noted that Almon Equipment’s bollards are installed in a number of municipalities, such as the City of Ottawa, Montreal and by the exhibition place in Toronto. He further noted that Almon Equipment is listed under The Road Authority and pending a rating.
- A Canadian listed criteria in the policy and by-law can not be included as it opposes open, fair and equal competition.
- Staff agreed to further working with companies to test and pilot local and new products.
DIRECTION to staff to report back directly to Councillor Dasko regarding whether the successful bidder of Procurement No. PRC002556 is listed under the DSM and received a TRA rating.
Councillor Starr, Parrish and Saito requested that a Canadian-made criterion be explored during the Purchasing By-law review and associated policies as well as conducting test pilots with other organizations.
Item 9.1 was brought forward, amended to include pilot testing and a review to include a Canadian criteria review, and voted upon.