by Michael Erskine
GORE BAY—An Island contractor was dismayed to discover that a company belonging to the designer of a project was listed as the specified subcontractor in tender documents issued by the Town of Gore Bay for a new airport building.
George Kopylov, whose company Manitoulin Timber Frames specializes in timber framed buildings such as the type listed in the tender documents, raised the alarm with town officials, noting the issue runs contrary to the Competition Act, specifically “Under Exclusive Dealing, Tied Selling and Market Restriction, section 77, look for ‘Exclusive dealing and tied selling’ paragraph.”
The error was confirmed by the Town of Gore Bay. “Yes, there was an error that was corrected when it was brought to the project manager’s attention after a subcontractor called me,” said Gore Bay CAO Stasia Carr when contacted by The Expositor, adding that, “An addendum was issued right away.”
Mr. Kopylov said that issuing an addendum has done little to allay his concerns about the tender. “She appears to think that issuing an addendum makes everything fine,” he said. He went on to point out that specifying the subcontractor in the documents taints the decision-making process, in his mind.
The contractor was reluctant to go on the record with his concerns, not wishing to be seen as someone who is difficult to work with but said that he felt the issue was too important to let it pass unchallenged.
“(Including the name of a subcontractor in the original tender documents) taints the whole process,” he said. He suggested that, left unchecked, such designations can be backed up by specifying products that only that subcontractor can supply.
Still, Mr. Kopylov said he has submitted quotes to several companies bidding on the tender in question.
