The MHCA is in talks with the City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Infrastructure about proposed new specifications for public works projects. The association, further, is aiming to make such sessions a regular part of annual infrastructure program-planning again, with both governments.
“Having early discussions ahead of planned changes to specifications with industry makes it easier for both the city and province; our industry has valuable practical insight and needs to understand the rationale for changes,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. “Specification meetings, on an annual or more frequent basis, can put such plans on the table. Senior public officials can explain the need for changes to technical details requested in project materials or processes. Similarly, industry may have its own initiatives or suggestions for governments to consider.”
The association recently engaged with the city’s Water and Waste senior administration on specifications for pipe size and tunneling connected to the Cockburn and Calrossie sewer renewal project. Water and Waste opted to use a request for qualification on the complex, high-risk project and introduced new tunneling methods.
The matter was on the agenda at a Wednesday meeting of the MHCA Executive Committee, where details of the city’s rationale were discussed.
“The initial RFQ contained tunneling methods and drive lengths that the Manitoba industry has never done, or not done for many, many years,” Lorenc said. “That precluded our industry from submitting qualifications.” At the recent meeting with Water and Waste, association representatives better understood the justification for the new specs.
The MHCA is engaged in meetings now with Winnipeg Public Works and Manitoba Infrastructure, in extraordinary reviews of technical specifications for street and highways projects.
Regular sessions with public officials, prior to the release of a construction year’s project design or construction tenders, allow for the industry and the administration to work through differing perspectives on specifications, talk about options and resolve issues that might crop up.
“Basically, we all have the same interests at heart – value for the taxpayer in quality work at the best price. A strong, competitive market is fundamental to that goal because the more bidders you have, the better value you get,” Lorenc noted.