MHCA, MTI to discuss tender 2024 ad schedule, rollover of unexpended funds
MHCA will meet March 22 with Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure senior leadership about the “thin” spring 2024 tender ad schedule, including projects that have been pushed back for tendering this year and some previously scheduled and now missing.
The meeting will also seek confirmation MTI will continue the practice of rolling over any unexpended funds in the annual highways program, to the following year’s budget.
“The latest edition of the tender ad schedule for highways construction and, particularly, for structures is alarmingly thin,” MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc said. “This is of grave concern to the industry because late tendering directly affects the set-up of resources, including workforce, and the ability to start and complete projects.”
The department has committed to expending the full $500-million program expected for 2024, but late tendering affects rollout of projects, Lorenc noted.
The meeting was arranged following MHCA’s review of the spring tender ad schedule.
In a memo to Deputy Minister Ryan Klos, the association has asked for clarity on the delay, including whether it may be tied to the Province of Manitoba budget for 2024, to be presented in the legislature April 2.
“If not, the tender ad schedule indicates serious problems, and consequential risk to the industry and the employment and family incomes of many thousands of experienced workers,” Lorenc said.
He said the industry also needs assurance the department will continue the practice of carrying forward any unexpended annual program dollars into the subsequent highway capital budget year.
“This is critical to both the department and industry in providing stability to program management, industry ability to plan for growth and providing sustained income to the 15,000 Manitobans whose incomes, directly and indirectly, depend upon our industry.”
MHCA at the March 22 meeting will raise a number of other items of concern, including the department’s proposed move away from awarding large projects based on lowest qualifying bid, alone.
At a February 14 ‘program review’ meeting, senior department officials said MTI is looking at moving to adopt a point system that would include evaluation of the project work team, work plan and Indigenous involvement. The department is in the early stages of this proposed move and would consult industry prior to the shift.
MHCA will also discuss the government’s recently introduced Bill 7 – the public sector construction projects (tendering) repeal act, which would bring back the option to require unionized workers as a condition of a tender or project labour agreement (PLA).
