For the past eight years, L.A. Beamish of Summerland has had the contract to do the janitorial work for the municipality, but this year, a Kelowna firm has been awarded the contract.
Evergreen Building Maintenance of Kelowna had the lowest bid submitted to the municipality, more than $40,000 a year under the next closest of the seven bids considered. For this reason alone, the municipality was bound to accept Evergreen’s bid. Only a bad criminal record check or bad references could have disqualified the bid.
The regulations are in place and Summerland council must follow the regulations.
This is the second time in the past two years an out-of-town company has had the lowest bid for a significant municipal contract. In 2011, the garbage contract went to BFI Canada instead of to a Summerland firm.
The garbage bid and the janitorial bid both resulted in savings for the municipality. At the same time, each of these contracts has been a harsh blow to Summerland businesses vying for the jobs.
While some would like to see the bidding process changed to give an advantage to Summerlanders bidding on local work, the municipality is required to accept the lowest bid.
Even without this requirement, the system of awarding to the lowest bid is the simplest method available. It is also the most fair system, since each of the bidders works under the same parameters.
The contractor able to provide service at the lowest price is selected for the work. While this means contractors from Kelowna and beyond may bid successfully on a Summerland contract, it also means Summerland contractors could win the bid to provide the work in other communities.
For aggressive Summerland businesses, this means plenty of opportunities to receive substantial contracts.
