Hay River company gets contract
Northern News Services
Friday, November 25, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Hay River's Rowe's Outcome Joint Venture won the $14.9-million contract to remediate Bullmoose, Chipp, Spectrum, Storm, Beaulieu, Joon, and Ruth Mines.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) says that's a bargain.
That number is "less than anticipated," stated Shawn Jackson, a communications officer for INAC. Jackson stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer that Rowe's-Outcome cut costs by proposing to complete the work a year early - in March 2019 instead of March 2020.
"This would eliminate the costs associated with the construction and maintenance of a winter road in March 2020, as well as the substantial costs of having a workforce, camp and equipment on the site for another year," stated Jackson. He added that the shorter timeline is what has been proposed by Rowe's Outcome; nothing will be finalized until after the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board approves the Land Use Permit application.
INAC declined interview requests to explain why Rowe's-Outcome was selected over a local company. Rowe's also was unable to comment without INAC's permission, or speak to the what the remediation process and road construction would entail.
Suzanne Vuch, regional manager of corporate communications with Public Works and Government Services Canada declined to directly address why Rowe's was awarded the contract, stating the company had received the "highest combined rating of technical merit and price during bid evaluations."
She did add, however, that during the tendering process, both Public Works and INAC "encouraged" local aboriginal involvement and the bid from Rowe's-Outcome included aboriginal opportunities considerations.
The board will make a decision on the plan early next month.
If the permit is approved, INAC plans to begin construction of the road in January, weather permitting.
"It is too early to tell how the weather might affect construction of the road. Weather conditions will be monitored by the Bullmoose-Ruth Remediation Project Team and by the contractor and decisions would be made accordingly," stated Jackson.
