City moves bunny-quick on Bondar dock replacement

After ordering St. Mary's River Marine Heritage Centre to get its boat out of Roberta Bondar Marina one week before Easter, City Council is being asked to proceed quick as a bunny with the needed dock replacement.

Councillors will be asked tonight to immediately award the finger-dock replacement job to Poralu Marine Inc. of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, without calling for tenders.

Tom Vair, the city's deputy chief administrative officer of community development and enterprise services, wants to single-source the project because Poralu was low bidder in 2017 on a tender for replacement of the Bondar fuel dock as well as the E and B docks at Bellevue Marina.

Last year, Poralu was brought in to perform an emergency repair at the Bondar docks.

"The main access point to B, C and D dock was sinking and was beyond repair," Vair says in a report to Mayor Provenzano and city councillors.

"Two main sections of the dock for a total of 75 feet including a new ramp and two serviced pedestals were installed using the Poralu docking system. The total cost of this replacement was $49,669," Vair says.

This year, Poralu is willing to replace the Bondar docks for $738,583 plus harmonized sales tax (HST) for supply and installation.

The following are Vair's arguments for sole-sourcing this year's dock replacements:

• single sourcing would allow for one type of dock system at the Bondar Marina. The fuel dock and 75 feet of dock has already been replaced at Bondar Marina with Poralu Marine docking system
• one system allows for consistency in maintenance and future repairs versus two types of docking systems. The sections that have been replaced can be integrated into the new design with ease. If a different supplier was selected integration of a new docking system to these sections is not guaranteed.
• the timing to receive the docks and install them would be greatly accelerated by moving to sole-source procurement for this project. This will enable the docks to be installed before the busy portion of the boating season and avoid waiting until fall for installation. A delayed installation also presents issues related to the condition of the Roberta Marina docks and potential failure of dock sections
• Poralu already has working knowledge of the marina and municipal requirements
• the Poralu Dock system is an eco-friendly system that is well known around the world and can withstand harsh winter freeze-up and ice-up

Tonight's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.