B.C. public construction project owners recognized for procurement

National Education Consulting Inc. and the BCCA offer an Infrastructure Masterclass to assist public owners in tendering processes.

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) awarded seven public construction project owners for excellence in procurement this year.

The distinction is a first for the industry, according to the BCCA, which monitors and analyzes project information in British Columbia’s BidCentral construction marketplace. Honourees, all based in the province, include:

• Town of Smithers for an airport expansion project
• Public Works and Government Services Canada (Pacific Region)
• Lower Mainland Facilities Management Health Authorities
• Defence Construction Canada Comox Procurement Team
• Interior Health Authority
• City of Vernon for a multi-use facility expansion
• Vancouver Island Health Authority

“Achieving excellence in construction procurement is a difficult task, and I would be hard pressed to point to any project where everything was done perfectly,” said Warren Perks, vice president of Industry Standards for the BCCA. “However these owners worked hard to achieve high standards of fairness and transparency on their projects, and we felt they should be recognized.”

A panel of industrial, commercial and institutional construction owners, advisors and executives identified these public owners and projects for distinction. The panel considered numerous factors, with a focus on fair, open and transparent practices.

“Standing out for procurement professionalism amid the hundreds of public projects underway in B.C. is a significant achievement,” said Chris Atchison, president of the BCCA.

“Ultimately, public owners whose contract opportunities are distinguished by professional, well-structured procurement processes and project outcomes achieve a reputation as owners of choice,” added Atchison.

According to the BCCA, procuring construction services in the public sector is a highly specialized practice, and project delivery is essential with contractors in demand, resources at a premium and timelines tight. The association stated that effective training programs could improve the construction procurement process.

The employer-based BCCA reaches 12,350 companies working in the institutional, commercial and industrial construction sectors of our province through its various programs and services. 

SOURCE: BCCA