Local dealer Farquhar Chrysler's recent bid to outfit the City of North Bay with three new half-ton pickup trucks came up just $744 short, according to a report to council.
In a request for quote (RFQ) process, Blue Mountain Chrysler Ltd., based in Collingwood, Ont., bid $117,930 and came in just under the $118,674 submitted to the City by North Bay's Farquhar Chrysler. Sundridge's Mac Lang Ltd. was third at $128,073.
At Tuesday's regular meeting, North Bay City Council will be asked to approve the award of a $132,730 final contract to Collingwood's Blue Mountain Chrysler Ltd. for the pickup trucks. According to the report, additional optional accessories were added to the vehicles that will join the City's fleet in accordance with — and set out before — the bidding process.
So, why can't the City of North Bay just "shop local" and set aside the bidding process and simply award contracts to local companies?
Legalities. Under its own by-laws, the City cannot give preference to a local bid. This sort of practice also goes against the Canadian Free Trade Act. Essentially, the City risks legal action if the winning evaluated bid is passed over.
The purchasing department's "evaluation considered mandatory technical requirements related to the vehicle’s performance and features, lead time and price," reads the report. "The quote from Blue Mountain Chrysler Ltd. was the lowest bid and provides the best overall value to the City."
In 2018, Farquhar Chrysler also finished second — in a Request for Proposal (RFP) process based on an evaluation formula — behind an out-of-town bidder. In that case, this Council's predecessors voted 5–4 against a staff recommendation to award a $269,179 contract for eight new 4x4 half-ton crew cab trucks from Highbury Ford Sales Ltd., located in London, Ontario.
See original story: Buy local debate delays city truck purchase
In those 2018 discussions, Coun. George Maroosis noted the RFP process is heavily regulated by the province and city councillors have little choice in the matter.
See: Discriminatory Business Practices Act
"This has to be a level playing field," he reminded his colleagues then. "We are all bound by law in the process and the truth is there is nothing we can do about it."
Later in 2018, the Council of the day heavily debated but ultimately awarded a $180,000 contract for vehicles to an Ottawa company when local outfits had finished just out of the running.
And, last month, Coun. Mark King objected to awarding an out-of-town company several hundred thousand dollars for a contract to design the Main Street reconstruction project.
North Bay City Council meets for its committee meeting at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by the regular meeting and available via the City of North Bay's live stream.
