The Rocanville Town Council has postponed the completion date for the indoor pool refurbishment project to December 31, 2024, as decided in the council meeting on December 6.
According to a report by Yahoo News, a request for proposals (RFP) for the pool project is currently open on SaskTenders until January 5, 2024, allowing interested parties to bid on demolishing the current facility and constructing a new building.
As explained in an earlier Pool & Spa Marketing report, the project has faced challenges, primarily related to cost. Despite securing an almost $1.27 million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the lowest bid received was more than $3.645 million, well above the expected cost of $2.34 million. Another tender in April resulted in a single bid of $4.939 million, putting the project on hold.
A report by Penticton Herald states that should the pool not reach substantial completion by December 31, 2024, there is a risk that the town could forfeit the ICIP funding. A suggestion put forth by the Rocanville Pool Refurbishment Committee during a public forum in August proposed the town taking on the role of general contractor, with different sections of the project being separately tendered. However, the downside to this proposition would be a further extension of the project’s timeline.
In the face of difficulties, preliminary groundwork has commenced, as indicated in a report from The Hamilton Spectator, which mentions site meetings with potential contractors. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to higher prices and supply chain issues. Seeking tenders in the winter aims to attract competitive bids within the budget. In the same report, Mayor Ron Reed expressed optimism about the project’s success, but acknowledged uncertainties. The January 5 deadline for proposal is significant, with hopes that favourable pricing and secured funding will enable the continuation of the project.
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