Vernon has built up a prestigious honour.
The city is among seven public owners recognized by the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) for excellence in procurement this year, a first for the industry.
Procuring construction services in the public sector is a highly specialized practice requiring unique experience, knowledge and skill. With contractors in demand, resources at a premium and timelines tight—now more than ever procurement professionals hold the master key to a successful project delivery.
Vernon’s award is for the facility expansion at Kal Tire Place.
“Achieving excellence in construction procurement is a difficult task, and it’s near impossible to get everything done perfectly,” said Warren Perks, vice-president of industry standards for 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 as outlined by the Capital Asset Management Framework (CAMF).
According to the BCCA, which provides the infrastructure masterclass and publishes construction project opportunities in the BidCentral marketplace, it was time to recognize procurement excellence in the public sector arena.
“Standing out for procurement professionalism amid the hundreds of public projects underway in B.C. is a significant achievement,” said Chris Atchison, president of BCCA. “Congratulations to those owners from all the regions of our province, who lead the way for others in our competitive industry.”
Joining the City of Vernon as an honouree are:
Defence Construction Canada Comox Procurement Team for procurement practices;
Interior Health Authority for procurement practices;
Lower Mainland Facilities Management Health Authorities for procurement practices;
Public Works and Government Services Canada (Pacific Region) for procurement practices;
Town of Smithers for the Airport Expansion Project;
Vancouver Island Health Authority for procurement practices;
“Ultimately, public owners whose contract opportunities are distinguished by professional, well-structured procurement processes and project outcomes achieve a reputation as owners of choice,” said Atchison. The BCCA sees potential for overall improvement in the construction procurement process through effective training programs such as the Infrastructure Masterclass, offered by BCAA and National Education Consulting Inc. (NECI) throughout the province.