6 days ago
Contractor misses out on $5m job despite highest rating
A Maddington business has asked why it was not awarded a $5.3 million local government contract despite receiving the highest assessment score.
Dowsing was one of four groups that put in a bid for the three-year contract with the City of Cockburn to provide in situ concreting, such as footpaths, shared use paths, crossovers and concrete pads or footings.
It was given an assessment score of 80 out of 100, but at its July 8 meeting the council gave the job to Axiis Contracting, which scored 79.94.
Bids were assessed on experience, resources, methodology, sustainability, if they were local, and their price.
The city's evaluation panel, which comprises six city officers, recommended Axiis because it considered its bid had the least risk or chance of variations, and the group had better references.
'Reference checking on Axiis Contracting referred to positive comments reflecting timely and quality work outcomes with no hidden charges,' its report said.
'Reference checking on Dowsing scored less than Axiis Contracting with potential issues raised for operators and their approach to safety. Overall a positive reference was provided.'
Dowsing WA operations manager Sam Dowsing told the council he was surprised to read Axiis' references were rated as more favourable than Dowsing's and asked if they could be independently validated.
'This is not our experience talking to the market that we both serve in,' he said.
'In 40 years of business serving local governments, we've never seen a recommendation contradict the outcome of the tender assessment.
'We'd like to question the integrity of the over-ride of the outcome of the extensive assessment criteria, given Dowsing scored the highest ranking.'
Infrastructure services manager Anton Lees said the city had followed Local Government Act regulations when assessing bids for the contract.
He said the city had carried out reference checking on Axiis.
'We've taken that information on board and obviously provided that recommendation in the report on those references,' Mr Lees said.
On its website, Dowsing says it has an 'uncompromising focus on high-quality workmanship, safety and creating positive outcomes'.
It has been operating since 1985 and Axiis since 2013.
Both groups are based in Maddington. No bids were received from groups based within the city or Perth South Metropolitan Alliance region.
