GCAO Q4-2024 Newsletter

Hello GCAO members,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer with both family and business. The following is a recap of GCAO activities since our new board was elected.

• In case you missed it our annual cocktail reception at the Rideau Club on May 29th was once again a great success with over 85 attendees. Jerzy Jurewicz of Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates was the deserving winner of the “Ethics and Integrity “award. Again, many thanks to our sponsors Petrela Winter & Associates and Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company for their generous support.
• Hopefully you found time to attend the OCA’s now annual symposium on April 17th. GCAO supported this event, and we had a booth and met up with several interested parties, three of whom are now members
• We welcome new members Asco Construction, Bircon Canada Ltd., Govan Brown and Ledcor Projects Eastern Limited
• Again, in case you missed it, we are building a new website which requires your input if you have not already done so. We will continue to upgrade the features of the site to include event registration and payment.
• The annual golf tournament was held September 25th at Loch March. Eighty golfers enjoyed a great clear day with lunch and prizes.

Tendering Practices

While we continue to find ourselves in a market where GC’s can pick and choose projects to bid, or perhaps choose to not bid based on unfavourable tendering practices or clauses, we encourage all member firms to continue to inform the GCAO of unfavourable terms and practices they see. It is important to keep buyers of construction aware that local GC’s have a collective voice.

Our Tender Practices Team has been working on your behalf on the following issues ( see bullet points below).

• Working with CCDC to add a piece in their FAQ section pointing out that CCDC 2 contracts cannot use the Bank of Canada rate for late payment interest.
• Meeting with the City Liaison Committee to monitor their efforts towards “social procurement”
• Working with the OCA, but unsuccessfully changing anything at Franco Achat
• Canvassing members to understand the “Gordion” scam and fend them off
• unable to get anything changed in the tender for the 66 Slater fit-up with Colonnade, managing for PSPC
• Successfully getting the Town of Hawkesbury to use a prequalification for their municipal garage instead of a post tender qualification making up 25% of the bid
• Working with the OCA to monitor ERG requirements and particularity with T.O.H who have introduced a 5% ERG point policy
  

Just a reminder that the following are your 2024 board members who volunteer their time and expertise for the betterment of our industry.

Doug Drevniok - Past President
Jarret Brown - President
Chris Markell - 1st Vice President & Tendering Practices
Dan Carley - 2nd Vice President & Entertainment
Leigh Fuller - Website & IT
Steve Donley - Treasurer
Derek Noppe - Communications
Bared Mirican - Secretary

Note: Keep and eye out for an email blast coming soon for the GCAO Project Awards dates and criteria. We encourage all member firms to have a look and consider entering projects that fit the categories.

Kind Regards,
Jarret Brown
President