FUNDING AGREEMENT INTACT
No arguments with amendments from government
Second berth changes OK with province.
Changes that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality are making to the tender document for Sydney harbour’s second cruise ship berth fall within the parameters of the existing funding agreement with the province, a government spokesperson has confirmed.
Krista Higdon, spokesperson for Municipal Affairs, also confirmed that under the terms of the funding arrangement with the province — which along with the CBRM and Ottawa is an equal funder of the $20 million marine terminal project — the CBRM has until 2023 to complete the project.
Infrastructure Canada has also confirmed that the amendments made to the project did not require any change to the financial agreement between the federal government and the
province.
CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke revealed this week that all tenders had come in significantly higher than what had been budgeted for the second berth project. The three lowest bidders will be asked to bid on a revised tender
reflecting a reduced scope of work, something Clarke described as involving fewer bells and whistles but still meeting the core needs of the cruise industry.
After getting legal, procurement and consultant advice, the CBRM intends to exercise the right to refuse all bids and approach the three lowest compliant bidders, in accordance with Nova Scotia public sector construction contract guidelines.
Clarke said it will be a much shorter window for those companies to respond than the original tender, with the intention of getting responses within a few weeks He said both Ottawa and the province have signed off on the design changes.
The lowest bid received was $24,746,346.79. Clarke has said it’s imperative that the project be brought in on budget given other infrastructure needs in the municipality.
The provincial and federal governments announced their support for the project 18 months ago. It is now anticipated that the second berth will be able to receive ships in September 2019.