Farrell’s get the nod to provide backup

By Craig Westcott

Farrell’s Excavating has won the contract to provide back up snow clearing services in CBS this winter.

The Kelligrews-based company will be paid $175,000 to be on standby to provide snow clearing equipment and workers to supplement the Town’s unionized operators.

That amount buys the Town 500 standby hours. For anything needed beyond that, Farrell’s will be paid $348 per hour per loader.

The Town didn’t call a tender for the service, but instead made a limited call out to four companies requesting that they bid for the work. The Town told the companies it was willing to buy up to 100 standby hours for every machine that could be made available, up to a maximum of five loaders.

Farrell’s was the only company whose bid included the availability of five loaders, and also bid the lowest amount per machine, at $348 per hour.

Black Diamond Construction offered to make one loader available for $400 per hour. Modern Paving said it could provide two loaders for $450 an hour each. And Eric Taylor Ltd., of Foxtrap, offered to provide three loaders on standby at $495 per hour each.