Paradise staff catch a typo that could have cost the Town a bundle

A local landscaping company and Town of Paradise staff were quickly able to correct a typo that inflated the price of grass seed ten times over the correct amount, but only because no other companies had bid on the contract.

Councillor Glen Carew explained that in June, the Town invited tenders for the supply of turf maintenance material for the 2026 season, with the option to extend it for one additional year. The tender was based on the supply of materials such as lime, fertilizer, grass seed, and field line marking powder.

EASTCHEM Inc., which had been awarded the 2025 turf maintenance materials contract in the amount of $12,526, HST included, was the only company to submit a bid, and staff noticed a sizeable increase in the unit price of grass seed from last year.

“Given that the unit price for seed was more than six times the price it was in the previous contract, the supplier was contacted to verify the accuracy of the price and the potential to negotiate,” said Carew, noting the public procurement policy allows for price negotiation when there is only one bidder for an open tender.

Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Niblock said the submitted price was a typo, and because EASTCHEM was the only company to bid, the matter was easily corrected.

“Obviously, this was a typo, and they were able to fix the submission, but if there had been a number of bids, that would not have been the case,” said Niblock, who added in that case the Town would have selected the lowest qualified bid.

Staff managed to negotiate a unit price of $6.25 a kilogram, down from $62.50 a kilogram in the uncorrected tender document.

Given the negotiated price, staff recommend council award EASTCHEM the contract in the amount of $12,526, HST included.