February 1, 2008
Bob Elton's response to Vancouver Sun editorial, January 30
I assure our customers that we do indeed take great care to follow proper rules and guidelines when we issue Requests for Proposals (RFP) and other competitive tendering opportunities.
The situation referenced by the Vancouver Sun was one where at the very outset we identified potential conflicts may exist and identified the need for an external party to oversee the fairness of the process. Michael Asner was contracted by BC Hydro to provide guidance on how to achieve fairness for all parties in this particular case.
We followed his advice every step of the way and made changes at his direction. In fact, Mr. Asner confirmed his satisfaction with our actions in a written report. He then changed his view well after all bids had been received and the evaluation process completed. While we completely respect his right to change his view, this put BC Hydro in a difficult bind with potential liability issues. We referred this situation to an outside law firm which concluded that our process was indeed fair.
All of our RFPs and tender documents are available to the public and potential bidders on the BC Bid web site and BC Hydro will continue to follow a policy of transparency and full disclosure when it comes to RFPs and other contract opportunities.
Bob Elton
President & CEO
BC Hydro
Contact:
| Gillian Robinson Riddell |
| Media Relations |
| Phone: 604 623-4022 |
| gillian.robinson@bchydro.com |
