Solar suppliers blindsided by library install

Questions are being raised over the installation of new solar power panels on Marlborough’s newest library.

Warning flags have been raised over Marlborough District Council’s decision to award the contract for Te Kahu o Waipuna without it going out for tender.

Concerned solar installers say the work has been done by a firm not registered under the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand.

One puzzled member told the Marlborough Weekly they are worried council has not done its “due diligence.”

“We’re trying to understand how the first major solar investment the council has made on an absolutely wonderful and flagship building with a 50 plus year life has been installed in such questionable and unusual circumstances.”

The spokesperson who represents other Marlborough’s solar installation businesses say the move is unconventional.

“It is very unusual that an approved solar installer off MDC’s own website wasn’t chosen or asked to quote for this especially as this is the councils first investment in solar power.

“How do council even know that they got a competitive and quality proposal when the most experienced solar operators in Marlborough were not even approached, especially as this was a grant from Central Government?”

Original plans for the library didn’t include solar installation due to budget pressure but a last-minute government grant made the move possible through the Better Off Funding, not Marlborough ratepayers. The panels will also offset 55 per cent of the building’s power costs, providing significant and ongoing savings for Council.

The installation was not put to tender as the value of these works is less than $150k, a council spokesperson says.

“Council’s procurement policy provides a non-tender maximum limit of $250k. The design estimate and the quantity surveyed estimate was less than the limit.”

In response to written concerns, Marlborough District Council Property and Community Facilities Manager Jamie Lyall says the company in question, Southtec Group Ltd, had done work for council before.

The company is owned by Isaac Caldwell whose father Mark Caldwell is an Environmental Monitoring Officer for council.

Staff were not aware of the connection when the contract was awarded, the spokesperson says.

“There was no conflict. Mr Caldwell had no involvement in the process and the relationship was unknown to the staff overseeing the process.

“A local company that has completed electrical work on councils other building assets was requested to price the work.

“The price was within the QS provided estimate and the company awarded the contract.

Jamie says while he understands other companies feel they were not included; time pressures swayed the decisions.

“I do understand the frustration of not being included in the process as council’s focus was on getting the work completed before the head contractor completely vacates the site.

“The company has provided all insurance information and documentation to satisfy that they have the skills and capability to complete the project.

“Feedback from the library head contractor and roofing contractor has been positive to date”.