Fort Erie's New $20M Elevated Water Tank Shows Negotiated-RFP Model in Action
Niagara Region Water and Wastewater Services has completed a 56.7-metre elevated water tank in Fort Erie, delivered through a negotiated request for proposals process rather than a traditional low-bid tender, Daily Commercial News reports. The 9,250-metric-tonne tank at 1886 Pettit Rd. cost approximately $20 million and is designed to serve the community for the next 75 to 100 years, replacing aging storage infrastructure and improving water pressure for homes, businesses, and fire protection systems. Under the negotiated RFP, qualified proponents submitted technical and financial proposals evaluated against set criteria, and the region then negotiated final terms with the highest-ranked firm, Landmark Structures, according to Sahil Kakkar, senior project manager with Niagara Region’s water/wastewater engineering group. The project stems from a Class Environmental Assessment and an update to the region’s Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Plan. The existing Central Avenue Elevated Tank, built in 1966, is slated for decommissioning in 2028, with demolition planning starting in early 2028.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Niagara Region is the awarding authority to watch: it operates six water treatment plants and 38 reservoirs/elevated tanks across 11 municipalities, and its updated Master Servicing Plan will guide where the next round of tank and watermain projects gets sited.
- The negotiated RFP model, used here to select Landmark Structures on the $20 million Fort Erie tank, rewards contractors who can present strong technical proposals up front, not just low price, so specialty tank, structural, and mechanical firms should prepare qualification packages that highlight schedule and lifecycle-cost performance.
- The 1966 Central Avenue Elevated Tank’s planned 2028 decommissioning will require demolition, materials recycling, and disposal work, with planning starting in early 2028, an early marker for demolition and environmental subcontractors to track for future bid packages.
