A construction boom along with supply shortages and wild price swings thanks to COVID-19 have left local contractors struggling to meet deadlines and cost commitments.

The Windsor Construction Association is hoping to help members by urging public sector clients, including school boards, post-secondary institutions and municipalities, to change the way they handle their tender and bidding processes.

Executive director Jim Lyons said the situation has created an “impossible bidding atmosphere.”

“Unfortunately, a whole bunch of crazy things happened to us all at one time and they’re really causing a lot of angst,” said Lyons.

“It’s just putting a huge demand on materials to the point where our contractors are really nervous about providing a price and guaranteeing that price for more than 30 days.”

The association has sent letters to public clients asking them to shorten the post-tender contract process to a maximum of 30 days and be more forgiving when it comes to construction schedules.

Lyons said massive supply shortages developed because factories were forced to shut down through the pandemic while a construction boom continues to drive up demand across Ontario and beyond.

“I’ve had numerous conversations where a project has been delayed because a product specified is not available,” he said. “If it’s critical to the job, it could slow down everything.”

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