The Berkeley Project: A chronology
November, 2000: Ministry of Works and Engineering pre-qualifies contractors – five make presentations.
November 2, 2000: The three most qualified contractors were identified (ProActive was not among them and was rated 'high risk').
November 28, 2000: Five contractors invited to tender.
March 2, 2001: ProActive the second lowest bidder at $68,164,841 and Bermuda Tech/Ellis-Don lowest bidder at $62,987,435.
March 9, 2001: Bermuda Tech submits a more detailed report on pricing for the project (bills of quantities) including schedules, insurance and bonding.
April 17, 2001: Cabinet awards contract to ProActive.
June 4, 2001: A performance bond (surety) was issued by Union Asset Holdings (UAH) Ltd. All shares are owned by the Bermuda Industrial Union.
June 18, 2001: Work begins on the site with a projected completion date of September 4, 2003.
September, 2001: $450,000 paid to ProActive (includes an amount not approved by the quantity surveyor).
December 11, 2001: Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry approves payment of $700,000 to ProActive (reimbursement of the bond).
October 24, 2002: Ministry staff see the performance bond for the first time.
October, 2002: Auditor General's special report on the Berkeley Institute Senior School capital project submitted to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
December, 2002: Auditor General Larry Dennis hands over his file on the new $70 million secondary school to Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith for investigation into a payment of $700,000 to the general contractor.
February, 2003: Workers on the site said they were unable to do anything because they had no materials to work with after suppliers began withholding goods because of non-payment.
November, 2003: Detectives launch an investigation into the $700,000 fee paid by Government to the general contractor of the new secondary school project.
February 19, 2004: Government announces another $13 million to be spent on Berkeley while negotiations continue to keep ProActive on-site as Government admits the project won't be completed for another year.
February 26, 2004: Government announces $20 million on top of the $68 million contract was being sought for "extras".
March, 2004: Of the $20 million, $13 million is agreed to be paid to ProActive Management with two outstanding issues sent to arbitration. Government announces school will not open until September 2005
August, 2004: ProActive contract cancelled.
September, 2004: Dispute over ProActive contract goes to arbitration.
October, 2004: Somers Construction gets key role as Berkeley project to proceed. Project now estimated at $81 million.
November, 2004: Government rules out possibility of public inquiry into management of Berkeley project.
January, 2005: ProActive says ruling expected by April.
February, 2005: ProActive lawyers say Government still not agreed to ground rules for arbitration. Government denies claim.
March, 2005: Government announces first phase of new school will be completed by September 2005.
April, 2005: Berkeley PTSA vow to push for September 2006 opening, but Government gives assurance that pupils will not be moved to a "construction site".
June 9, 2005: Government announces pupils and staff to move to completed campus in January 2006.
December, 2007: Arbitrators rule that ProActive owes Government around $13 million.
February, 2009: The money is still not paid. Mr. Dennis releases a letter indicating Government is using a private legal firm to go after the money but he doubts Government is serious.
March, 2009: Premier Ewart Brown blasts Mr. Dennis in the House for suggesting Government isn't serious about getting the money.
May, 2009: Dr. Brown concedes Government has given up trying to recoup the $6.8 million performance bond from UAH.
