The Yukon government added a 119-page change order to the F.H. Collins Secondary School reconstruction tender this week.

The Department of Highways and Public Works also extended the deadline to Jan. 10, from Dec. 12.

But Larry Turner, the president of the Yukon Contractor's Association, said this morning this is fairly standard practice.

"There's hardly ever a tender that comes out without addendums,” Turner said, adding that the extension isn't unusual either.

Kendra Black, a spokesperson for Highways and Public Works, explained the tender was extended at the request of local contractors.

"It's not uncommon for contractors to request an extension on closing date for construction tenders, depending on the size of the project,” she said this morning.

The change in date isn't expected to impact the project's overall timeline.

The department still expects to award the contract this winter, with construction scheduled to begin early next spring to replace the 50-year-old school.

Black said other aspects of the addendum will accommodate additional programming space identified through discussions with stakeholders.

"Several new learning spaces of different sizes have been incorporated into the design to increase flexibility in how the space is used. They're all changes to the interior layout, we don't consider them significant and they are not expected to impact overall project cost or timelines,” she said.

Asked why these changes weren't added before tender was initially put out for bids, Black noted "it's just part of the ongoing discussion about what the needs are for the space and ongoing consultation with stakeholders about what those needs are.”

The addendum does not include any changes to the energy requirements for the new building, Black noted, adding that "no changes are required...as the city confirmed the bylaws allow for computer modeling to be used and that's the route we're going.”

Prior to question period Tuesday, interim Liberal Leader Sandy Silver put forward a motion urging the Yukon government "to properly manage tenders, instead of rushing them to meet political deadlines.”

This, he said, would ensure two things. First that "costly addendums or changes are not required in the middle of the tendering process, an example of which occurred this week with the issuing of a 119-page change order to the F.H. Collins school tender,” and second, that "the end date of tenders do not change, an example of which occurred this week with the F.H. Collins tender closing being delayed from December 12, 2013 to January 10, 2014.”

Jim Tredger, the NDP's Education critic, asked how the government is involving parents, teachers, students, and the public in the redesign of the school.

Education Minister Elaine Taylor responded that the government has been working with the building advisory committee over the past five years and "the most important features from the building advisory committee consultations have been adapted and have been actually articulated within the design.

"Examples of this include flexible learning spaces, a school-wide wireless network, fitness studio, improved First Nation program areas, an industrial kitchen, and a food service area that opens up with the band room to the lobby, which is also a multipurpose common area,” she said.

The second tender for the F.H. Collins reconstruction was issued in late October, after the government announced it was scrapping the initial design of the school and opting for a

pre-designed model out of Alberta.