1. What does it mean to be Indemnified?

 

It means that Precision Underground Services has been vetted by the City of Calgary and has been approved to perform work on City of Calgary property. It also means the satisfactory completion of work is guaranteed for two years on City property.

 

2. How do I get a quote and what does it cost?

 

Send us your Grade Slip or City stamped/approved plans (DSSP), along with your contact information, and we will provide you with a free quote for the job. Our quote is based on grade slip or DSSP information, along with having made a visit to your work site. This visit helps us determine soil conditions, utilities, roadway conditions, traffic and location, along with other mitigating criteria that may effect the price. You may also request to meet with either Joe or Wade if you have any special concerns or questions.

 

3. Then what happens?

 

When you decide to accept our quote, you will be asked to provide the requested information on page one, sign and date the last page and return the documents to us. Once we have the signed agreement, we will put your project on our Job Schedule list. If your timeline shifts, all you have to do is call and talk to us about it. To ensure prompt scheduling, we recommend you request a quote as soon as you get your Grade Slip or DSSP.

 

*Note: there is a City of Calgary process we have to follow for all permit requests with specific timelines.*

 

4. Do you handle the permits?

 

Precision will obtain the permits required for our scope of work. This includes the Permission to Construct Water Addendum Permit, the Street Use & Temporary No Parking Permits, the Excavation Permit and the Compaction arrangements. The cost of these permits is included in our quoted price. You are responsible for several other permits as outlined to you by the City of Calgary. You will be required to provide us with a copy of your Permission to Permit number document, along with the proof of payment receipt before we apply for our Excavation Permit.

Please Note: If your project location does not qualify for a flat rate Permission to Permit from the City or you do not provide one a minimum of 4 weeks prior to site arrival,  significant costs for non-flat rated Road Degradation and/or Top Lift Paving fees will apply.

 

5. What additional permits or payments do I, the builder, need to know about regarding Precision's scope of work?  (Glad you asked!!)

 

Grade Slip - A grade slip is provided fairly early in your Development Permit application process. You can obtain it from the Planning and Development Department and their phone number is 403-268-5311 if you have any questions. Precision requires a copy of this grade slip in order to complete your quote.  Be advised that a grade slip is currently valid for two years from the date of issue and then must be reissued if not used within that time frame. Alternatively, you can provide us with a City-approved DSSP if you received that rather than a grade slip.

 

Water Kill -  Prior to July 1 2021, the builder/developer must pay a refundable water kill security deposit to the City of Calgary at the time a demolition permit is requested. This deposit was paid to ensure your Indemnified Contractor "killed" the old service and connected the new one. The water service kill is done at excavation; it is NOT turning the water off at street level prior to demolition.  Once Precision completes the job and issues your invoice, you may apply back to the City and they will refund that deposit - if applicable. Please ensure you keep your original receipt. Our price for this water service kill is included in our quoted price.  PLEASE SEE OUR WATER KILL TAB.

 

Permission to Permit Fees - The City of Calgary requires the builder (developer)/homeowner to pay for Road Degradation &/or Top Lift Paving fees. This is referred to as the Permission to Permit number.

A Permission to Permit is required when your contractor(Precision,Atco Gas,Enmax etc.) has to excavate into the City Right of Way (City Roadway). The Permission to Permit program allows the pre-payment of two fees:

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Pavement Degradation Fees: Charged to offset the increased repair and maintenance costs caused by excavating asphalt.

AND

Top Lift Paving Fees: Charged on roads classified in good condition, to restore the road surface so it lasts the projected lifetime.

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A Permission to Permit enables these two fees to be pre-paid at a flat rate on a project basis, instead of a per-permit, per-cut estimate fee. The advantage is the permit holder knows up front what the excavation costs are for the project.

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This flat rate permit is paid once per project address and we require a copy of that document, along with proof of payment receipt, to Precision Underground Services prior to the application of our permits. 

Please see our PERMISSION TO PERMIT TAB.

 

Storm Redevelopment Fee - The storm Redevelopment Levy fee has to be paid on triplexes and larger in the redevelopment area, even if the parcel is not tying into a storm main. This fee may be required if/when a commercial DSSP is required. The frontage of the parcel is used to calculate the fee. As of 2020, the frontage is charge by $84/m. The money is pooled together and the City of Calgary will install storm main in the inner city with these funds. the Quote/Invoice that can be paid with credit card on the City of Calgary ePay website online or with a Cheque at the City Cashiers, 800 Macleod Trail SE - 3rd floor City Hall.  

It is recommended that the builder be prepared to pay this fee at some point. You may be advised by the City of Calgary that you are required to pay this fee at the development, planning and permit stage. Unfortunately, we are advised of this requirement when we submit our Addendum request from the City, which then generates the Storm Redevelopment Fee charge to be paid by the developer/homeowner. It is probably a good idea to ask if you need to pay it early in your development permit process. 

We are unable to obtain our Addendum permit until the Storm Redevelopment Fee is paid by you and we receive the proof of payment receipt, which is then forwarded to our contact at the City Department responsible for the Addendum process. May we suggest you ask the City early in the process so that the scheduling of your job is not delayed.

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6. What is Driveway Crossing Rehab?

 

The Developer may have paid a refundable security deposit to the City of Calgary for the concrete rehabilitation (surface restoration) at the Development Permit stage for the replacement of the Driveway Crossing with mono sidewalk and/or curb and gutter and/or separate sidewalk.  After we complete the installation, the developer must call 3-1-1 and request a City of Calgary Driveway Crossing Coordinator to go to the site for final measurements of the remaining concrete rehab. The portion of the concrete rehab that was charged and PAID by the excavation permit Holder (Precision Underground) is deducted from the remaining Developer portion and the customer is refunded by the City of Calgary for that portion of the security deposit on their final invoice from the City. Precision has already paid for that portion via our Excavation Permit, thus you are entitled to a refund of that portion.  This eliminates a double charge by the City for the same portion.

 

7. Do you fix the sidewalks?

 

No. The City charges us a concrete rehabilitation fee for the future repair of the sidewalk we have cut through for our scope of work. This concrete rehabilitation fee IS included in our quoted price to you. However, the City is responsible for the actual sidewalk replacement, and it is done according to their resurfacing schedules using an Indemnified Roads Contractor.  If you have any questions about their rehabilitation time frame, you need to call 3-1-1.

8. Do you warranty your work?

 

Precision Underground is obligated to the City of Calgary to warranty our scope of work for two years on the city side. We receive a Construction Completion Certification (CCC) upon final inspection by a City Inspector when we complete the installations. That certifies that the work we just completed was done correctly and to City specifications. Then the site is inspected by the City two years later to ensure that all is still in working order. At that point, we receive our Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC), and we are no longer responsible for our scope of work. Please ensure that you advise your sub-trades (landscapers, drywall delivery etc.) to be careful of the curb box as damage to that box can result in additional charges to the builder for any repairs required to meet City of Calgary specifications. We take pictures of that part of the site upon our departure. Please advise your landscapers not to plant vegetation at the curb box or bury it in your driveway. The curb box is located on City property and if it is too low, covered with asphalt or damaged in these areas, we will be obligated by the City of Calgary to dig it up to fix it or raise it to grade, at your cost. In this case, “an ounce of prevention…….”

 

 9. So, what exactly does Precision Underground Services do?

 

We take care of YOU with respect to your underground water, sanitary or storm service installations. Precision Underground Services provides you with quotes and advises you of potential issues you may encounter on your site. Precision takes care of obtaining the necessary permits for our scope of work, saw cutting the road and sidewalk, trenching, pipe installation and hookups, completing water kills, arranging inspections, backfilling, preparing surface rehabilitation, and cleaning as required on our worksite and warranty. All in all, we go the extra mile to accommodate any of your needs. We strive to provide you with the best information we can in order to allow your project to move ahead in a timely and efficient manner.

 

  PLEASE NOTE: We are not responsible if these or any other City of Calgary procedures change.