A Calgary LED lighting company is questioning why it was not hired to do work on the new St. Patrick's Island pedestrian bridge.

Jode Himann says his company — Nemalux — submitted a bid for the contract to provide lighting for the project.

He said his offer was half the cost of the lighting companies that were chosen, but says Nemalux was told it didn't meet the technical specifications.

"We can build custom projects and I have seen the electrical drawings and ther architectural drawings so I know that Nemalux could have accomplished what they've asked," Himann said.

The company has done business with NASA and Bombardier as well as work on the lights along Memorial Drive.

The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation is overseeing the $25 million project.

Spokesperson Susan Veres says the general contractor, Graham Construction, gets a lump sum and makes its own decisions about which companies to hire.

"They have made that commitment to us and therefore have to deliver on that so they would be using their own processes and diligences to identify any type of subcontract trade and suppliers," Veres said.

Still, Himman said the city needs to do more to hire local companies.

"We're a high quality company, we're local, we're 200 yards from the bridge and we provide fantastic service," Himman said.

"I think that this is an example that there is some improvement that's required."

Graham Construction did not return phone calls from CBC News.