Short listed teams invited to submit bids on Markham Stouffville Hospital
project

TORONTO, March 19 /CNW/ - Infrastructure Ontario and Markham Stouffville Hospital have released a request for proposals (RFP) to six companies shortlisted to build and finance the hospital expansion and redevelopment project. Once under construction, this new facility will create hundreds of new jobs and stimulate the local economy.

The short listed companies have approximately four months to prepare and submit their bids to Infrastructure Ontario. Bids will be due in July 2010.

Markham Stouffville Hospital's expansion and redevelopment includes a new addition to the south and west of the existing building, on the Markham Site, that will double the size of the facility. As well, space in the hospital that is vacated as a result of programs moving into the new building, will be renovated.

Markham Stouffville Hospital aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for construction of the new facilities. LEED standards focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

Once built, the expanded hospital and supporting services will help support Ontario's two top health-care priorities of improving access to care and reducing emergency wait times.

The redeveloped hospital will have a new emergency department, expanded ambulatory clinics, more inpatient beds and operating rooms, a new diagnostic imaging department, a new maternal child area and a new mental health unit.

Over the past few months, companies participated in a rigorous and competitive request for qualifications process that began on Oct. 15, 2009. This process reviewed their construction management capability and experience, and their financial capacity to undertake a project of this size and complexity.

Once submissions to the RFP are received, Infrastructure Ontario and Markham Stouffville Hospital will evaluate the bids, select a preferred proponent and then negotiate a final contract. The entire process is monitored by an independent fairness monitor and the successful project team will be announced in fall 2010.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Markham Stouffville Hospital to build the new facilities, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

For more information about the procurement process and to view the RFP, visit www.infrastructureontario.ca.

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Quotes

Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

"Today's announcement demonstrates the McGuinty government's continued commitment towards providing the resources and infrastructure to meet the needs of Ontarians."

Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"This is another important step forward for Markham Stouffville Hospital. These improvements will help the hospital increase access to emergency care and lower wait times in this growing community."

Hon. Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture and MPP for Markham-Unionville

"Our government is committed to serving the healthcare needs of Markham and the surrounding communities. This project is important to our community and will create hundreds of jobs during construction."

Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham

"Once this project is complete, the expanded hospital will help ensure that people in our community have access to the best health care, close to home."

Janet Beed, President and CEO, Markham Stouffville Hospital

"We are very pleased to be able to take the next step forward. Our new state-of-the-art facility will help our staff to enhance the scope of care that our patients receive."

Backgrounder

TEAMS SHORTLISTED FOR MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE HOSPITAL PROJECT

In October 2009, Infrastructure Ontario, Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care began the process to pre-qualify teams to build and finance the hospital expansion and redevelopment project.

Teams were pre-qualified through a rigorous competitive request for qualifications process that evaluated and ranked the following:

    
    -   Approach to project development;
    -   Construction capability and experience; and
    -   Financial and financing information and their ability to successfully
        reach a financial close.

    The following companies have been invited to respond to the request for
    proposals:

    -   Aecon Buildings & Turner Construction Company (Joint Venture)
    -   Bondfield Construction Limited & SNC-Lavalin Construction Inc. (Joint
        Venture)
    -   EllisDon Corporation
    -   Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A. (OHL S.A.)
    -   PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
    -   Vanbots, a Division of Carillion Construction Inc.
    

Disponible en français

For further information: Lisa Joyce, Markham Stouffville Hospital, [phone]; Jessica Hooker, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]