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EDUCATION: November 29 deadline for RFQ submissions to build new schools
        (AlbertaIndex, November 23, Friday) --- Construction companies have until November 29 to submit their qualifications for participation in the public-private partnership (P3) new schools pilot project.
The project, announced in June, will result in the construction of 18 new schools in Edmonton and Calgary.

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) stage allows companies to submit documentation outlining their qualifications to complete the project.

The RFQs will be evaluated by a government committee, which will score the submissions and select, if applicable, the top three proponents. The deadline for RFQ submissions is November 29.

The project is part of the government’s $600-million-plus investment in new school infrastructure, modernization and maintenance for the 2007/08 fiscal year. Alberta’s 2007-10 Capital Plan includes funding for 88 new or major modernization projects, including 13 schools to be opened in 2007/08 across the province.

Selection of the top three RFQ proponents is scheduled for December. Those proponents will then be invited to participate in a Request for Proposals (RFP) stage from which the most competitive bid will be awarded the P3 project. Critical to the process is demonstrating the project will provide cost savings to taxpayers.

“This project has garnered a lot of interest from industry at home and abroad,” said Minister of Education Ron Liepert. “I’m pleased to see that we are moving forward and are on schedule to meet our project target completion date of September 2010.”

“Government is looking at innovative ways to address school infrastructure needs and the P3 approach has proven successful,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Luke Ouellette. “The recently opened southeast leg of Edmonton’s Anthony Henday Drive is one example of a P3 project that provided savings for taxpayers and reduced delivery time by two years.”

The final contract for the new schools pilot project is expected to be awarded by mid 2008, with construction scheduled to begin as early as fall 2008 and a target completion of fall 2010. To ensure a fair, competitive bidding process, government will not release cost estimates until after the contract is awarded.

“This is an efficient and innovative way to build schools,” said Associate Minister of Capital Planning Gene Zwozdesky. “It gives us a fixed price with cost certainty, earlier completion dates, long-term maintenance of major capital items, and gives school boards immediate ownership.”

Government will evaluate the application of the P3 approach to future new school construction, including middle schools (grades 5-9), once the current P3 pilot project process is finalized.

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