Companies Invited To Bid In Final Procurement Stage 

BELLEVILLE - Residents of the Quinte region took another step toward improved healthcare with the release of the request for proposals (RFP) to build and finance the redevelopment of Quinte Health Care's Belleville site, announced Infrastructure Ontario and the hospital today.

“Today's announcement signals to Quinte-region residents that we've made another tangible step in their hospital redevelopment project,” said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.  “Through ReNew Ontario, the government's $30-billion infrastructure investment plan, we are rebuilding Ontario's infrastructure and making the single biggest investment in the province's hospitals in well over a generation." 

The following pre-qualified companies have been asked to respond to the RFP to build and finance the Belleville site redevelopment: 

  • Aecon Buildings 
  • Bird Construction Company Ltd. 
  • Bondfield Construction Company Ltd. 
  • EllisDon Corp. 
  • M. Sullivan & Sons Ltd. 
  • PCL Constructors Inc. 
  • SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. 
  • Vanbots Construction Corp. 

The eight general contractors were short-listed following a request for qualifications (RFQ) issued on March 21.  The RFQ process identified companies with the construction, operational and financial capacity required to undertake a project of this size and complexity.  Once a winning proponent is selected, construction is scheduled to begin before the end of 2006. 

"We're on the side of Ontario families who want and deserve the very best health care," said George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "That's why our investment in hospitals and healthcare will grow by an additional $1.9-billion to $35.4-billion this year, rising to $38.8-billion in the following year."

The Quinte Health Care redevelopment project will involve construction of a new wing to the hospital's Belleville site. The wing will expand the complex continuing care and rehabilitation units.  In addition, a separate, smaller addition will expand the intensive care unit.  Renovations will also accommodate an expansion of support services, a 24-hour emergency department and provide new facilities for the Children's Treatment Centre.

The construction of the new building means that acute care facilities in the existing Quinte Tower will expand to include ten new surgical and 15 new medical beds in space previously occupied by rehab patients. 

The emergency department, hospital laboratory, surgical suites and medical and mental health unit will also be redeveloped or renovated in future phases of the redevelopment project. Overall, the hospital's capacity will increase by 77 beds. 

“The McGuinty government is building a better healthcare system for all Ontarians.  Today's announcement demonstrates that this government is expanding and improving health facilities for people in the Quinte region,” said Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MPP for Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington.

“Access to modern, effective healthcare underpins the quality of life in Belleville and the surrounding communities.  We all have a stake in seeing this hospital project move forward,” said Ernie Parsons, Prince Edward-Hastings MPP.

“Today's announcement will be a great boost for our region and shows the project has momentum.  It's part of the McGuinty government's plan to modernize hospitals, reduce wait times and upgrade medical equipment across Ontario,” said Lou Rinaldi, Northumberland MPP.

“Day in, day out, our physicians, staff and volunteers do incredible work to provide the best care to our patients.  Our community also deserves the very best facilities we can offer and it's exciting to see us take another step toward a modernized and expanded Belleville site,” said Lloyd Churchill, Quinte Health Care Board Chair.

This project supports the McGuinty government's plan to build a healthcare system that focuses on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and improving access to doctors and nurses. 

Quinte Health Care will manage the project with Infrastructure Ontario under the province's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) program.  The new facility, like all hospitals in Ontario, will be publicly owned and publicly controlled. 

AFP transactions are strictly governed by the Building a Better Tomorrow Framework, which outlines a made-in-Ontario approach for planning, financing and procuring public infrastructure.  The Framework ensures public ownership, transparency, accountability and protection of the public interest.  Under the AFP model, the risk for cost overruns and delays is transferred to the private sector, which commits to deliver projects on time and on budget.

Infrastructure Ontario, an arms-length crown corporation, uses private-sector expertise to expand and renew public assets and deliver infrastructure projects on time and on budget using best practices recognized worldwide. 

Contacts:

Wilson Lee
Minister's Office 
Public Infrastructure Renewal
416-325-8735 

Mary Lowe 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-325-4856 

Mark Burgess 
Quinte Health Care 
613-969-7400 x2331