TORONTO - Five companies have been shortlisted to submit proposals to build and finance Public Health Ontario's new Toronto public health laboratory at MaRS Centre Phase 2.   

The following companies will be invited to respond to the request for proposals for the project, expected to be issued in early 2013: 

  • Brookfield Multiplex 
  • EllisDon Corporation 
  • PCL Constructors Canada Inc. 
  • Turner Construction Company 
  • Walsh Construction Canada ULC 

All five companies participated in a fair, transparent and competitive request for qualifications process that reviewed their construction and financing abilities to deliver the project.

The new lab will provide more flexible space to meet current and emerging clinical and public health needs and will be able to adapt to new functions and testing technologies.  Replacing an existing facility in the west end of Toronto, the lab will be located within the top four floors of the new MaRS Centre tower in heart of Toronto's Discovery District.

Public Health Ontario's Toronto public health laboratory is the central infectious disease testing and reference laboratory for Ontario and is projected to conduct 2.8 million tests annually when it opens in 2014. The facility will be designed, constructed, commissioned and certified in accordance with the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines.  The guidelines provide information about biosafety and biocontainment principles and practices, including laboratory design and practices, handling of infectious substances and decontamination.

Infrastructure Ontario is a crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model to 79 major projects valued at approximately $30 billion dollars, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion dollars. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.

Public Health Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all Ontarians and reducing inequities in health. As a hub organization, it links public health practitioners, front-line health workers and researchers to the best scientific intelligence and knowledge from around the world. For more information, please visit Public Health Ontario's website at www.oahpp.ca.  

Quote: 

“The construction of our new Toronto laboratory is a milestone in the renewal of Ontario's public health laboratory infrastructure. It will allow Public Health Ontario to remain at the forefront of infectious disease testing, detection and control, providing essential services to Ontarians and the health care system and responding to emerging public health threats. Its location at MaRS strengthens our links to academic, healthcare and private sector partners, as well as co-location with our own surveillance and infectious disease control functions.  . We thank all of our partners in this exciting venture.” - Dr. Vivek Goel, President and CEO, Public Health Ontario  

Contacts: 

Jennifer Asals 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-326-9357 

Nicole Helsberg 
Public Health Ontario 
647-260-7247