The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish an industry short list to solicit proposals for a new 164-bed acute care hospital in Corner Brook.
The new hospital will include the same services currently provided at Western Memorial Regional Hospital, as well an expanded cancer care program, including radiation services.
The RFQ will be for the design, build, finance, and maintenance of the new hospital. Services such as patient care, housekeeping, and food services will be provided by public sector employees, as is currently the case. The value-for-money assessment for the acute care facility is available at: www.tw.gov.nl.ca/works/CBACH_Assessment.pdf.
After the RFQ process is complete, a Request for Proposals will be issued to qualifying firms. Construction of the new regional acute care hospital in Corner Brook is expected to begin in 2019 and be completed by 2023.
“We are proud to maintain our momentum on this project as we continue to take the necessary steps toward beginning construction in 2019,” said Steve Crocker, minister of transportation and works. “We recognize the need for this facility for the people of the western region and will continue to demonstrate our progress toward its completion. As with the long-term care facilities already announced for the western and central regions this year, we will deliver this hospital through an effective partnership that will benefit both industry and the public sector.”
The new acute care hospital is in addition to the new 145-bed long-term care facility that is currently under construction at the same site, which reached financial close in mid-December. The approach for the hospital will follow the same approach used for the long-term care facility.
The two projects combined will create an estimated 4,330 person years of employment and $498 million in economic activity.
The comprehensive value-for-money assessment for the long-term care project has concluded that partnering with the private sector will result in savings of 10 per cent over the 30-year agreement – up from the originally estimated 8.9 per cent – for a total estimated savings of $14.6 million.
The final value-for-money assessment report for the long-term care facility can be found at: www.tw.gov.nl.ca/works/CB_LTC_VFM_REPORT.pdf.