The North Island Hospitals Project (NIHP) announced Thursday it has shortlisted three proponents to design, build, finance and maintain new state-of-the-art acute-care facilities in Campbell River and the Comox Valley.
Eight teams responded to an invitation to bid. Following evaluation, three teams were shortlisted:
• Arbutus Healthcare Partners;
• Plenary Health;
• Tandem Health Partners.
A request for proposals (RFP) will be issued to the three companies in early 2013, and VIHA expects to award the contract in early 2014. Construction will begin soon after, and the hospitals are expected to be completed in 2017.
The NIHP includes a new 95-bed hospital in Campbell River and a new 153-bed hospital in the Comox Valley.
The estimated capital cost of up to $600 million for the project will be shared by the B.C. government and the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District. The project will create approximately 1,900 direct jobs and over 1,400 indirect jobs.
All health-care services will continue to be funded by the B.C. government and delivered by VIHA.
The NIHP is part of government's three-year, $2.5-billion investment in health-capital projects throughout the province.
Don McRae, Comox Valley MLA, on behalf of Health Minister Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid: "We are another step closer to the start of construction on the North Island Hospitals Project. This project, which will see new hospitals in both Campbell River and the Comox Valley, will benefit patients and families across the north island for years to come."
Claire Moglove, chair, Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District board — "The quality of responses to the request for qualifications was very good, and the shortlisted teams are all strong. Moving to the shortlist and the RFP stage is another significant step in the development of the north island hospitals project, which will have such a positive major impact on health care delivery in our region."
Quick facts:
• The new Campbell River Hospital will be approximately 21,000 square metres and built on the existing hospital site.
* The new Comox Valley Hospital will be approximately 29,000 square metres and built at the intersection of Lerwick and Ryan Roads in Courtenay, adjacent to the North Island College campus.
* The Comox Valley Hospital's proximity to the North Island College will support the education of health-care professionals and other partnerships.
* Over the life of the project, approximately 1,900 construction-related jobs are expected to be created as a result of the overall NIH project.
* The new buildings will be designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards, and will maximize the interior and exterior use of wood, in keeping with the Wood First Act.
Visit the project website at www.viha.ca/about_viha/building_for_health/nihp.htm.
— North Island Hospitals Project