General contractors invited to apply for work on new central Ottawa library facility

By Mike Vlasveld

The City of Ottawa is opening the door for general contractors to pre-qualify for work on the new Ottawa Public Library-Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility (OPL-LAC).

It's supply department is expected to release a request for qualification (RFQ) on Monday afternoon.

The purpose of the RFQ is to shortlist contractors with qualifications and experience to manage and oversee the construction of the project.

Project Implementation Director for the OPL-LAC Joint Facility Alain Gonthier says having access to pre-qualified contractors will allow the project team to engage early, on the potential impacts of COVID-19, as well as project budget and schedule. 

The RFQ also signals the start of a four-stage procurement process:

Stage 1 – Request for Pre-Qualification (RFQ): Submissions will be evaluated and a short-list  of contractors will be compiled. Those qualified will be chosen in July 2020.

Stage 2 – Request for Tender (RFT) for early works packages that would include shoring, excavation, and site remediation work, which would be expected to start in August 2020.

Stage 3 – Industry Engagement (fall 2020 or winter 2021). The city says it intends to engage with the pre-qualified respondents and any of their chosen industry partners; for the provision of project specific market intelligence relating to project scope, budget, schedule, and quality considerations generally, and; through commercially confidential meetings, to inform and assist the project team in validating their cost and schedule assumptions.

Stage 4 – Request for Tender (RFT) for facility construction (spring 2021). An RFT will be issued to the pre-qualified respondents, seeking a firm price for the construction of the joint facility.

Due to the business uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Ottawa says any of the stages above could be modified or terminated at any time.

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