For immediate release
GATINEAU, July 14, 2006 – The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, is inviting potential suppliers to submit a Statement of Capabilities to provide Ottawa’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) headquarters with future office accommodations.
The Government is considering a lease-purchase agreement for a property at 3000 Merivale Road in Ottawa . However, before proceeding with the agreement, the Government wants to ensure that it is getting the best possible value for Canadians.
Preliminary research indicates that 3000 Merivale might be the only site that suits the requirements of the RCMP.
“In the interests of transparency and to ensure the best possible value for taxpayers, we are posting an Advance Contract Award Notice, ” said Minister Fortier. “We are now subjecting the proposal to a fair, open market and offering other companies an opportunity to demonstrate that they can provide us with a comparable deal.”
The RCMP headquarters must, by law, remain in the City of Ottawa. To meet the needs of the RCMP, the building must also be available for occupancy by August 2009 and include about 84,600 square meters of rentable space in a low-rise building of three to six stories.
PWGSC is posting an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) on the Government Electronic Tendering Service, known as MERX, and in national and local newspapers, to provide an opportunity for potential suppliers of office accommodation.
Following publication of the ACAN, potential suppliers will have the opportunity to submit a proposal outlining how they can meet the Government’s requirements. This will allow the Government to confirm whether or not the proposed lease-purchase is the best available option to meet the RCMP’s needs.
ACANS are published on MERX for many contract awards. If a company can provide the service as described in the ACAN, they can submit a Statement of Capabilities to meet the requirement. The ACAN is posted for 20 calendar days.
For more information, visit the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS): www.merx.com
Attached is a backgrounder.
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Ce texte est également disponible en français.
For further information, please contact:
Jean-Luc Benoît
Office of Minister Fortier
(819) 997-5421
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
(819) 956-2315
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/generic/media-e.html
BACKGROUNDER
NEW RCMP HEADQUARTERS AT 3000 MERIVALE ROAD, OTTAWA
PWGSC works with all federal departments and agencies to determine the best solutions to address their accommodation needs and program requirements. Working closely with the RCMP, PWGSC assessed its ongoing accommodation requirements in the National Capital Region and across the country.
Currently, the RCMP operates out of multiple buildings and sites within the National Capital Region. While these facilities have served employees well for many years, inevitable growth, evolving operational and administrative requirements and new technologies have presented significant space and accommodation challenges heading into the future.
PWGSC has been working with the RCMP for over three years to provide a solution to their needs. We examined options including:
rebuilding or rehabilitating the RCMP’s current Vanier campus;
building a brand new facility for the RCMP; and
other ready-built facilities in the Ottawa area.
The 3000 Merivale campus is a unique facility that became available at a time when PWGSC was considering options to meet the RCMP’s long-term accommodation needs. To avoid missing an exceptional opportunity, PWGSC examined the facility to assess if it was suitable for the RCMP’s operational requirements, was competitive in the current market, and cost-effective in comparison with other alternatives. PWGSC determined that the rental rate being offered and eventual purchase price of $1.00 provided a below market valued price.
Our examination showed that the 3000 Merivale campus would meet the RCMP’s needs at an attractive price and be available in a short period of time. However, since it became available to us through an unsolicited proposal, we have decided to subject it to a market test before proceeding.
PWGSC and the RCMP will continue to work together to ensure that appropriate space at a good price is put in place to meet their needs.
A full technical briefing will be available once the transaction has been approved and completed.
