For immediate release
Gatineau, May 29, 2007 – Canada's New Government today announced the launch of an open and competitive process for the development of new office space in Gatineau as part of its accommodation strategy to provide better value for Canadian taxpayers.
The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), invited interested parties to submit proposals for developing new office space in Gatineau. This competitive process is in addition to the recent leases that were successfully negotiated for two existing buildings also in Gatineau, Quebec.
"Our accommodation strategy demonstrates our commitment to managing our portfolio efficiently to meet the long-term requirements of government departments, and to offering best value to taxpayers" said Minister Fortier. "These new buildings will provide the much-needed space that client departments require to deliver their services to Canadians."
Minister Fortier noted that these new acquisitions will provide contemporary office space meeting the government's latest standards such as the 2004 CSA Accessibility Standard and environmental standards for leased buildings. Considering that market rates are approximately 20% to 30% lower in Gatineau when compared to similar office space in the Ottawa core, these transactions will provide excellent value for the Crown. These four buildings will represent 115,000 square metres and offer new opportunities to local businesses.
"This is good news for the Gatineau region, these buildings will accommodate approximately 6,200 employees," said Minister Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "It reaffirms our federal presence in the region and adds to the existing infrastructure already available in our community."
Real estate developers are encouraged to consult MERX (the electronic tendering system) and respond to the Requests for Information (RFIs) for the provision of office space for two new sites: one for the development of Crown land at 455 boulevard de la Carrière in Gatineau, and the other in the central business district of Gatineau, both in the Hull sector. This open and transparent process ensures value for money. The newly created space will meet PWGSC clients' long-term requirements starting April 2010.
The two leases recently signed are for space at 105 Hôtel de Ville Street, and the other at 200 Sacré-Coeur Boulevard, both in Gatineau.
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For further information, media may contact:
Jacques C. Gagnon
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Fortier
819-997-5421
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Fortier
613-868-1128
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 office towers in the Hull sector of Gatineau
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is finalizing its strategy to address the long-term requirements of client departments and manage its portfolio in the National Capital Area (NCA). The strategy will allow PWGSC to replace expiring leases, address rehabilitation needs in aging buildings, improve swing space capacity, and implement the government's latest standards for accessibility and green buildings. It will also address the need to achieve the 75/25 ratio for office space in Ottawa/Gatineau which is now at 77/23.
The two Requests for Information (RFIs) for new office space and the two leased buildings are part of the Gatineau component of the NCA strategy.
New Office Space – RFIs
The RFIs are for the provision of office space to be leased by the federal government. One RFI includes the development of 35,000-square metres of office space to be constructed on Crown land at 455 boulevard de la Carrière in Gatineau. The second RFI is for 40,000-square metres of office space in the central business district (CBD) of Gatineau (Hull Sector). The CBD area development is supported by the concentration of PWGSC's major clients requiring additional accommodation in close proximity to their existing operational sites and with excellent accessibility. Such new development will also provide PWGSC with portfolio flexibility over the long-term to meet government and clients' priorities.
The information gathered through these RFIs will provide PWGSC with a representative list of potential developers and sites that could meet the requirements of the federal government. During the process, the proponents must provide a series of documents clearly demonstrating their ability to meet the government's requirements.
New Office Space – Two Leased Buildings
The two leased buildings recently negotiated include the 105 Hôtel de Ville, a 19,000-square metre property to be leased for a 10-year term, effective June 2007; and the 200 Sacré-Coeur, a 20,000-square metre property to be leased for a 15-year term, effective January 2008. Both leases offer best value for the Crown.
