This release was issued under a previous government.
“We are continuing with the P3 process. After looking at our delivery options, we found this is still the best way to provide value for Alberta taxpayers and ensure the 19 new schools are completed on time.”
Government has entered the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage to secure a successful proponent. As the single respondent to the Request for Qualifications stage, Build to Learn, with team leads Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd. and Bird Capital Limited Partnership, has been invited to participate in the RFP. Build to Learn must submit detailed plans and a financial bid for designing, building, financing and maintaining the 19 school bundle.
The proposal will be rigorously evaluated for the private contractor’s financial, technical and organizational capacity to complete the project and to ensure its bid provides Alberta taxpayers with good value for dollars spent. A public-private partnership (P3) contract will only be secured if value for money is shown. The private contractor’s bid must be less than government’s cost to deliver the 19 schools through traditional methods.
Government will follow the same strict examination and evaluation process for this RFP as it does with all P3 school projects. To ensure integrity and fairness is maintained, government has added some checks and balances to its management of the process. This includes verifying costs through an independent auditor.
“We know how important these schools are to families and communities across the province, and we want to get them completed and opened as soon as possible. By investing in students and schools we are building a better Alberta.”
This P3 schools bundle is part of Premier Redford’s commitment to build 50 new schools and modernize 70 more, and part of government’s Building Alberta Plan that will invest $1.4 billion in new schools and major modernization projects over the next three years
Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta's resources to ensure we're able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.