SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Three companies responded to the GNWT's request for qualifications on the $300 million Stanton Territorial Hospital renewal project.

Three companies have been shortlisted to bid on the Stanton Territorial Hospital renewal project. The public private partnership may see some hospital services privatized. - NNSL file photo

EllisDon Corp., the Plenary Group and the Carillion Canada-led Boreal Health Partnership each passed technical and financial screening by the GNWT and have already received the formal project request for proposal (RFP).

The Stanton renewal RFP is conceived of as a public private partnership (P3) design, build, finance, and maintain undertaking.

It's the potential for the privatization of services at Stanton that his triggered the concern of some, including the Union of Northern Workers and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Tender documents include maintenance, food and laundry services for possible privatization, but Sean Craig, ministry of finance P3 analyst, said it is too early to describe the final roll privatization will play in the project.

"There have been certain areas identified that could be more efficient or cost effective if the private sector were to deliver them, but until the RFP closes and submissions are reviewed, it's far too early to know what that will look like."

Craig said tender documents did not include any of the hospital's current clinical services for consideration under the RFP.

"Clinical services -- X-rays, lab work, operating rooms, the general operation of the hospital -- are not included in the P3 concept," he said.

The three project proponents are expected to submit there proposals in June, 2015. Craig said the complex documents could take a few months to evaluate, but a preferred proponent should be identified by early fall.

At this point, the three qualified bidders have not finalized their major partners in the project - lead architects and engineering firms for example - but those details will be released as they become available.

None of the three companies qualified to bid on the project are NWT-based, but Craig said Northern procurement and employment are critical parts of the RFP.

"The RFP has been drafted to include criteria for local and Northern content in the proposals from proponents," Craig said.

"We made it a highly ranked criterion within the evaluation."

Under project guidelines indicated in the initial request for qualification, the hospital is expected to increase to 24,000 gross square metres from its current 13,000 gross square metres. The existing hospital will see a major refit as well.

Inpatient beds are proposed to increase to 104 from the existing 80, with expansion to the critical care unit, an additional support services building, and building improvements for an outpatient rehabilitation center.

The existing hospital will remain functional throughout the construction process.