Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) have launched the second stage of a request for proposals (RFP) process for shortlisted proponents to deliver a new digital records system.

Part of the Ministry’s Modernization of Property Information Program, the new system will help to improve response times for environmental property requests regarding matters such as soil, water and contamination on properties across Ontario.

The government says the MECP is seeking to modernize its environmental property information process with a new online system to enable the public to access records more efficiently.

Currently, the ministry receives more than 9,000 property-related freedom of information requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act each year from the development industry. With over 50 million hard copy property records to scan through, this creates unnecessary delays to access this information.  

The new system will be designed and built to digitize paper records as well as to automatically scan, retrieve and redact the records for release. 

Modernizing the service will support the Ontario government’s plan to build more housing as well as the ministry’s mandate to protect the environment by identifying contaminated land requiring remediation prior to use. 

Three teams were prequalified from a Stage 1 RFP process that began in May 2023. They are Accenture Inc., Information Services Corporation, and Maximus Canada.

During the second stage of the RFP, the proponents will receive the RFP bid documents and attend commercially confidential meetings to further refine their technical and financial proposals.

IO and MECP will evaluate the submissions and select a preferred proponent to deliver an initial proof of concept, before awarding a final contract. That company will be responsible for designing and building the solution, and overseeing the delivery of the program on the ministry’s behalf.