Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of the Solicitor General have issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for companies and consortia to submit their qualifications for a project to design, build and finance 12 new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments and one regional headquarters building.

The detachments will replace aging infrastructure and upgrade OPP facilities. The new headquarters building will serve the province’s northwest region and will be built in Thunder Bay. The new detachments will be located in Ignace, Niagara, Bracebridge, New Liskeard, Burlington, Kenora, Lancaster, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Killaloe, Espanola/McKerrow and Wawa.

The structures being replaced are an average of 40 to 60 years old and well past their expected lifespans. They need to be replaced so the OPP can offer the best possible service to the people it serves.

The new detachments will range in size, and will include closed circuit television systems, secure sallyports allowing for direct access to secure holding cells and prisoner processing area, new accessibility standards, holding cells, and modern building infrastructure.

The RFQ is the first step in the process to pre-qualify a team to deliver the project. Submissions will be reviewed to shortlist teams with the suitable design and construction experience, as well as the financial capacity to deliver the project.

Shortlisted teams will be invited to respond to a request for proposals, which is expected to be released early next year.