Ray Danyluk turned the sod for the police college in August
The province has released a new schedule that has the $122-million Alberta Public Security and Law Enforcement Training Centre open Sept. 2, 2014.
Project manager John Niesen provided the updated schedule this week to Fort Macleod Mayor Shawn Patience.
“The target contract award date has been moved to June 1 from March 29, but the target date for completion and occupation remains the same so the process is simply being condensed,” Patience said. “The important thing is we have a schedule and we continue to make progress, but certainly I think a lot of people will be happy once the dirt actually starts moving.”
According to the schedule the province on Wednesday, Feb. 29 will issue a request for proposals to build the training centre.
The response to the request for proposals is due May 3.
“Once the request for proposals is issued design builders will start actually putting proposals together for construction and that’s another step behind us,” Patience said. “Of course awarding the contract will put the project in full motion.”
The province last fall issued a request for qualifications from companies interested in building the training centre, from which a short list was developed.
“Information regarding the contractors has not been made public as of yet,” Patience said. “It is our expectation there will be three.”
Once the request for proposals is out, a site visit is planned for Friday, March 9.
“It is our understanding that this will likely be a site visit by Alberta Infrastructure representatives and the design build teams as part of the request for proposals process,” Patience said. “Our role will simply be to allow access to the site.”
Two technical consultations will take place Wednesday, March 21 and Wednesday, April 4.
“In the meantime many different processes will be running in parallel,” Patience added. “We are hoping to have the signed copies of the land transfer and servicing agreements returned by the province very soon. Once those are in place and the tender documents are approved we will be moving forward with the service line portion of the project.”
Once the responses to the request for proposals are submitted May 3, they will be evaluated by the province from May 7-24.
The schedule calls for design-build team presentations on May 22, with department approval of the project planned May 25-30.
The province intends to award the design-build contract on June 1.
Construction of the training centre is scheduled to take place beginning June 4, with substantial completion expected by Aug. 1, 2014.
Niesen has scheduled the delivery of furniture and installation of equipment from July 2 to Aug. 15, 2014.
Occupancy is scheduled for Aug. 16, 2014, with the project completed Aug. 29, 2014.
The training centre is to open Sept. 2, 2014.
“Every step is important,” Patience said.
The Alberta Public Security and Law Enforcement Training Centre is to train 250 police recruits, 250 Sheriffs and Corrections officers, 250 community peace officers and 600 professional development students each year.
The college will include a residence that can house 270 students.
The facility will include classrooms, indoor and outdoor firearm ranges, a driving track, gymnasium, running track and eating facilities.