The Alberta government has awarded the contract for construction of the Alberta Public Security and Law Enforcement Training Centre in Fort Macleod.
Infrastructure Minister Wayne Drysdale said Tuesday the $95-million design submitted by Bird Design-Build Construction Inc. was chosen over bids from two other finalists.
“They’re hoping later this summer to get
started and be finished by 2014,” Drysdale said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. “It’s pretty much on schedule.”
The ability to have the college built in time to open in September 2014 as planned was part of the successful bid, Drysdale said.
The province in February issued a request for proposals from Bird Design-Build Construction Inc., PCL Construction Management Inc. and Cana Management Ltd. The bids were reviewed by Alberta Infrastructure staff.
“They seemed to be the best bang for the buck,” Drysdale said of Bird Design-Build. “There were some good proposals put in but I think this one stood out.”
The Alberta Public Security and Law Enforcement Training Centre will be equipped with classroom space, residential facilities, special training facilities including combat and scenario-based training, driving skills training track and indoor and outdoor firearm ranges.
The overall project budget remains $122-million, Drysdale said.
Preliminary schematic designs will be posted on the Alberta Infrastructure Web site when they are available, likely later this week.
The news the contract had been awarded almost six years after Fort Macleod was chosen as the site following an extensive bid process open to every community in Alberta, was welcomed by Fort Macleod officials.
“We are extremely pleased to see this project finally moving forward,” Fort Macleod Mayor Shawn Patience said. “The centre will play a key role in the training of enforcement officers and will undoubtedly have a profound economic impact on our area by increasing employment and investment opportunities and by raising our community’s profile on the provincial stage.”
Drysdale agreed the project will provide a welcome economic boost for Fort Macleod and southern Alberta.
“For your area, it certainly will be,” Drysdale said from his constituency office. “Also it will be important for the police forces in the province. It’s good for Fort Macleod, but it’s aso good for our police forces. From what I hear, they just can’t wait to get in there.”
For more information visit the Public Safety and Law Enforcement Training Centre website