TORONTO - Infrastructure Ontario and Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (MHCP), have released a request for proposals (RFP) to three companies short-listed to design, build, finance and maintain a new, state-of-the-art forensic mental health facility that will be built on the hospital's existing site.

The short-listed companies - Carillion Health Solutions, Integrated Team Solutions and Plenary Health - have approximately six months to prepare and submit their bids to Infrastructure Ontario.

The new large, modern facility will provide rehabilitation and quality of care for individuals with mental health disorders who had involvement with the criminal justice system. The new facility will replace the existing 160-bed Oak Ridge Facility and the 20-bed Brebeuf Facility, and will consolidate MHCP into a more efficient, integrated complex.

Once under construction, this new facility will create hundreds of new construction jobs and stimulate local economic spin-off. 

MHCP aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for the design and construction of the new facility. LEED standards focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources. 

The request for qualifications issued on August 17, 2009 resulted in the short-listing of the three teams with the design, construction, financial, security and facilities management capacity to undertake a project of this size and complexity.  

Once responses to the RFP are received, Infrastructure Ontario and MHCP will evaluate them and will select and announce the successful project team. This is anticipated to occur in late 2010.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will work with MHCP to develop the new facility, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.  Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.  

The new facility will be part of the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene, a 312 bed psychiatric hospital located on Georgian Bay in the Town of Penetanguishene, approximately 150 km northwest of Toronto. MHCP provides an extensive range of both acute and longer term psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services to all of Simcoe County, part of Dufferin County and the southern portion of Muskoka/Parry Sound. In addition, MHCP provides the province's only maximum secure forensic program for clients served by both the mental health and justice systems.  The hospital is recognized for the provision of exceptional care to those most needing mental health services and for its contributions to the understanding of mental illness.

For more information about the procurement process and to view the RFP, visit www.infrastructureontario.ca.

Contacts: 

Judy Payne
Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene 
705-549-3181 ext 2214

Jessica Hooker 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-327-5325  

Disponible en français 

Quotes 

Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care  
“I'm thrilled to see this much needed project take another step forward.  Our government is committed to improving mental health services and this new facility is a giant step in the right direction.”

Carol Lambie, President and CEO of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene 
“This is such an exciting day for our staff and our community. We are one step closer to our new state-of-the-art facility.”