Federal government seeks bids for studying 326 buildings

The Government of Canada is inviting consulting firms and others to help them find ways to improve how they manage their office buildings. The government particularly wants the firms to help them make the buildings more energy efficient.
The Hon. Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, issued a request for proposals early in September from firms to do a study that will include 326 buildings. “The study will look at ways to improve the environmental performance of the portfolio operated by the department and help us improve the way we manage our real estate holdings to ensure best value for taxpayers,” said Minister Brison.
The federal government has a diverse portfolio of buildings across Canada, which together accommodate over 200,000 employees. About half the facilities are directly owned while the rest are leased.
The buildings are on average 43 years old and will require approximately $2 billion in investments over the next five years.
The deadline for bids to do the study is October 24. Information is posted on the Government Electronic Tendering Service at http://www.merx.com
In the meantime, the federal government is building a new “green” building in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It will house 500 employees from various departments, led by Veterans Affairs Canada. The Jean Canfield Building will be designed to use 80 per cent less water and 60 per cent less energy than contemporary structures.