THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay has started the process of finding a designer and builder for a $42 million indoor sports turf facility near the Canada Games Complex.
It's issued a request for applicants for pre-qualification (RFPQ), from which it will then develop a short list of companies eligible to respond to a second-stage request for proposals (RFP).
As of Wednesday, about 20 firms had replied to the RFPQ.
"That would be a mix of local and out-of-town designers and/or constructors which would form teams," said Kelvin Jankowski, manager of capital facilities construction in the city's Engineering & Operations Division.
"The RFP participants will engage in a design competition. So over the next three months, post the RFPQ, the respondents will be putting together a design for presentation, and at the end of it, hopefully, we'll have a winner."
Jankowski explained that proponents making the shortlist will be paid to prepare a submission.
"We're looking at a design honorarium. So there's a cost to the city for that type of thing. The honorarium would be paid to each of the respondents once we receive a bona fide RFP response.
"It does acknowledge the type of work that goes into these types of design/build RFPs. The hope is that we will get a good response from the market because we're offering a design honorarium."
The maximum budget for the two-storey, multi-use facility is $42.7 million, including a 10 per cent contingency.
The main floor will include a 129.5m x 47.5M artificial turf field with a clear height of 12 metres, eight player change rooms, two referee change rooms, and space for about 1,000 spectators.
The second-floor mezzanine area – accessed both by a stairway and an elevator – will accommodate 500 spectators as well as concessions, office space, and a multi-purpose room.
Jankowski said a recommendation to award the contract could be submitted to city council in January or early February.
If council approves, construction will begin next year, with completion targeted for the fall of 2026.
