Access Prairies Partnership to build Saskatchewan hospital

Access Prairies Partnership has been selected to build the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford provincial psychiatric facility as a design-build-finance-maintain public-private partnership (P3).  

The new 188-bed facility will have 32 more beds and an integrated 96-room correctional centre that will provide support for offenders living with mental health issues.  This is an innovative approach for delivering mental health care and supports to clients with significant psychiatric rehabilitation needs.

Access Prairies Partnership includes the following partners as an integrated team:

• • • Graham Design Builders LP
    • Carillion Canada Inc.
    • Gracorp Capital Advisors LP
    • Carillion Private Finance Ltd.
    • Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.
    • WSP Canada

It is estimated the project will create more than 1,500 construction jobs in Saskatchewan. Construction is expected to begin later this summer and be complete by spring 2018.

Based on the final bid, SaskBuilds and its external financial advisors determined there was value for money delivering the project using a P3 model.  There is value for money when the cost of delivering a project using a P3 model is less than the cost of delivering the same project using a traditional approach.  The value for money calculation includes P3-related costs, such as private financing.

“The P3 model is the right choice for delivering this leading-edge project in the most cost effective and timely way,” SaskBuilds Minister Gordon Wyant said.  “By using a P3, Saskatchewan people can enjoy the benefits of publicly owned facilities sooner than could otherwise be achieved through a traditional approach and also be assured the projects will be built on-budget.”

Contract negotiations will now begin with the intent to finalize terms of the contract in summer 2015.  The contract’s final financial details will be disclosed once contract negotiations and signing are complete at financial close.  

“Prairie North Health Region is thrilled that replacement of the century-old Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford is another step closer to reality,” Prairie North Regional Health Authority Vice-President Vikki Smart said.  “We look forward to working with Access Prairies Partnership and with our ministry partners toward the milestone our patients, staff and community are eagerly awaiting – turning of the sod to signal the start of construction on the new mental health facility.”