The RFQ stage serves the following purposes:
■ Officially signaling the intent of the Program Ministry to proceed with the project and heighten its profile.
■ Marketing the project to a wide audience to encourage participation and competition.
■ Presenting an overview of the proposed scope and structure of the opportunity to interested parties.
■ Allowing interested parties to assemble the requisite resources and form teams as appropriate.
■ Allowing respondents (teams that respond to the RFQ) access to the RFQ electronic data room and all relevant project related information.
■ Requesting respondents demonstrate their technical and financial capability to assume the roles and responsibilities expected by the province.
■ Short-listing respondents to proceed to the RFP stage based on pre-established evaluation criteria and in accordance with the guidelines in Sections 6.10 and 6.11.
In response to the RFQ, respondents are asked to demonstrate their experience and approach in the following areas (as appropriate):
■ Design
■ Construction
■ Operations and Maintenance
■ Financing
Based on established evaluation criteria, respondents are ranked by a Deputy Ministers' Project Steering Committee. The top three respondents are typically invited to respond to the RFP.