The Ottawa Business Journal reported March 16 that the federal government is looking for a contractor to bring a 50- to 100-year-old district heating and cooling system it uses to supply some 80+ government buildings up to date.
Public Services and Procurement Canada recently said it had prequalified two consortiums to bid on a full request for proposals:
• Innovate Energy, made up of Black & McDonald, ENGIE Services, PCL and WSP; and
• Rideau Energy Partners, made up of NRG DG Development, Pomerleau and SNC-Lavalin. The selected proponent will form a public-private partnership to build and operate the system for 30 years, the Journal says.
With some 14 kilometres of underground piping, the system provides properties across Ottawa and Gatineau, including the Parliament buildings and the U.S. embassy, with heat and cooling from chilled water.