The City of Thompson is all set to bring forth a second request for proposals (RFP) that aims to construct a brand new, state-of-the-art aquatic center that will undoubtedly set a new benchmark for excellence. This RFP shall be closing on Tuesday, January 23, marking a significant milestone in the city's quest to build a world-class facility to cater to the needs of the community.
The RFP that was issued in late November with a closing date of January 12 was extended to allow potential bidders to submit their proposals, making the process more inclusive and accessible. All submissions that are received by the upcoming Tuesday will be evaluated by City of Thompson staff on technical merits, emphasizing the importance of quality and excellence.
Those that meet the requirements will advance to the second stage of the evaluation process, where prices are compared, and final scores are calculated before any recommendations are passed on to the council. The council shall have the onus of ensuring that only the most deserving bidder is selected, who can provide the best value for money while maintaining the highest standards of quality.
The City of Thompson has already secured a whopping $15 million to fund the new pool, including a generous donation of $2 million from Vale, $11 million combined from the federal and provincial governments, a $1 million provincial grant that the city received in the summer, and additional money raised by the Swim North committee.
Mayor and Council, alongside the administration, are working tirelessly to ensure that the final price tag of this ambitious project remains within reach, without significantly impacting taxpayers. This involves lobbying the federal and provincial governments as well as the business community to secure more outside funding, with an unwavering focus on delivering a world-class facility that the community can be proud of.
~Matthias J. Johnson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Thompson Citizen. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
