Three teams have been shortlisted to build and manage the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, to connect Windsor and Detroit.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) said the finalists include:
Legacy Link Partners
Consortium members include SNC Lavalin, French-based Vinci Concessions, American Bridge Company and Windsor-based Aimco Infrastructure.
Bridging North America
Some businesses who participated in the recently completed $1.4-billion Herb Gray Parkway belong to this largely Spanish-based group, including ACS Infrastructure Canada, Fluor Canada and Dragados Canada.
Some of the same companies involved with the recently completed $1.4-billion Herb Gray Parkway are part of this group. As well, DBI Services, recently established to handle the parkway’s maintenance and repairs, is a member of this team.
Many of this group’s members are based in Spain. However, Tierre Armada and partner Frevssint Group of France, who were associated with a controversy about 320 faulty girders on the parkway project (that had to be replaced), are not part of the new consortium.
CanAm Gateway Partners
EllisDon Corporation and major global contractor Bechtel Canada are participating in this group.
“Following the issuance of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on July 20, 2015, teams consisting of international and North American companies worked to prepare Responses demonstrating their experience and qualifications to deliver and finance large and complex infrastructure projects,” the WBDA said in a statement. “On October 9, 2015, WDBA received six response submissions.”
“All six responses underwent rigorous, objective, consensus-based evaluations and were considered to be qualified. All the respondents were required to comply with all applicable laws and Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Integrity Framework. The RFQ evaluation, conducted by both public- and private-sector experts, was overseen by an independent fairness monitor who concluded that the evaluation was fair, open and transparent. The three highest scoring teams will be asked to respond to the Request for Proposals, to be issued later this year.
“With the short-listed respondents named, WDBA is pleased to have concluded the first stage in the public-private partnership procurement process,” said WBDA president and CEO Michael Cautillo. “Our team of dedicated staff, partners and consultants have worked diligently to implement a fair and transparent process that recognizes the size and scope of this unprecedented international project. We are in the process of finalizing the Request for Proposals which will be issued to the short-listed respondents in the near term.”