208309 - D510-00NOI Additional Consultant Services for the GF Strong (GFS) Utilities Upgrade Project

otice of Intent to Direct Award
Additional Consultant Services for the GF Strong (GFS) Utilities Upgrade Project
Document Number: D510-00NOI
 
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) intends to increase the existing consulting contract for GF Strong Heating Plant Upgrade held by  Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design (Thinkspace) to include additional Consultant Services for the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre (GFS) Substation Upgrade. The anticipated value of the addition, including sub-consultant fees, is estimated to the range between  $70,000.00 - $100,000.00 plus tax.
VCH has made the decision for the following reasons:

• Alignment of Interdependent Projects for Risk Mitigation: Thinkspace has been selected by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) through a Request for Proposal (RFP) as the prime consultant for the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre Heating Plant Upgrade project (Project # D510-00). This project is currently in the detailed design phase and near readiness for tender. Its completion and commissioning are critically dependent on the GFS Substation Upgrade project (Project # E355-00), which is at the design development stage. To streamline the utilities infrastructure upgrade progress, in December 2024 the VCH Board of Directors and Executives decided to merge these two projects. While the Heating Plant upgrade remains the primary scope, both projects are to be delivered by a single design team led by Thinkspace to ensure seamless integration.
• Risk and Schedule Management of Critical Infrastructure: The Heating Plant upgrade is time-sensitive to transition the GF Strong facility to a standalone on-site heating system, independent from off-site steam supply. This upgrade ensures a sustainable heating solution essential for maintaining the health and safety of patients at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.  Simultaneously, the substation upgrade is crucial to maintain the facility’s undisrupted operations and to support both ongoing and future improvements (load increase) of the building. Streamlining these projects offers the most efficient path forward and reduces the combined project timeline from six years to three years by aligning design, procurement, and permitting processes. It also prevents delays in integrating these projects that would expose the site to compounded risks of steam and power failures.
• Logical Integration Based on Project Scope and Design Status: The GFS Heating Plant Upgrade encompasses larger and more complex architectural, structural, mechanical, and civil scopes compared to the Substation Upgrade. Thinkspace and its project team has completed the tender-ready phase and is awaiting building and development permits. The Substation Upgrade project is at the Design Development phase. To avoid duplication of efforts, it is most efficient for Thinkspace and its project team to carry out the remaining substation upgrade design, ensure consistency in the Substation and Heating Plant designs, and continue to develop comprehensive construction documents and tender package for the combined GFS Utilities Upgrade project.
• Continuation of Project Experience and Site Knowledges: Resulting from the RFP, Thinkspace has been working on the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre Heating Plant Upgrade project since early 2023 and has developed a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of the utilities infrastructure upgrade projects. They are thoroughly familiar with the site conditions and specific requirements.