Indigenous involvement, Canadian materials required in restoration of 24 Sussex Drive: Ottawa

In its search for a “world class design vision” to restore the official prime minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the federal government is prioritizing the use of Canadian materials and mandating Indigenous involvement in the multi-million-dollar project.

Last month, Public Services and Procurement Canada published its request for qualification (RFQ), the first of two stages in its design-building competition for the historic home’s rehabilitation.

The largely technical, 97-page document “defines the requirements for the qualification of respondents,” sets a “basis for selection,” and breaks down the scoring system that’ll be used to create a list of up to seven firms that will be invited to partake in stage two and submit a formal request for proposal, which is expected to be issued this winter.

The RFQ deadline is Sept. 22 at 2 p.m.

A successful bidder will be awarded in fall 2027, which is later than the July 1 date Prime Minister Mark Carney set when announcing the non-partisan fundraising campaign led by the Rideau Hall Foundation to fund the project.

“The time period between the announcement of the winning proposal and the estimated contract award of Fall 2027 is reserved for any final negotiations that may be required between Canada and the winning team,” PSPC told National Post in an email.

“Given its national and historical significance, the rehabilitated residence must be completed by Canadians for Canadians,” reads the RFQ, issued on Aug. 21.

“In that spirit, the use of Canadian materials and innovations must be considered and incorporated throughout the project.”

Respondents will be required to comply with the “Buy Canadian” policies Ottawa enacted last September in an effort to “protect, build and transform” strategic industries within the country.

Companies need not be Canadian to meet the mandatory requirement of being considered a “Canadian supplier,” but they must have a place of business and office in Canada, where they are registered and pay taxes, and employ Canadians or conduct “day-to-day business activities in Canada.”

It also means they “will not subcontract work to non-Canadian suppliers or individuals located outside Canada, in a manner that results in minimal value-added activities being performed within Canada.”

Respondents must also submit an “Indigenous Participation Plan (IPP)” that ensures at least five per cent of project work is carried out by Indigenous businesses and people. Public Services and Procurement Canada said any IPP commitments made in the RFP stage “will become deliverables in the resulting contract, subject to regular progress monitoring and reporting (and potentially other measures).”