Construction

Opportunities for consultants, contractors, vendors and others that may be involved in site or facility planning, design and construction are posted on BC Bid or Bids and Tenders if the opportunity is above $75,000 for consultants and above $200,000 for construction. A pre-qualification list has been developed by Interior Health and the opportunities above these thresholds are then open only to those that have been pre-qualified*. All opportunities below these thresholds use the following guidelines:

• Up to $25,000 – Award can be directed to a suitable contractor/consultant

• Up to $75,000 – At least three quotes are requested to determine award

• Over $75,000 – RFP/tender issued to determine award

*Note – In cases where a pre-qualification list has been established for the services intended to be procured, notification of the opportunities would only be provided to pre-qualified general contractors at the time the opportunity is released. There is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) posted on BC Bid to respond to in order to be considered for inclusion on the current pre-qualification list for general contractors.

Interior Health issued a new Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) program for General Contractors in November 2022.  Evaluation of the initial intake of Responses is currently underway.  Following the initial intake of Responses, the RFPQ will be re-issued on BC Bid with the RFPQ documents provided through Bids and Tenders:

Visit Interior Health's Bid Opportunities Website

Prior to the publication of the new Pre-qualification list, all new projects will be publicly advertised to the free market on BC Bid.

Most minor renovations are addressed on an as-needed basis and are procured locally where the work is required. If the minor renovation is part of a larger project, such as the replacement of a piece of equipment, it is usually provided for in a capital project and follows all of the guidelines and thresholds required for the value of work anticipated.

It is appropriate for consultants and contractors to schedule a meeting with local Plant Services representatives located at various Interior Health hospitals in order to ensure Plant Services is aware of the availability of their firm for hire. When smaller jobs are required, Interior Health may solicit three quotes – as per the policy – which will allow them to consider the services of contractors and consultants.

Interior Health has a prioritization process it incorporates within its annual planning cycle to determine which projects will be undertaken in an upcoming fiscal year. Capital projects generally exceed $100,000 and may or may not be multi-year, depending on the complexity and scope of work. Capital projects may include medical equipment or other equipment required to ensure our sites and facilities provide the services required, therefore the total capital project value may be based on consultants, construction, equipment and other costs required to complete the project.

Interior Health has a department that specifically considers the planning of future projects and may include all or one of the following: a Master Plan, a Functional Program or a Building or Feasibility Study. Other projects may begin at the Schematic Design stage, progress to Business Case submission and move through to the completion of construction. Interior Health’s Planning department works in collaboration with every department across Interior Health and with external partners during planning processes. This ensures the effort put into planning results in well-thought-out decisions on how to proceed with site development or with future construction projects.

• Confined Space Permit

• Electrical - Low Voltage Permit

• Elevated - Work Permit

• Excavation Work Permit

• Fire Protection Impairment Permit

• General Work Permit

• Hot Work Permit

• Impact Notice

• Line Break Permit

• Risk Assessment

• Sub-Contractor Permit Sign Off

All contractors and consultants working at Interior Health sites must be properly insured and must submit a Form F – Certificate of Insurance evidencing the required insurance specified at the time of hire and a letter of good standing from Worksafe BC.

Adherence to the following documents and processes is expected of contractors and consultants engaged on Interior Health construction projects.

• BIM & CAD Standards 
• Hand Hygiene - MoH Communique 
• Hand Hygiene - MoH Infrastructure Checklist 
• Hand Hygiene for Construction, Renovation and Maintenance Activities 
• Hand Hygiene Policy 
• IH Electronic Security System Specification 
• IH Recommended Hand Hygiene Sinks (Type B) 
• IH Space Planning Guidelines
• IH Wayfinding Signage Guideline
• IMIT Communications Infrastructure Standards
• Infection Control - Construction Projects 
• Influenza Prevention Policy 
• Letter to Contractors – Vaccination Reminder
• Owners General Requirements June 2025
• Privacy and Management of Confidential Information 
• Prohibited Items Policy 
• Provincial Standards & Guidelines for Secure Rooms 
• Purchase Order Terms and Conditions 
• Reimbursable Expense Guidelines 
• Reimbursable Expense Worksheet 
• Smoke Free Environment Policy 
• Staff Safety Guidelines for Healthcare Facility Design Projects 
• Substance Use Disorder Policy 
• Substance Use Disorder Procedural Guidelines 
• Workplace Environment 
• Workplace Environment Procedural Guidelines

These documents are provided for convenience. It is the responsibility of the contractor and consultant to be aware of and adhere to all requirements outlined in the RFP/tender/contract documents.