Interior Health Contract Awarded Without Competitive Tender
The BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) has submitted a proposal to the Cariboo Regional District Hospital Board of Directors and Interior Health Authority (IHA) that could save local property taxpayers up to $2 million for the renovation of an old seniors care facility in Williams Lake.
Additionally, based on recent RFP's in IHA, a P3 project would save the IHA approximately $300,000 in operating costs/year - or $3,000,000 over 10 years.
The Regional District Board and IHA confirmed a couple of weeks ago initial plans to make significant investments to create 28 new seniors care beds in Williams Lake. The Board has their intention to invest $1.9 million to renovate the old Deni House Facility without any public tender. IHA has also agreed to provide an annual $2 million operating grant without public tender.
BCCPA applauded the IHA decision to create more capacity in the region to address growing demands of an aging society. However, they questioned the decision not to put the project out to a competitive tender to ensure taxpayers are getting full value for their health care investment.
In a letter to the Board and IHA, BCCPA CEO Ed Helfrich said the competitive tendering process has served taxpayers well in the past. In the case of Williams Lake, Mr. Helfrich suggested an expedited tendering process could lead to:
- a 28 bed facility built to the latest guidelines with 95% private rooms for local seniors
- a better deal that could include renovation of Deni House as an option
- no need for taxpayers to spend $2 million on capital improvements and renovations
- substantial ongoing annual savings in operating costs to IHA, estimated at $300,000 per annum (based on recent RFP's in IHA)
- reallocation of $1.9 million Hospital Board funds to other regional health care priorities or more long term care beds for seniors
BCCPA officials have offered to meet with local hospital board members to discuss this opportunity. The IHA has indicated that they took the unusual step of avoiding a public tender partially due to the views of local elected officials.
Mr. Helfrich said there is nothing to lose from accepting our friendly suggestion. An expedited tender process would not result in any delays to the project timeline and could lead to significant savings and better quality care standards in the community. "We hope they will give it some consideration in the interest of insuring local taxpayers and seniors get full value for money."
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