Canadian Ministry of Finance has announced that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has begun the formal procurement process for the Tłı̨chǫ All Season Road (TASR) by releasing the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain an all-season road to Whatì.

The RFQ is the first stage in a competitive selection process to procure the TASR through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) in accordance with the GNWT’s Public- Private Partnership Policy. The RFQ invites interested parties to submit responses indicating their interest in, and qualifications for, the TASR project. This includes an assessment on the technical and financial capacity to undertake the project. 

Based on the responses to the RFQ, the GNWT intends to select a shortlist of up to three proponents to be invited to participate in the next stage of the procurement process, the Request for Proposals stage, pending a decision on the environmental assessment for the project.

The project is comprised of the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of a 97km all-season gravel highway from kilometer 196 of Highway 3 to the community of Whatì. The total investment of the project is expected to amount to CAD150 million (US$112 million). The contract will be a 29 year contract, with four years of construction and 25 years of operations.

The all-season road will also provide access to new areas of undeveloped mineral resources, opening the door for industry to unlock the region’s full economic potential.

All-season roads are critical to adapting the NWT transportation system to the impacts of climate change, helping support more resilient and reliable infrastructure. By replacing the southern section of the existing winter road serving the region, the Tłįchǫ All-season Road will not only provide year-round access to Whatì but will also increase the window of access to the communities of Gamètì and Wekweètì.

Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Finance, said:

“Construction of the Tłı̨chǫ All Season Road is a priority of the 18^th Legislative Assembly.  The project is a critical piece of infrastructure that will result in significant benefits for the Tłı̨chǫ region and facilitate growth for the NWT economy.”

Wally Schumann, Minister of Transportation, stated:

“In addition to resulting in a lower cost of living in the area, and responding to ever increasing challenges generated by climate change, this project also has the potential to create a solid, reliable job market for our residents.”