Three qualified teams have been shortlisted to participate in the next stage of the competitive selection process to build the acute care centre at BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre.

Seven teams responded to the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals redevelopment project Request for Qualifications, which closed on Feb. 26, 2013. The three teams invited to move forward to the Request for Proposals stage are:

• Affinity Partnerships.
• Oak Street Health Partners.
• Plenary Health.

The Provincial Health Services Authority expects to select a preferred proponent by spring 2014. Construction of the new acute care centre is anticipated to get underway in winter 2014-15 with completion currently targeted for spring 2018.

The contract includes the design, building, financing and maintainance of the new Acute Care Centre (ACC) as Phase 2 of BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre's redevelopment project.

The acute care centre will include inpatient units, an emergency department, medical imaging and procedural suites, hematology/oncology and pediatric intensive care for BC Children's Hospital. It will also include a high-risk labour and delivery suite and a new neonatal intensive care unit for BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre. The new design will emphasize the single occupant patient rooms, noise reduction features, access to natural light and views of nature, resulting in an improved healing environment.

The total cost of the redevelopment project is estimated at $680 million. Phase two is expected to cost between $500 million and $530 million and includes the acute care centre. The BC Children's Hospital Foundation has pledged to raise $200 million through the Campaign for BC Children with $150 million going toward the redevelopment project.