Royal Inland Hospital (Photo via Abby Zieverink)
Interior Health and BC Cancer have officially begun the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process for the new cancer centre at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops.
The two organizations will identify up to three qualified proponents who will move on to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage, which will eventually determine who will lead the design and construction for the $359-million project.
“The RFQ process marks an important step for teams to express their interest and qualifications to design and build the new BC Cancer centre,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said, in a statement.
“We are committed to keeping the momentum up in our work to expand access to critical cancer treatments for people in Kamloops and surrounding regions.”
The RFQ process is expected to be finalized in June of this year, with the winning bidder selected by March of next year.
“We are excited to move forward with the procurement process and be one step closer to the construction of the new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops,” said Dr. Kim Chi, executive vice-president and chief medical officer, BC Cancer. “We are working in partnership with Interior Health to create a future where the people of Kamloops and surrounding regions will get the cancer care they need closer to home.”
The new five-storey facility – with three linear accelerator vaults – will be built on the Westlands site at RIH, with space for radiation treatment; radiation-therapy planning, including a CT Simulator; an outpatient ambulatory-care unit, including 10 exam rooms; and two consultation rooms for radiation-therapy services; an additional MRI suite; and patient arrival and check-in areas.
A new 470-stall parkade will also be built “on the top level” of the facility.
A site plan for RIH with the new cancer care centre. (Photo via BC Government)
The project also includes upgrades to expand existing cancer care services at RIH, including an expanded pharmacy as well as the relocation and expansion of the Community Oncology Network clinic from the eighth floor to the main floor.
“People in Kamloops and the surrounding area are looking forward to having greater access to cancer care at RIH,” Interior Health President and CEO Susan Brown added.
“Together with BC Cancer, the project team is moving quickly with the procurement process, one of the many planned milestones as we continue to move this project forward.”
Design and construction work on the Kamloops Cancer Centre is expected to begin in April 2025 and be “substantially” completed in 2028.
Design of the upgrades at RIH is expected to begin in April 2025 as well, with construction getting underway in April 2026, with “substantial” completion in 2029.
You can find more about the project here.
Here’s the project schedule for the #Kamloops Cancer Care Centre.
RIH upgrades include the relocation and expansion of the community oncology clinic, the expansion of the RIH Pharmacy, and renovation and relocation of other “impacted hospital programs and services.” pic.twitter.com/6zNrgD11Zh
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) February 15, 2024
