Last April, the Campbell administration rolled out its Asia Pacific Initiative - "a long-term strategy to diversify B.C.'s economic ties" with the region. And now the provincial government is quietly erecting a monument of sorts to that initiative. Last week, on BC Bid, the government quietly announced it would be soliciting proposals from four firms to plan and design an Asia Pacific Business Centre, located at Robson Square in Vancouver. According to that announcement, the objective of the centre "is to support government initiatives with the Asia Pacific, house the Ministry's Asia Pacific Unit, receive foreign delegations, promote BC in Asia (and Asia in BC), with the overall intention of creating new long term trade and investment opportunities for the Province in the Asia Pacific." The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned notice of intent.

NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI) TO CONTRACT
NOI # ON-001360

Notice is hereby given by the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services - Accommodation and Real Estate Services (ARES) of its intent to solicit proposals from the following firms for facility planning and design services for the Asia Pacific Business Centre, located at Robson Square in Vancouver, BC.
* BBA Design Consultants Inc.
* Group 5 Design Associates Ltd.
* Orca Creative Group Inc.
* Zeidler Partnership Architects Inc.
The objective of the Asia Pacific Business Centre is to support government initiatives with the Asia Pacific, house the Ministry's Asia Pacific Unit, receive foreign delegations, promote BC in Asia (and Asia in BC), with the overall intention of creating new long term trade and investment opportunities for the Province in the Asia Pacific.

The Ministry has chosen not to issue a public Request for Proposals (RFP) at this time for the following reasons:

* A Request for Fee Proposal was issued by ARES on July 27, 2007; however was cancelled due to no suitable proposals received. A new RFP was issued publicly on BC Bid on September 5, 2007 (RFP #ON-001339) with a modified scope of work. No responses were received.
* The Ministry is familiar with the services of the above mentioned firms, and has gained their interest in providing a response to the RFP.

The Ministry has issued the RFP directly to the above mentioned firms, and will be conducting an evaluation of proposals received in order to determine a lead proponent and award a contract.

Other service providers interested in submitting a proposal must contact Cheryl Akey, Procurement Specialist by facsimile at (250) 387-7309 or email pcadmin@gov.bc.ca to request a copy of the RFP, which closes on October 23, 2007 at 2:00 pm.