Peachland, B.C. – The District is undertaking a Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFQUAL) process for a Public-Private Partnership (P3) or a similar arrangement to design and construct a new firehall. This RFQUAL comes after a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process undertaken in April to explore ways to close potential funding gaps due to increasing construction costs.
The focus of April’s RFEOI was to explore potential P3 opportunities by combining private sector development into the project. This has helped the District refine the scope of the project and identify potential interest from the development community.
The RFQUAL opportunity will be open from Friday, December 5, 2025 to January 15, 2026 at 2 pm. The intent of this phase of the procurement process is to pre-qualify up to three organizations to take part in the next step in the project opportunity. In the RFQUAL, respondents are asked to propose land and/or commercial opportunities that meet the following key objectives of the District’s Firehall P3 Project:
Design and construct a new 18,000 square foot firehall for the District of Peachland.
Introduce commercial/private-sector portions to the project, which may include increasing project density with commercial or residential development.
Use the increased value or efficiencies gained through private-sector portions of the project to subsidize the District’s Firehall design and construction.
Develop a landmark building for the District at a key gateway entrance to the rapidly developing waterfront area.
The RFQUAL includes the following mandatory requirements for a successful proposal:
The maximum contribution by the District is $16 million, plus a further $2.5 million in land acquisition costs, depending on the option chosen.
The location of the new firehall must be within approximately 160 metres of 13th Street with suitable access to adjacent roads.
The firehall must be 18,000 square feet with five apparatus bays for trucks and equipment, offices and meeting rooms, bathrooms, change rooms and a kitchen.
It must include a new Community Policing Office to be used primarily as a meeting point for volunteers who patrol Peachland and for an occasional stop-off point for West Kelowna-based RCMP officers.
The firehall should be designed and built to a Post-Disaster Building standard, as defined in the BC Building Code.
The project should provide approximately 30 parking spaces to service the firehall portion.
The proposal must include all design services and construction requirements for the firehall portion.
While not mandatory, the following are the District’s preferences for the P3 project opportunity:
Construction of the firehall portion of the project should commence in late 2026. The private portion can be provided on a timeline of the respondent’s choosing.
The firehall should be architecturally sensitive to the surrounding area, consider the project’s prominent location near a gateway entrance to Peachland, and strike a balance with an architecturally pleasing exterior, while containing a functional building within budget.
The BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit does not want the intersection of Highway 97 and 13th Street to be adversely affected by the movement of fire apparatus; therefore, the District is requesting access to the firehall be moved as far away from this intersection as possible.
Without restricting creative options, the District prefers:
Greater density, which helps extract maximum value from the project through cost synergies, efficiencies, economies of scale.
Private portion elements which add to the economic vibrancy of Peachland, in keeping with Peachland’s Official Community Plan.
Design and construction approach which enables the firehall portion to progress first.
The District is seeking creative proposals and is allowing four location options that could involve District land, land provided by a private party, or a combination of both. Respondents can submit as many proposals as they wish.
Submissions will be evaluated by the District project management team and up to three respondents will be invited to participate in a second stage Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Proposals must be submitted through the online Bids & Tenders system of the District’s purchasing agent, Interior Purchasing. You must register to obtain the RFQUAL documents so that updated documents and answers to inquiries can be provided to you. Find more information at https://interiorpurchasing.bidsandtenders.ca.