Ottawa Construction News staff writer
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of the Solicitor General have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for contractors to build the Brockville Correctional Complex & St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre.
Submissions will be reviewed to shortlist teams with the required construction experience, as well as the financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and complexity.
Shortlisted teams will then be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP), which is expected to be published in Fall 2026. Interested companies must register on merx.com to download the RFQ.
The project is being delivered using a Design-Bid-Build model. The architect and engineers of record are completing the design documents. This RFQ is to select a contractor to deliver the project based on these designs.
“Launching the Request for Qualifications represents a significant milestone and signals the start of a competitive procurement process to bring a construction partner on board,” said Angela Clayton President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario. “We remain committed to working closely with our government partners and engaging with experienced proponents who can support the delivery of correctional facilities that meet the province’s long-term needs.”
The project includes construction of a new Brockville correctional complex and expansion of the existing treatment centre. The development is expected to total about 322,000 square feet and will be delivered using a design-bid-build model.
“Expanding the capacity of the Brockville Correctional Complex and St. Lawrence Valley Correctional Treatment Centre makes our community safer by keeping dangerous offenders off the street,” said Steve Clark MPP Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “As work continues at the site, I’m pleased our government is issuing a Request for Qualifications.
“Selecting the team to build this facility and replace the 184-year-old Brockville jail is an important step forward as we work to deliver the modern complex that correctional staff deserve.”
The province said the Brockville expansion is expected to support more than 400 jobs, including correctional officers, nurses and support staff.
Other planned projects include 345 beds at the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, 320 beds at the Toronto South Detention Centre, 91 beds at the Quinte Detention Centre and 235 beds at the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex, along with 150 beds through modular expansions in Niagara, Milton and Sudbury.
“Our government is cracking down on criminals by building jails and strengthening the bail system to keep violent offenders where they belong: behind bars,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The Brockville expansion is part of our plan to add over 1,400 beds in correctional facilities across the province and ensure lack of space is never an excuse to grant offenders early release.”
Additional correctional expansion projects are expected to be announced in the coming months.
