Construction of Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan delayed
Officials say facility will open in 2018, at the earliest
People waiting to use the new Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan are going to have to wait longer.
Initially, the Saskatoon Health Region had planned to award the estimated $260 million contract this month. Now, it says it needs another 45 days, on top of the 60 it has had, to decide.
Saskatoon Health Region President and CEO Dan Florizone said the extra time is needed to ensure the successful bid will come in on time and on budget.
"Most of these types of projects are granted 90 days to complete that due diligence, so unfortunately, we were very optimistic about 60," he said.
According to Florizone, this is the fourth major delay the project has encountered.
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Those involved with the project estimate the facility will be ready by 2018 at the earliest.
Florizone explained all of the delays have been necessary to ensure the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan is the best health facility it can be, in terms of both time and money.
"Now we have the tender documents which show what the individual vendors are proposing," he said of proposed construction schedules. "We are very interested in looking at the cost, the cost breakdown and completing our due diligence."
Three undisclosed parties have bids in to build the hospital. The Saskatoon Health Region says it should have its decision by the fall.