FAQs

General Questions

  • Q1 : What are the objectives of the initiative to develop MRC Montreal and the surrounding site?

    CBC/Radio-Canada has identified two main objectives:

    1. Equip the Corporation with modern, efficient facilities that will enable it to meet current and future needs of Canadian audiences.
    2. Partially fund the Corporation’s new facilities by allowing the partner to undertake the development of the site, taking into account local community needs (i.e., housing, office and retail space, improved access to surrounding neighbourhood).

  • Q2 : What potential scenarios are there for MRC Montreal’s future space needs?

    Several scenarios, including the following, are currently under review:

    • Fully renovate MRC Montreal’s current space.
    • Partially renovate the current space.
    • Adopt a hybrid model: occupy part of the current premises plus a new building.
    • Build a new building.

    CBC/Radio-Canada would like to create versatile, user-friendly, high-performance spaces that factor in emerging production realities, while also addressing our audiences current and future needs.

    The Corporation also feels that it’s important to stay within its financial framework. We’re seeking a long-term, economically viable solution.

Questions on the Selection Process

Request for qualifications (RFQ)

  • Q3 : What was the purpose of the RFQ?

    The RFQ was issued to check the ability of interested firms or consortia to meet the Corporation’s space needs, as well as their technical/financial ability to carry out the entire development project.

    The RFQ followed a request for information (RFI) issued in fall 2011 to assess the overall viability of the development scenario resulting from the zoning bylaw passed by the City of Montreal and the 2009 agreement between the City of Montreal and CBC/Radio-Canada.

  • Q4 : What criteria were used to select the consortia?

    CBC/Radio-Canada employed the following criteria to select the consortia during the RFQ process:

    • Has the financial and technical capacity to fully carry out the initiative to develop MRC Montreal and the surrounding site.
    • Has experience carrying out similar projects.

Request for proposals (RFP)

  • Q5 : What will the RFP you plan to issue in fall 2012 involve?

    At this stage, from the consortia shortlisted via the RFQ, the goal is to choose the partners that will carry out the initiative to develop MRC Montreal and the surrounding site in accordance with the zoning bylaw passed by the City of Montreal and the 2009 agreement between the City and CBC/Radio-Canada.

    We plan to issue the RFP to the consortia sometime in the fall of 2012. They will be given about six months to prepare and submit proposals.

Questions on Next Steps

  • Q6 : Other than the RFP, what steps remain in the initiative to develop MRC Montreal and the surrounding site?

    First, we must complete the Corporation’s needs analysis program (office/meeting/technical space, etc., for all areas and departments at Montreal’s Maison de Radio-Canada), which will include current production methods. We’ve been developing the program since fall 2011, and the final version should be ready by fall 2012. Representatives from all areas will play an active role in the exercise. The needs analysis program is an integral part of the RFP, and the consortia will need to factor it in when developing their projects.

    Once proposals have been submitted, they will be evaluated by committees made up of CBC/Radio-Canada professionals, with support from any experts needed to help them make an informed decision. An external process auditor will ensure that the evaluation process remains transparent, as was the case during the RFQ phase. When proposals have been evaluated, a project will be selected and work could begin sometime in 2014.

    The selected project must be approved by both the Treasury Board and CBC/Radio-Canada’s Board of Directors before MRC and site development can actually begin.

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