Public-private partnerships (P3s)

Overview

P3s offer centralized oversight of commercial, legal, and financial activities throughout construction and operation periods by:

encouraging innovation, collaboration, and appropriate risk sharing with the private sector
drawing on the expertise and strengths of both the public and private sectors
maximizing Value for Money by considering the life cycle of the project
enhancing the ability to deliver projects on time and on budget

The Public-Private Partnership Framework and Guideline, updated in December 2020, increases our options as to what P3 model can be considered for capital project delivery, including variants such as design-build-finance, design-build-finance and maintain, and revenue based P3s, such as build-operate-transfer.

P3s in procurement phase

Bundle of 7 schools

A new bundle of 7 Alberta schools is in the Request for Proposals stage.
Procurement is underway and a contract with the successful proponent is anticipated to be in place in early 2025, with construction set to begin that summer.
The P3 bundle of 7 schools include:
- K-8 school in Airdrie SW, Rocky View Schools
- K-5 school in Blackfalds, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
- K-9 school in Calgary Nolan Hill, Calgary Catholic School District
- K-9 school in Chestermere, Calgary Catholic School District
- K-9 school in Edmonton Edgemont, Edmonton Public Schools
- Grade 7-12 school in Edmonton Glenridding Heights, Edmonton Public Schools
- K-9 school (replacement of K-6 École Good Shepherd) in Okotoks, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools

Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Ambulatory Building

The new Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Ambulatory Building is in the Request for Proposals stage.
Procurement is underway and a contract with the successful proponent is anticipated to be in place in mid-2025, with construction set to begin that summer.

P3s in operations phase

Forty-five new schools have been built since 2008 under P3 contracts. All these schools, owned and operated by various school jurisdictions across Alberta, are now in the operations phase and maintained by the P3 Contractor.

Phase 1 schools
In September 2008, the Alberta government entered into an agreement with BBPP Alberta Schools Limited to design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) 18 new schools. School construction was completed in June 2010.
BBPP will maintain the schools until June 2040. BBPP’s performance is monitored by the Alberta government throughout this period.
Phase 2 schools
In April 2010, the Alberta government entered into an agreement with B2L Partnership for the DBFM of 10 new Alberta schools. School construction was completed in June 2012.
B2L Partnership will maintain the schools until June 2042. B2L’s performance is monitored by the Alberta government throughout this period.
Phase 3 schools
In September 2012, the Alberta government entered into an agreement with ABC Schools Partnership for the DBFM of 12 new Alberta schools. School construction was completed in June 2014.
ABC Schools Partnership will maintain the schools until June 2044. ABC’s performance is monitored by the Alberta government throughout this period.
P3 High school bundle
In September 2021, we entered into an agreement with Concert-Bird Partners to design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) 5 new schools. The schools are anticipated to open in 2024 and Concert-Bird Partners will maintain the schools until May 2054.
The respective school jurisdictions will own the schools, but we will monitor Concert-Bird Partners performance throughout this period.
Evan-Thomas Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility
Under the P3 delivery model of Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO), EPCOR designed, built and provided partial financing for the project.
EPCOR was responsible for operating the new water treatment plant, the new wastewater treatment plant, and the water storage and distribution systems until mid-2024 (10 years). Operations of the facility is now managed by the Alberta government.
- P3 Value for Money Assessment and Project Report
- Design, Build, Finance and Operate contract
P3 roads

The Calgary Ring Road is part of a larger east-west trade corridor that will enhance access to markets in and out of Alberta.
Edmonton’s Ring Road (Anthony Henday Drive) provides 80 km of free-flow travel around the city.

Award winning P3s

Alberta is a pioneer of the P3 model. We have a successful and award-winning track record of delivering infrastructure using P3s. Alberta’s P3 model has been recognized nationally and internationally for innovation and excellence.

Most recently, in November 2024, Alberta received a Silver Award in the P3 Design & Construction category for its first ever high school P3 project from the CCPPP 2024 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s.

Our high school P3 also won 2 awards in 2022:

October 2022: Best Education and Higher Education Project for the P3 Awards hosted by P3 Bulletin covering the Americas.
November 2022: Gold Award for Project Development from the CCPPP 2022 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s.

Alberta’s first P3 project to complete its operational period, the Evan-Thomas Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kananaskis won the Best Operational Project at the P3 Partnerships Bulletin awards in October 2024.

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Public-private partnerships (P3s)

Overview

P3s in procurement phase

Bundle of 7 schools

Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Ambulatory Building

P3s in operations phase

Award winning P3s

Overview

P3s in procurement phase

Bundle of 7 schools

Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Ambulatory Building

P3s in operations phase

Phase 1 schools

Phase 2 schools

Phase 3 schools

P3 High school bundle

Evan-Thomas Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility

P3 roads

Award winning P3s