On June 14, 2007, the Government of Alberta announced a pilot project that will result in the construction and delivery of 18 new schools in Edmonton and Calgary through a public-private partnership (P3). The consolidated new schools pilot project, called the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement (ASAP) project, is a new approach to school capital infrastructure that aligns with government’s goal to build schools where students live, and to be innovative and creative in its approach to new school construction.

The Alberta government awarded the ASAP project to BBPP Alberta Schools Limited (BBPP Alberta Schools). The project includes the design, build, finance and maintenance (DBFM) of nine schools in Edmonton and nine schools in Calgary.The schools will be available for students by September 2010.This is the largest P3 schools project undertaken in Alberta.

The new schools are being built to provincial standards and will use a standard core design. The permanent core building with the essential elements of a school will be complemented by state-of-the art, steel-framed modular classrooms that can be added or removed as required. The schools will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Standards. Only new schools are included in the project which consists of K-4, K-6 and K-9 school configurations.

In addition to the design and construction, the project also includes maintenance and renewal over a 30-year period and the provision of private sector finance. Ownership of the schools remains with the school boards.

The following will be the responsibility of the school boards:

• Education services for students;
• Custodial services including day-to-day monitoring of boilers, and after hours scheduling of heating and ventilation; and
• Supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of furniture and equipment (F&E)

The Alberta government has recently completed two other successful P3 projects: ring roads in both Edmonton and Calgary.