Newcomer Reception Centres

The City of Ottawa is advancing the procurement work necessary for the Newcomer Reception Centre. It intends to enter into a contract for the design and construction of a Newcomer Reception Centre at 1645 Woodroffe, for approximately $15 million with an anticipated timeline of 12 months from award of contract to substantial performance. The City of Ottawa, pending funding and as required, intends to proceed with a second structure with similar pricing and construction timeline.

As stated in previous communications, the Newcomer Reception Centres will be funded by the federal government.

Procurement process

The City has conducted a market assessment and determined that BLT Construction Services (providing a Sprung Instant Structure, i.e. pre-fabricated building) is the only available and qualified vendor to perform the scope of work required for this project. To confirm that assessment, the City will complete an Advanced Contract Award Notice (ACAN) process.

The ACAN is a public notice indicating the intent to award a contract and provides an opportunity for other respondents to demonstrate their ability to meet project requirements. The ACAN will be posted on the MERX.com e-Procurement system. All submissions and inquiries regarding the ACAN must be submitted through the MERX.com system.

Project components

The contract for the design and construction of the newcomer reception centre includes:

• Preparation of plans and studies required for site plan control;
• Preliminary and detailed design drawings;
• Preparation and submission of all required permit applications;
• Construction and interior fit-up of structure;
• Provision of full FF&E required for the project.
• Full site development

Additional project costs will include project delivery and permitting fees.

The Centre is part of a broader Newcomer Reception System that includes other transitional housing facilities including a former nunnery on St. Joseph Blvd and up to 20 new four-to-five-bedroom homes across Ottawa. The cost of these transitional housing options, as well as other recent transitional housing projects, are in line with what is being proposed for the Newcomer Reception Centres.

Next steps

The ACAN has been published on MERX.com and is currently scheduled to close on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

If no supplier submits a response that demonstrates their potential to meet capabilities of the Specifications, including the Scope of Work, by the closing date of the ACAN then it is the City of Ottawa’s intent to proceed with an award of contract to the supplier identified.

Most asylum claimants leave their homes looking to escape violence or persecution. They are searching for a place where they can feel safe and join a welcoming community.

The newcomer reception centres are designed to do just that. They are meant to provide asylum claimants, also known as refugee claimants, or migrants, with a temporary, but supportive and dignified start to their new life in Ottawa.

Migration to our city, including that of asylum claimants, is entirely managed by the federal government. While we have no control or input on the process, we are working hard to respond to the reality and ensure people have a warm, safe place to stay.

Throughout this article, we will walk you through the journey that an asylum claimant requiring emergency housing will take to become part of our community and find permanent housing.

The first step in the process is the refugee claim. This is when someone looking for refugee protection makes an application for asylum at a port of entry or an inland office. This step is entirely managed by the federal government. They follow an established step-by-step process to take in the asylum claimants and assess the eligibility of their claim.

During this process, the various federal agencies involved will also conduct an initial screening, which includes security and a medical examination.

The second step on the journey for those requiring emergency housing is the newcomer reception centres. This is a crucial step that is currently missing in our system. The centres will be purpose-built and offer comfortable and dignified temporary accommodations.

Immediate connections to settlement services, critical to help claimants integrate into our community, will be made available on-site. The services that will be offered are being designed with internal and external partners, as well as those with lived experience, to ensure they meet the unique needs of asylum claimants.

The services will be finalized in the coming months through the design process. It's anticipated that support for immigration, employment, trauma and language training will be among the services included.

Asylum claimants will stay in the reception centres for up to 90 days. Staff and settlement agencies will assist each claimant to help them integrate into our community and, more importantly, find permanent housing. If they are unable to find housing within 90 days, they move to the third step in the process – transitional housing.

Transitional housing are buildings that have been converted to support the newcomer reception system, such as the former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Boulevard, or homes that are located throughout our city. They will provide alternate temporary housing and allow staff and agencies more time to support asylum claimants in their search for permanent housing.

The final step in the journey for asylum claimants is permanent housing. This will be a culmination of all the work done by staff and partners to support claimants as they integrate into our community. While this may be the end of their settlement journey, it will only be the beginning of their new life as a member of our community. Settlement services will continue to be made available to those in need to ensure that life gets off to a good, positive start.

Together, we can continue the tradition of being a welcoming city.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.