On Thursday, March 7, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. announced that its Request for Pre-Qualification for the Ottawa Area and the Ontario East Gaming Bundle has come to a close, but that the RFPQ closing date for its Ontario North Gaming Bundle has been extended to March 14, 2013.
In its release, the OLG also stated that the RFPQ Process is being overseen by two impartial advisors that are providing oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process. There was no specific information regarding the advisors included in the release.
The contents of the release appear below.
OLG Modernization Of Gaming Continues To Proceed With Close Of First Two RFPQs
Nearly one year after the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario was announced, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) today marked the close of its Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the Ottawa Area and the Ontario East Gaming Bundle.
These two RFPQs were issued along with the RFPQ for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle on November 30, 2012, as part of OLG's first wave of gaming RFPQs.
As a result of an addendum issued on March 4, 2013, the RFPQ closing date for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle has been extended to March 14, 2013.
"With the close of the RFPQs today, we're continuing with the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario," said Rod Phillips, OLG President and CEO. "We will now undertake our due diligence in evaluating the RFPQ submissions."
Where the RFPQ was based on a Gaming Bundle, interested service providers were required to submit proposals for the entire Gaming Bundle as set out in the RFPQ, not for individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites contained within a Gaming Bundle. This means that service providers must demonstrate their ability to assume specific day-to-day operations of multiple facilities in a given region or geographic area of Ontario.
OLG will select service providers who are eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) document for the Ottawa Area, as well as the East and North Gaming Bundles.
As part of the RFP process, pre-qualified service providers will be able to propose the construction of a new gaming site anywhere within a Gaming Zone, where there is municipal support.
However, all successful proponents will need to work with their host municipalities on specifics about a gaming facility, including selecting a preferred location.
"Municipalities have a choice when it comes to the location of new or relocated gaming sites," said Phillips. "As part of its resolution, a municipality may indicate conditions of its approval, such as where the gaming site may or may not be located. Before any site is built or relocated, three parties will need to agree - the municipality, the service provider and OLG, on behalf of the Ontario government."
OLG has two impartial advisors providing oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process.
While the new gaming model will include securing qualified service providers for the day-to-day operation of gaming, OLG will continue its role in conduct, management and oversight of lottery and gaming. OLG will also continue to help prevent and mitigate the effects of problem gambling through its Responsible Gambling program, which is recognized internationally by the World Lottery Association's certification program, and at four gaming sites, by the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada's RG Check program.
In the coming months, OLG will launch RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones - some in Gaming Bundles. All RFPQs will be available on MERXTM (merx.com/olg). MERXTM charges a fee to download this type of material.
On December 14, 2012, OLG also issued a RFPQ for the modernization of the province's lottery industry. That RFPQ will close on April 4, 2013.
OLG contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the Ontario government. The vast majority of this funding is directed to hospitals and health care.
Once the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is complete, OLG will have increased its net contribution to the province by $1.3 billion annually, while creating thousands of jobs and driving more than $3 billion in capital investment across Ontario.
For more details on Gaming Zones/Bundles, visit: http://www.olg.ca/about/modernizing_lottery_and_gaming_project_status.jsp.
Carolyn, You have hit the"
Carolyn,
You have hit the" Nail on the Head ". The LAST thing McGuinty and his bandits wanted was an INDEPENDENT audit!!!
Hi Cass, the dementia you are
Hi Cass, the dementia you are experiencing is OLG muddying the waters so it can change the rules whenever it sees fit, hows that for transparency ? The most tranparent thing about this whole process is that the Liberals are being run by Godfrey and Tannenbaum and no politician,Liberal NDP or PC seems willing or able to stop them.
Of course Carolyn you are
Of course Carolyn you are right. All we have to do now is find an MPP and party willing to push for an audit. Should have been one from the beginning. McGuinty surely did not prorogue parliament just because of the teachers and gas plants.
I have been worried lately
I have been worried lately about having dementia. This bunch of mumble jumble sure didn't help. PLEASE someone comment what this means, if anything.
In reply to I have been worried lately by songwriter
Why do they keep saying
Why do they keep saying modernization when it is a PRIVATIZATION PLAN ? Am I missing something here ?
I find it very interesting
I find it very interesting that the OLG states above
"OLG contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the Ontario government. The vast majority of this funding is directed to hospitals and health care."
Since approx. 1.2 billion dollars comes from the SAR Program, I would say it appears that from all other sources in the province, including lotteries, the next intervention on behalf of the voters in Ontario should be AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF FUNDS passing through the OLG! Since only about $750,000. from other sources is going to the Government to directly fund Hospitals and health care, I believe we all have a right to know what is happening to the "unaccounted for dollars". Perhaps this explains the hasty retreat of McGuinty, Duncan et al.