The province is reviewing nine proposals to fund the $110-million police college in Fort Macleod.

   In January the Alberta Solicitor General’s department placed a call for expressions of interest from the private sector.

   “We wanted to go out there and find out what interest we would have from the private sector to help build the police college,” said Christine Wronko of the Solicitor General’s department.

   The government announced in August 2006 that it would build the Alberta Police and Peace Officer Training Centre in Fort Macleod through a private-public (P3) partnership.

   Then in January the province called for proposals to build the college with the government renting space and buying services.

   “We had no expectations of what we would get,” Wronko said of the call for proposals.

   The expression of interest is a way to gather information, with no obligation on the part of the government to choose any developer who responds.

   “Over the next few weeks we’re going to look at them (proposals), evaluate them and plot our course from there,” Wronko said.

   The process to select a private service provider will involve a request for qualifications from a short list of the nine who responded to the expression of interest.

   That request is to be out in May 2008. The contract for construction is to be awarded in January 2009.

   Construction of the police college in the southeast corner of Fort Macleod is scheduled to begin in 2009.

   The police college will become the training centre for about 1,500 police and peace officer recruits such as special constables, corrections officers, sheriffs, private investigators and security guards each year.

   The police college will have a main building of about 35,000 square metres, a training area that is like an outdoor village, indoor firing ranges and vehicle services.

   There will be typical classrooms and labs in the college.

   The college will have offices for the registrar, instructors and administration, as well as an armoury, chapel, health centre and radio work area.

   Special facilities to be included at the college are shooting ranges, simulation areas, combative rooms, a parade ground, drill hall and tactical area.

   Instructional space will include computer labs, a DNA lab, distance learning, lecture theatre, breakout rooms and a library.

   Those areas will be for the exclusive use of the college, but there are plans for possible shared use facilities such as a driving track, ball fields and running and bike trails.

   Other possible shared use areas or services the college might purchase are a gym, ball courts, fitness centre, recruit residence, hotel for continuing education, food services, store, laundry, bar or lounge.

   Support services that might be bought or shared include parking, material handling, vehicle maintenance, building maintenance, printing and an audio-visual work area.