North

Tendering process begins for Arctic naval facility

The federal government has issued a "Request for Qualifications" — the first step in the tendering process — for the proposed Nanisivik naval facility in Nunavut.

Federal government issues Request for Qualifications for Nanisivik project

The HMCS Goose Bay is moored at the future site of the Nanisivik Naval Facility during the 2010 military Operation Nanook. The federal government recently issued a "Request for Qualifications" — the first step in the tendering process. (Canadian Press)

The federal government is looking for a company to build the proposed Nanisivik naval facility.

The government has issued a "Request for Qualifications" — the first step in the tendering process.

It's looking for a company with experience building in the Arctic.

The document estimates the cost of the construction to be $56 million. It's not clear whether that will cover all the work.

The federal government has already budgeted more than $100 million for the facility.

The project has been fraught with setbacks since it was first announced in 2007.

The original plans for a large Arctic naval facility were quietly scaled back last year, and the project's environmental screening hit a snag this spring, when Nunavut regulators sent the plans back to the Department of National Defence for more work.