Developers are being invited to bid for a $315 million contract to expand the Island's hospital.

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has released a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for a public private partnership to construct the new King Edward VII Memorial Hospital wing.

It is the first in a two-stage process to identify a private partner to design, finance, build and maintain new facilities on the existing King Edward VII Memorial Hospital site.

The new facilities include an ambulatory care centre, patient tower and central utility plant.

BHB Deputy CEO Venetta Symonds said: "The release of the RFQ today is a key milestone in the delivery of Bermuda's new acute care facilities. BHB is working diligently to ensure specifications for the new facilities will meet the future acute healthcare needs of Bermuda."

It is understood possible bidders include some European companies. BHB recently held a roadshow in New York and Toronto taking responses from interested parties. It aims to finalise a project agreement by late 2010.

A BHB spokesperson said there would also be ample opportunity for local companies to get involved.

"BHB anticipates that the project will provide significant opportunities for Bermudians by bringing together bid teams that offer healthcare infrastructure experience, public private partnership (PPP) expertise and local knowledge," she said.

"It is common on complex projects of this scope for the selected private partner (bid team) to be a consortium of several firms with relevant skills (design, construction, etc.).

"As such, BHB expects there will be opportunities for local firms to be involved in the project as part of consortium bidding on the project.

"In addition to creating opportunities for contractors and trades, BHB expects that various professionals will be retained to help bid teams prepare competitive proposals for the project."

The RFQ requires bid teams to submit their qualifications to BHB, which will use evaluation criteria to assess each submission and develop a shortlist.

The next phase is then the Request for Proposal (RFP). This will detail more specific requirements for the project, with input from BHB clinical, financial, legal and technical advisory teams.

Bidders will be asked to submit binding proposals to design, build, finance, maintain and rehabilitate the facilities over the life of the project agreement a period of some 30 years.

BHB will evaluate the proposals using pre-established criteria, and the successful applicant will enter into a project agreement.

To view the RFQ, log onto: www.bermudahospitals.bm