RIDLEY-THOMAS SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS IN CONTRACT BIDS FOR NEW MLK HOSPITAL

 

 

February 24, 2010                                                                                                                                          Contact: Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                                        James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

SUPERVISOR RIDLEY-THOMAS SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS

IN CONTRACT BIDS FOR NEW MLK HOSPITAL

 

LOS ANGELES – Moving one step closer toward building a new Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, the County Department of Public Works has issued its first request for proposals (RFP) – soliciting bids for a project/construction management firm that demonstrates it is capable of entering into joint ventures with small businesses and creating jobs in the community.

 

The selected firm will provide consulting services to the County for management of construction associated with the hospital’s inpatient tower renovation, Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center (MACC)/Ancillary Building Project and possibly other work on or in the vicinity of the medical campus in the Willowbrook area.

 

The County has committed $208 million to renovate the inpatient tower to house 120 patient beds and other essential hospital services such as an emergency department, inpatient pharmacy, radiology and operating rooms, and central sterilization and supporting functions.

 

About $145.3 million more will be spent to build the 130,000-square-foot MACC/Ancillary Services Building adjacent to the inpatient tower. That new complex will accommodate an ambulatory out-patient surgical center, as well as clinical and other support services, including general medicine, orthopedics and pharmacy.

 

At the urging of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who wants to ensure inclusiveness, the County is looking for firms that demonstrate an ability to work with small businesses in joint ventures and provide jobs for the community. Historically, small businesses have not been able to compete for management of such major projects.

 

The new hospital, scheduled to be completed in December 2012, will operate independently of the County through a non-profit governing authority under of a partnership with the University of California.

 

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said the 38-acre hospital campus will serve as an economic catalyst for the community that will attract thousands of jobs. He cited the mission statement in the RFP, which states:

 

“The County seeks to establish the Martin Luther King Medical Center campus as a center of excellence for health care delivery, urban health promotion and prevention, health workforce development, academic research and teaching and economic development.”

 

To access information of the RFP on the County’s Department of Public Works website, log onto: http://ladpw.org/services/Construction/.

 

 

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