The Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) is intending to release a request for tender (RFT) in January 2022 to appoint the Construction Contractor to carry out and support the Design Development and Construction for the Enabling Works component of the Warrnambool Base Hospital Redevelopment (Regional Logistics Distribution Centre).

The Enabling Works component involves the design and construction of a new off-site Regional Logistics Distribution Centre (RLDC) and relocation of the existing regional supply and linen services from the Warrnambool Base Hospital site to the new RLDC. The RLDC will be operated by South West Healthcare, thereby freeing up the hospital site for the broader redevelopment and construction of a new multistorey clinical tower. The Enabling Works will also commission supply and linen services at the RLDC and decommission supply and linen services at the Warrnambool Base Hospital site.

The new RLDC is approximately 5,270 m2 and is to be constructed at 1-5 Cooper Street, Warrnambool VIC 3280. The scope for the new RLDC includes:

• Eight loading bays and semi-trailer parking
• Dangerous goods store
• Trolley storage and trolley wash
• Sterile storeroom
• Commercial automated laundry
• Clean and dirty linen store
• Automated warehouse
• Truck wash bay
• Forklift garage
• Reception, front of house, meeting rooms, staff room, staff amenities, end of trip facilities
• 32 car parks
• Engineering workshop and store

The RLDC is planned to serve the current sub regional health service supply chain and has been designed to cater for the increase in clinical services, as a result of the Warrnambool Base Hospital Redevelopment, as well as additional regional centres.

The Enabling Works package is likely to be delivered via a design and construct contract, which is expected be tendered to the market in early 2022.