Northern Health released a tender for site preparation for the new Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre.
As the site preparation is not included in the design-build procurement package, it is running as a separate tender competition, with work expected to start in August 2012 and finish in late 2012.
"Site preparation is an important first step in the construction of a new hospital in Burns Lake," said Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad.
"The new hospital has been my number one health capital priority for some time, and once completed, with benefit families and health professionals alike for years to come."
Site preparation will include removal of existing building services, installing new water and sanitary sewer services for the new facility, relocation and removal of portions of the perimeter fencing and abatement and movement of the existing nurse's residence, including disposal of the existing nurse's residence concrete foundations.
As the site preparation is in progress, the procurement process for the design-build contract for the Lakes District Hospital replacement project continues.
The preferred proponent for the design-build contract is expected to be announced in March 2013, and construction to be completed by the summer of 2015.
The project was announced by government on April 12, 2012, and is estimated price tag of approximately $55 million.
The tender for this project closed on BC Bid on July 19, 2012.