Two groups have reached the next stage of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) procurement process for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT ) Law Courts project, ACT Govrnment announced today.

The two successful consortia are:

•  CAPITAL COURTS - including: Richard Crookes Constructions, Brookfield Johnson Controls, Amber Infrastructure and Bates Smart Architects with Katsieris Origami Architecture.

•  JURIS PARTNERSHIP - including: Laing O'Rourke Construction, Programmed Facility Management, Macquarie Capital Group and Lyons Achitecture.

Following detailed evaluation of the six Expressions of Interest (EOI) received, Capital Courts and Juris Partnership have been shortlisted to progress through to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.

ACT's Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, said:

"We are delighted with the interest this project has generated and are confident that both of the shortlisted consortia will produce exciting and innovative solutions as part of the RFP process."

"I am assured that the emphasis we have placed on heritage, urban design and sustainability has been understood and embraced by the shortlisted consortia and we will continue to drive these aspirations throughout the next phase of procurement."

ACT Treasurer Mr Barr said that the ACT Law Courts project is the first major ACT Government infrastructure project to be delivered by a PPP, and that during consultation on The Partnerships Framework, the primary request from industry was that only two parties be shortlisted for procurements. Mr Barr said:

"The ACT Government is committed to reducing the burden on industry wherever we can and ensuring that the ACT continues as a place where government and industry can work collaboratively to deliver value and excellence throughout our infrastructure and investment program. That's why we have shortlisted two consortia to progress through to the RFP."

Selection of a successful bidder and finalisation of PPP contracts for the ACT Law Courts projects will occur during 2015 with construction scheduled to commence in early 2016.

The project involves, among others, the redevelopment of the Supreme Court to provide a fully functional integrated courts facility and the demolition of the Supreme Court building facade fronting Vernon Circle and provision of an annex wing that physically links the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court buildings and creates an integrated Courts facility.