Michigan State University (MSU) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to develop its planned biomedical research center PPP project in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Three companies have been shortlisted for the project, but MSU has not disclosed the names of the firms. Two of the companies are based in Michigan and one is a national firm.

The university said this April that it would pursue the option of a developer-financed model, when it issued a request for qualifications for firms interested in the project.

At a MSU's pre-bid meeting the three developers have received design schematics for the technically complex research building that is expected to occupy about 50% of the former Grand Rapids Press building property.

Vennie Gore, MSU vice president for Auxiliary Enterprises, stated:

We are looking forward to engaging these firms in discussions about a public-private partnership that would bring value to the site and further enhance MSU's vision for research and the commercialization of science.

Proposals will be submitted on or before 29 July 2014. The new facility is expected to be operational by 2017.

The proposals will be evaluated against university models and the plan best suited for the biomedical research center will be recommended by the university to the MSU Board of Trustees in December.

The center would be approximately 145,000 square feet. The biomedical research center would allow space for more than 36 principal investigators and their teams to conduct research.