The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority have announced the short-listed consortiums that will vie to build the new Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The respondent teams will move forward in the Request for Proposals stage of the competitive public-private partnership procurement process to select a private-sector partner for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

Referred to as short-listed respondents, these teams are Legacy Link Partners, Bridging North America and CanAm Gateway Partners.

“With the short-listed respondents named, WDBA is pleased to have concluded the first stage in the public-private partnership procurement process,” said Michael Cautillo, president and CEO of WDBA in a news release.

Following the issuance of the Request for Qualifications on July 20, 2015, teams consisting of international and North American companies started to prepare their responses.

The groups outlined their experience and qualifications to deliver and finance large and complex infrastructure projects. On Oct. 9, WDBA received six response submissions.

The bridge authority says all six responses underwent rigorous, objective, consensus-based evaluations and were considered to be qualified.

All the respondents were required to comply with all applicable laws.

The RFQ evaluation, conducted by both public- and private-sector experts, was overseen by an independent fairness monitor, who concluded that the evaluation was fair, open and transparent.

The three highest scoring teams will be asked to respond to the RFPs, to be issued later this year.

“Our team of dedicated staff, partners and consultants have worked diligently to implement a fair and transparent process that recognizes the size and scope of this unprecedented international project,” says Cautillo.