FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Issues NRFP for Major Redevelopment of Historic WWII Hangar and Aviation Campus
Brandon, Manitoba — [F] — The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) has officially issued a Negotiated Request for Proposals (NRFP) for Design-Build services supporting a major redevelopment of its historic aviation site located at Brandon Municipal Airport.
The project represents a significant step forward in safeguarding one of Canada’s most important surviving Second World War aviation training facilities while preparing the Museum to meet growing operational, preservation, and visitor needs.
CATPM operates within an original 1941 British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) hangar- one of the few remaining wartime training hangars of its kind still in active public use. After more than eight decades of service, the structure now requires substantial structural remediation, modernization, and accessibility upgrades to ensure its long-term preservation and safe public use.
The NRFP invites qualified Design-Build teams to develop and evaluate two comprehensive redevelopment pathways. These include stabilization and repair of the original hangar, and/or construction of a new hangar-style facility to support expanded museum operations, aircraft storage, collections care, and public programming.
“This is a transformational moment for the Museum,” said Zoe McQuinn, Director General of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum. “We are not simply repairing a building, we are securing the future of a nationally significant heritage site, preserving the legacy of those who trained and served here, and building the infrastructure needed to support the next generation of visitors, researchers, and community engagement.”
The redevelopment project is expected to address structural stabilization, code compliance, accessibility, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability, while safeguarding irreplaceable aviation artifacts and collections. The work will take place on an active airfield and within a functioning museum environment, requiring specialized expertise in heritage structures and complex public facilities.
CATPM anticipates the project will also generate regional economic activity and support the continued growth of the museum as a cultural, educational, and tourism destination in western Manitoba.
Qualified proponents are invited to review the full NRFP and submission requirements through the designated procurement portal.
Submission deadline: March 30, 2026
Project location: Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon Municipal Airport
NRFP access: Catpm Redevelopment Project – Design-build Services – 2026 | MERX
About the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is a nationally recognized aviation heritage institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and the contributions of Canadians and Commonwealth personnel during the Second World War. Located on an active airfield in Brandon, Manitoba, the Museum houses aircraft, artifacts, archives, and exhibits that honour the more than 130,000 aircrew trained across Canada as part of the largest aviation training program in history.
Media Contact:
Zoe McQuinn
Director General
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
DirectorGeneral@CATPM.onmicrosoft.com
204-727-2444
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial 