"The rebuild of Christchurch, the strengthening of building standards nationwide, addressing leaky building issues, and responding to growth in specific urban areas will generate particularly large demands on capital," the briefing said.
Today's notice comes after the Treasury put out feelers for expressions of interest in a review of a large property portfolio. The notice closed this morning, and the portfolio was kept under wraps as it needed Cabinet approval.
The Wellington project will be split up into three zones of some 70 schools each, for which interested companies or consortia will be able to bid.
The assessments will have to meet the ministry's criteria, and will incorporate all forward 10-year liabilities and associated earthquake, weather-tightness and other specialist reports. Each school will also need the full extent of forward liabilities scoped and developed into a 10-year forecast maintenance plan.
The ministry expects to issue a formal requires for proposal in mid-May.
A national investigation isn't a certainty, and will follow an assessment of the Auckland region. The ministry plans to put out a tender for schools in the country's biggest city in June.