West Otago Health Trust chairman Allister Body said the trust had already received a dozen applications before its closing date on Saturday.
He said the group would use the expressions of interest process to select three candidates with whom they would discuss the project in more detail, and then prepare and cost a design proposal for consideration.
The new medical centre, to be built on the grounds of the former Tapanui Hospital on State Highway 90, will include a 14-bed rest-home, and will be primarily aimed at offering the district's elderly residents a chance to stay in the town instead of moving to facilities in larger centres.
The centre will provide health services to more than 2000 people in West Otago and outlying areas.
Trustees and the directors of West Otago Health Ltd, the company which runs the existing medical centre, spent six months reviewing the project.
Previous estimates for the new facility came in at about $5.9 million, but Mr Body said the trust had since revised its design, significantly reducing the cost, after visiting other medical centres in areas similar to West Otago.
After combining the revised design specifications and construction costings, the trust estimated it could build and fit out the proposed facility for $2.6 million, including a 10% contingency fund, he said.
The medical centre would cover an estimated 400sq m and the aged related residential care facility about 724sq m.
Mr Body said the trust hoped to have a builder and draft plan organised by early December.
"We have also had a major tidy-up at the site of the old hospital. This involved removing the remaining rubble from the old hospital and removing old sheds and trees."
Blue Mountain College pupils spent one afternoon helping to pick up bricks and rubbish. The next step is to prepare the site to be sown. The new medical centre will serve a catchment area from Waikaka across to Pukerau in the south, and Moa Flat to Raes Junction in the north.
While design plans were being settled, the centre's fundraising committee would be working towards raising the last $250,000 needed to construct the centre.
The centre's rooms could still be sponsored and any group, from families to companies or streets, was welcome to sponsor a room. There are about 14 rooms, including lounges and consultant rooms, still available to be sponsored.
