Two teams will go head-to-head in a competition to redevelop Lebreton Flats and both are promising to build an NHL-calibre arena at the site.

Rendez Vous Lebreton Group, led by the Ottawa Senators, and DCDLS Group (formerly Devcore Group) were the only bidders who filed proposals by the National Capital Commission’s noon deadline Tuesday.

The Sens have publicly stated they want to build an arena on the Flats, and sources told the Sun on Tuesday that Devcore is now also proposing a rink as part of its bid.

The exact details of both proposals are still under wraps, with the NCC expected to make them public next month.

“We can’t disclose this at this stage,” said Devcore president Jean-Pierre Poulin, declining to officially confirm the arena element of his team’s bid. “We’re quite excited about our program.”

The Sens also weren’t commenting.

How the commission — and, for that matter, the federal Liberals — will view the construction of a professional hockey rink on public land is yet to be seen. The NCC has said it wanted a project for the site with national significance. The agency isn’t bound to choose either of the two proposals.

Two other pre-cleared proponents meanwhile, Claridge Homes and Focus Equities, didn’t submit proposals by Tuesday’s deadline.

The development teams were asked to submit a plan for 9.3 hectares of prime land west of downtown, with the option of including an extra 12.3 hectares.

The NCC on Tuesday released the request for proposals document, which was the guiding document for the bidders.

The document makes it clear the public “anchor” for the redevelopment is critical.

Claridge was originally proposing indoor and outdoor concert facilities, while Focus Equities suggested a headquarters of an unnamed international organization.

The initial DCDLS blueprint talked about cultural facilities, but not an arena.

Residents likely won’t see any details of the proposals until public consultations are held Jan. 26 and 27 at the Canadian War Museum.

The RFP encourages bidders to have non-disclosure agreements signed with any potential private partners.

“The NCC wants proponents to work on their proposal outside of public attention,” the RFP says. “This is also to ensure the process fairness.”

Ken Rubin, an Ottawa-based access-to-information expert who has monitored the NCC, was disappointed by what he read in the RFP.

Rubin sees a “two day show-and-tell period, and gaging takes over again,” referring to the NCC’s plan to hold the consultations in January before the two bidders are to be silent again about their proposals.

“It’s not the way to create a great city or a great neighbourhood,” Rubin said.

The NCC’s decision on a preferred proponent is expected in March, followed by negotiations and government approvals by the end of 2016.

— With files from Susan Sherring

Rendez Vous Lebreton Group

- Led by Ottawa Senators

- Preliminary proposal included arena, green spaces, residential and commercial developments

DCDLS Group

- Led by Devcore Group

- Preliminary proposal included cultural institutions, a grande allée, green spaces, residential and commercial developments