Question Period Note: Supporting COVID-19 border testing

About

Reference number:
PSPC-2021-QP-00034
Date received:
Dec 16, 2021
Organization:
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Name of Minister:
Tassi, Filomena (Hon.)
Title of Minister:
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Issue/Question:

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has issued contracts to support border testing measures across Canada.

Suggested Response:

  • The Government of Canada continues to take unprecedented action to protect the health and safety of Canadians against further transmission of COVID-19
    • Public Services and Procurement Canada is a key player in Canada’s response to the pandemic by leading the procurement of testing, border testing services, PPE, laboratory equipment and vaccines
    • Since February 2021, border testing for travellers entering Canada has been conducted and will continue to evolve based on public health requirements
    • Notably, in response to the Omicron variant, Canada has imposed mandatory testing for all international travellers other than those arriving from US with more specific measures for travellers arriving from 10 identified countries
    • Public Services and Procurement Canada is currently working with the end-to-end service providers on their plans to increase capacity in response
    • To date, Public Services and Procurement Canada has awarded 14 contracts for a combined value of up to $705 million for border testing and supplemental testing services (security services, call centres, remote testing and screening, accommodations, management of travellers, traffic and cleaning)

If pressed on Calgary Health Authority for border testing or Biron Laboratories:

  • All questions relating to this topic should be referred to Health Canada - Public Services and Procurement Canada was not involved in the original contracts awarded under contribution agreements to these entities in the summer 2021

Background:

To support the implementation of mandatory COVID-19 testing of travellers entering Canada at Canadian international airports and land points, PSPC issued 3 contracts for capacity to collect and process Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test samples from travellers entering Canada.

In response to the Omicron variant, Canada has imposed mandatory arrival and post-arrival testing for travellers originating from 10 countries of concern and arrival testing for all international travellers, except those arriving from the US who have not travelled to the countries of concern in the last 14 days. This is leading to a significant increase in testing requirement at borders, specifically for air travellers.

Switch Health Holdings Inc.

A contract was awarded to Switch Health Holdings Inc. on February 20, 2021, for Day 1 and Day 8 testing for travellers arriving by air or land borders in Ontario, Alberta and the Atlantic region.

The contract was then amended in April 2021 to include additional testing in Ontario for temporary foreign workers, asylum seekers, those in isolation at Designated Quarantine Facilities, and other individuals entering Canada for whom specimen self-collection may not be possible. Switch will provide mobile units as well as telehealth appointments to conduct on-site specimen collection, on-site observed specimen collection and virtual observed specimen collection.

The contract was amended on October 30, 2021, to extend it to November 30, 2021.

The contract was amended again from December 1, 2021, to extend it to February 28, 2022.

Dynacare

A contract was awarded to Dynacare on April 26, 2021, for Day 8 testing for temporary foreign workers in Quebec. This included dedicated support services in French and English for appointment booking, test administration and results management, as well as mobile services for on-site specimen collection.

The contract was amended on July 30, 2021, to extend the contract until August 15, 2021 and add additional testing services for land and air ports of entry for Manitoba and Quebec.

The contract was amended again on August 14, 2021 to extend the contract until October 31, 2021 and add additional on-site testing for airports in Manitoba and Quebec.

The contract was amended again on October 30, 2021, to extend it to December 31, 2021.

Lifelabs

A contract was awarded to LifeLabs on June 23, 2021, for Day 1 testing of all travellers arriving at Vancouver Airport and Day 1 and Day 8 testing for all travellers crossing land borders in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

The contract was amended on June 30, 2021, to add Day 8 testing for travellers arriving at Vancouver Airport.

The current contract will expire on January 31, 2022.

PSPC request for proposal on increased border testing

PSPC posted a new competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) on September 21, 2021, to meet the demand of the evolving Border Testing Program supporting the mandatory COVID-19 testing of travellers entering Canada. The RFP closed on October 18, 2021. The technical/financial evaluation has recently been completed and priority of award is to the regions where the current contract is expiring, starting with the Quebec Region.

Additional Information:

None