Notice to Market
Request for Proposal (RFP) for
Charter Air Ambulance Services
THUNDER BAY
1.ORNGE BACKGROUND
Ornge is a family of companies, some incorporated federally and others in the Province of Ontario. Ornge provides air and land ambulance services under an agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (“MOHLTC”). Additional information about Ornge is available at: www.ornge.ca. Ornge is currently contracted to five vendors that provide services for Ornge’s need for charter air ambulance services across Ontario. Current bases include: Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sioux Lookout, Moosonee, Barrie and Muskoka.
2.NOTICE TO MARKET
This is a Notice to Market that Ornge intends to issue a RFP to the market via www.MERX.com for the provision of Charter Air Ambulance Services for the Thunder Bay base location (CYQT). In March 2017 Ornge published a Notice to Market, which stated, among other things, that Ornge intended to issue multiple RFPs for the provision of Charter Air Ambulance Services. These RFPs will be for base locations located in (1) Sioux Lookout (already released and closed), (2) Sudbury (already released and in progress) and (3) Thunder Bay, with each such RFP covering one of these three locations. It is anticipated that the fourth RFP will be an “all other options” RFP that will cover Moosonee and a number of other potential bases locations, as Ornge sees fit. It is Ornge’s intention to retain a number of vendors to provide these services across the Province of Ontario. Subject to the terms and conditions of the RFPs, vendors may participate in more than one RFP and a vendor may be selected for more than one base location. Ornge may require more than one vendor at a particular base and, consequently, Ornge may select more than one vendor under a particular RFP.
Ornge will include a form of Contract with the Thunder Bay RFP. Subject to changes that may be made to the Contract during the RFP process in accordance with the terms and conditions of the RFP, each proponent selected under the RFP to enter into a Contract with Ornge will be required to do so on the terms and conditions set out in the form of Contract attached to the RFP.
Pending the issuance of the Thunder Bay RFP, vendors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following policies, standards and directives:
- Ornge Base Hospital Requirements (a copy may be requested from the procurement contact below);
- Ornge Performance Agreement (http://www.ornge.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Amended_Performance_Agreement_MO HLTC_Ornge_March_2012.pdf);
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“OMNRF”) Standards for Government of Ontario Registered Air Operators (https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario- standards-and-requirements-registered-air-operators-revision-5); and
- MOHLTC Air Ambulance certification requirements. (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ehs/ehs_qa.html).
Ornge’s existing Charter Air Ambulance Services contracts are currently scheduled to expire in March, 2018. Ornge expects to award Contracts under all RFPs, and to require the commencement of services under those Contracts, in time to ensure a smooth transition of services as the existing contracts expire.
3.PROCUREMENT PROCESS
Below is a draft timeline for the Charter Air Ambulance Services RFPs currently being contemplated by Ornge. The following is subject to change:
RFP #1 released - March 2017 (Closed);
RFP #2 release - June 2017 (Closed);
RFP #3 release - August 2017; and
RFP #4 release - September 2017.
Interested vendors should register with MERX and familiarize themselves with the MERX system as responses must be submitted electronically through MERX via www.MERX.com. Vendors should contact MERX directly with regard to any questions or issues relating to MERX, including the vendor’s access to or use of MERX.
To ensure an open, fair and transparent process, Ornge has engaged an independent third party fairness advisor who will provide monitoring and reporting to Ornge in relation to the procurement process.
4.MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The terms and conditions of the Thunder Bay RFP will be set out in the RFP documents issued by Ornge. Without limiting the requirements that may be included in the RFP, and subject to the provisions of the RFP, it is currently anticipated that Ornge will be seeking vendors who have:
- such operating experience as a Transport Canada 703 (or higher) operator – (turbo prop IFR operations) as may be indicated in the relevant RFP;
- experience in remote airport (includes gravel) operations in northern Canada;
- can meet or exceed the OMNRF Standards for Government of Ontario Registered Air Operators;
- or can be reasonably expected to be able to obtain by the time identified in the Contract,
MOHLTC Air Ambulance Certification; and
- a functional Emergency Response Plan (“ERP”) to be activated in the event of an aviation accident, with such plan required within the period identified in the Contract.
5. CONTACT INFORMATION
Any and all questions relating to this procurement are to be made as follows:
Contact: Martin Skinner
Email: mskinner@ornge.ca
Interested vendors are requested to restrict their enquiries regarding this procurement to the contact person indicated above.
While Ornge may, at its option, notify vendors whom Ornge believes may be interested in responding to one or more of the Charter Air Ambulance Services RFPs, Ornge will not necessarily do so. It is the responsibility of each vendor interested in this procurement to monitor www.MERX.com for notification of each RFP issuance. Ornge is not seeking unsolicited offers for the air ambulance services. Interested vendors are asked not to send or make any marketing material or solicitations outside of the procurement process.
This Notice to Market is neither a solicitation or call for bids nor an offer. This Notice to Market has been issued for information purposes only and will not form part of any of the above- mentioned RFPs.
