This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by Ornge in collaboration with Ontario Health –
Trillium Gift of Life Network (“TGLN”) for the purposes of gathering information only and does not
constitute a commitment.
The intention is to explore the marketplace in order to assist in the determination of future
purchasing options or requirements in the event a decision is made to proceed. Any decision would
be contingent upon the approval of the Ontario Ministry of Health. Respondents are asked to respond
to Ornge and provide the information requested below.
2. Background
Ornge provides air and land ambulance services under an agreement with the Ontario Ministry of
Health (MOH). Additional information about Ornge is available at: www.ornge.ca/about.
Ontario Health – Trillium Gift of Life Network (“TGLN”) is responsible for delivering and
coordinating organ and tissue donation and transplantation services across the province. This
responsibility includes arranging complex and timely transportation for organ recovery teams and
organs to ensure no organ transplant opportunity is missed.
https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/en/aboutus.htm
In 2013, TGLN and Ornge entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the provision of organ and
tissue transportation services. TGLN requires Ornge to provide organ and tissue recovery flight
services and other related services. Ornge facilitates the provision of transportation services for
TGLN, and TGLN agrees to reimburse Ornge in full for expenses relating to transportation services.
TGLN has a flow-through funding agreement with Ornge whereby TGLN receives funds from the MOH and
in turn provides those funds to Ornge to reimburse them for the provision of the transportation
services as per the SLA. Both TGLN and Ornge have a bilateral agreement with the MOH, and receive
funding from the MOH for their respective programs.
As per the SLA, Ornge provides the following services to TGLN: organ recovery team aviation
transport, organ only aviation transport, land transport, recipient transport, donor transport,
tissue recovery team transport, sourcing third party carriers and flight management services.
The current model for organ transportation services consists of TGLN notifying Ornge when an organ
and/or team transport is required. Location and expected time required for pick-up of the team and
organ are provided. To adhere to provincial procurement rules, Ornge places the request for
service onto an on-line bidding system where any of the approved TGLN air operators may bid on the
request. Ornge selects the most appropriate bid based on the aviation requirements (distance and
number of team members), timing and cost. The air operator selected is then tasked with organ
and/or team movement and Ornge monitors and oversees the logistics of the transport. Typically,
there have been approximately 1,000 organ flight hours per year.
Air operators can only bid on organ transport requests if they previously have applied and been
prequalified through a Request for Prequalification (RFPQ) process. Air operators when selected
through an RFPQ process must meet aviation safety requirements and Ministry of Natural
he TGLN list may choose to bid on a particular
organ transport request based on their availability of an aircraft and their ability to meet the
specific mission requirements at the time the bid is posted.
