Government of Canada awards contract to distribute COVID-19 vaccine from coast to coast to coast

From: Public Services and Procurement Canada

News release

December 7, 2020 - Gatineau, Quebec - Public Services and Procurement Canada

The Government of Canada is protecting the health and safety of all Canadians, and will continue to do so by ensuring access to vaccines.

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, has announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc., for an end-to-end COVID-19 logistics solution for COVID-19 vaccines.

The contract with FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. will support the distribution of vaccines across Canada. Specifically, working under the direction of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Operations Centre led by Major-General Dany Fortin, FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. will provide a variety of services that will assist in warehousing and transportation to provincial and territorial authorities and Indigenous partners to support timely and efficient vaccine administration across the country.

The services provided by FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. will be fully operational to receive initial doses of vaccines, and will facilitate the distribution of doses to provinces and territories from coast to coast to coast, as soon as Health Canada approves their use.

In support of readiness efforts, PHAC will be conducting dry-run rehearsals with provinces and territories in December to verify ordering and shipping processes from the point of manufacture to the point of use at designated locations across Canada.

PHAC is working to ensure that initial capacity to receive and administer vaccines is established in advance of anticipated vaccine roll-out dates, and that our national capacity to immunize Canadians quickly scales up to meet demand and vaccine availability over the coming weeks and months.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada continues to follow an aggressive strategy to ensure that Canadians have access to COVID-19 vaccines. I am pleased to announce this important new contract with FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. which will help save lives and end the spread of COVID-19. This contract helps to ensure that when a vaccine is ready, Canada is ready too.”

The Honourable Anita Anand
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Quick facts

  • The Government of Canada has signed agreements with seven companies to secure access to seven COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including with Pfizer and Moderna. Four vaccine candidates are currently under review for approval by Health Canada.

  • Model points of administration and clinical use are being established now across Canada to train and prepare for vaccine roll-out. First deliveries of approved COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated during the first quarter of 2021. 

  • These first deliveries will be guided by experts to focus on priority populations such as residents and staff in long term care facilities, the elderly, front line health workers and isolated Indigenous communities remote from health care services. 

  • Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the PHAC, has also awarded two contracts for the purchase of 26 freezers at -80 degrees and 100 freezers at -20 degrees Celsius. To date, 42 freezers have been delivered.

  • A competitive procurement process is underway for additional freezers. On November 27, Requests for Proposals (RFP) were issued for 265 additional under-the-counter and portable freezers and 23 ultra-low temperature freezers. The RFP closed on December 2, and bids are being evaluated.

  • Public Services and Procurement Canada has procured the necessary supplies to support vaccine administration. To date, contracts have been put in place for the required supplies to administer nearly 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including syringes, needles and gauze.

Associated links

Contacts

Cecely Roy
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Anita Anand
343-549-7293
cecely.roy@canada.ca

Media Relations
Public Services and Procurement Canada
819-420-5501
media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

Cole Davidson
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca

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