Actuary Services for the Vaccine Injury Assessment Program (VIAP)

The Public Health Agency of Canada is seeking actuarial services to review and assess the financial framework of the Vaccine Injury Assistance Program (VIAP), which provides compensation to individuals suffering serious and permanent injuries following administration of Health Canada–approved vaccines. The contractor must evaluate the reasonableness, equity, and alignment of the current payment structure with actuarial best practices, validate the methodology and assumptions used in the existing VISP-developed financial model, and provide actionable recommendations to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. The engagement requires a detailed final report and an in-person or virtual presentation to PHAC leadership by October 31, 2026, with a fixed-price contract structure tied to clearly defined deliverables including a kick-off meeting, interim findings report, final report, review and revision phase, and presentation. The Project Manager must be a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries or hold an equivalent qualification, and all personnel accessing protected information must hold a valid Reliability Status clearance issued by Health Canada, PHAC, CISD, or PSPC. The contractor is prohibited from removing protected materials from designated work sites and may not subcontract work involving security requirements without prior written approval. The solicitation, numbered 1000271794, closed on July 22, 2026, and is evaluated using a weighted scoring system where technical merit accounts for 80% of the total score based on actuarial validation approach, risk and data assessment, and clarity of communication, while price accounts for the remaining 20%. Proposals must be submitted electronically in three distinct sections—technical, financial, and compliance forms—to the contracting authority at sayedelias.abedi@hc-sc.gc.ca, and must include full compliance with mandatory pass/fail gates including a minimum technical score of 20 out of 30. The contractor must maintain a robust accounting system and retain all records for at least seven years after final payment or until all claims are resolved, and invoices must be submitted to p2p.invoices-factures@hc-sc.gc.ca with full financial detail, excluding taxes, and include applicable registration numbers. Payment for undisputed invoices is guaranteed within 30 days of receipt in acceptable form. The contractor is bound by stringent compliance obligations including the Code of Conduct for Procurement, anti-forced labor requirements, international sanctions restrictions, employment equity certifications under the Federal Contractors Program, and must ensure all proposed personnel are fully available. Acceptance of deliverables requires the final