Microbiological testing of foodborne and waterborne microbial hazards in retail meat products and water samples

The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued solicitation 10002630366 for the microbiological testing of foodborne and waterborne microbial hazards in retail meat products and water samples. This initiative supports FoodNet Canada and CIPARS, which are operationally linked surveillance programs designed to conduct coordinated research on antimicrobial resistance and foodborne pathogens across the food continuum. The primary objective is to generate high-quality baseline data on pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Campylobacter, generic E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes from retail meat sources, as well as enteric pathogens and antimicrobial resistance from surface water, irrigation ditches, and recreational water sources. This data enables integrated national analyses across human, animal, food, and environmental sources to enhance public health surveillance. The contract term runs through March 31, 2028, with the possibility of extensions. The scope of work involves specific analytical requirements, including the use of Most Probable Number enumeration for certain pathogens in water and strict isolation requirements for positive samples. Interested offerors must adhere to all submission instructions, security requirements, and procurement policy obligations as outlined in the Request for Proposal. The project is managed by the Government of Canada and is intended to be performed within Canada to ensure the operational efficiency of the shared infrastructure and data management systems used by the surveillance programs.