Passenger Transportation Services from Thompson to Split Lake in Northern Manitoba

This solicitation issued by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) seeks proposals to award a contract for passenger transportation services between Thompson Airport and Split Lake First Nations in Northern Manitoba. The contract aims to provide reliable roundtrip transportation for First Nations, Inuit, and Health Branch nurses and employees affiliated with the First Nations Inuit and Health Branch (FNIHB). The services cover scheduled trips aligned with nurse shift changes, as well as unscheduled and emergency trips that may arise on short notice. The intent is to replace unreliable taxi services currently used for last-minute needs, ensuring that employees can secure consistent transit support. The contract is structured for an initial three-year term with two additional one-year option periods, reflecting ISC’s commitment to ongoing service continuity. This procurement is conditionally set aside under the federal government's Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB), requiring offerors to certify Indigenous business status to qualify. If two or more Indigenous businesses submit compliant bids, the competition will be limited exclusively to those bidders. The contract employs a firm-fixed-price payment structure based on per-trip rates for scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency transportation, with rates inclusive of all costs such as delays or weather impacts. Key operational requirements include vehicle signage indicating destination and department, suitable vehicle capacity for passenger luggage, and maintaining trip logs in either digital or paper form. Contractors must hold valid licensing, either a Passenger Vehicle for Hire (PVI) through Manitoba Public Insurance or a Safety Fitness Certificate, and be capable of responding to emergency trip requests within 24 hours. The evaluation process emphasizes compliance with pricing, operational reliability, vehicle suitability, and regulatory adherence, with award likely based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). The contracting authority for inquiries and administration is Karen Mezher from ISC. The solicitation closes on March 2, 2026, with all proposals submitted electronically via the CanadaBuys portal.