July 26, 2018
Government Proceeds with Request for Proposals to Consider Private Model for Air Services
The government of Manitoba has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to explore enhancements to the public-private delivery model of provincially owned and operated government air services, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. The RFP process allows the government to test the market, and determine whether the same or better service can be offered in a more cost-effective manner, he added.
“Our government’s top priority is ensuring that safety and service standards remain high, and that these vital services are always available when Manitobans need them,” Schuler said. “If the RFP does not result in an outcome that is at least as safe and efficient as the current delivery model, we will not proceed.”
For many years, the Manitoba government has depended on private operators for virtually all air ambulance services, and well over half of its overall air service needs, Schuler said.
“None of those private services were ever tendered, nor do we do have binding service contracts,” said Schuler. “There is no guarantee of available aircraft, no service standards and insufficient safety requirements. That’s why it is often a challenge to provide air ambulance service to communities who need it most.”
Under the RFP, Manitoba would retain ownership of all active water bombers, and the Manitoba Wildfire Program would remain in charge of co-ordinating, dispatching, and directing when and where water bombers will go to support wildfire suppression. The planes would be restricted from moving outside Manitoba without the government’s consent, and would always be in the province during fire season.
Through mutual assistance agreements, neighboring jurisdictions would have access to Manitoba water bombers, just as Manitoba has access to other aircraft for fire suppression emergencies. The majority of Canadian provinces already supplement public aircraft with private for fire suppression.
“Our decision-making is always guided by what’s best for Manitobans,” Schuler added. “This RFP process will be driven by evidence, not by ideology. We will only proceed if the result will be a better level of service than is currently provided.”
The RFP has been posted to MERX at www.merx.com under an open tendering process. The deadline for proposals is Aug. 23.
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