Toronto company hired to ensure proper RFP process

The services of a Toronto business were retained for the air ambulance request for proposals in order to provide “fairness advisory services,” says Alberta Health Services.

AHS paid a total of $40,072 to Procurement Advisory Office to ensure the RFP met the standards that would enable an open, fair, transparent procurement process and confirm that AHS conducted the RFP process fairly and consistently in accordance with rules set out in the RFP, said Darren Sandbeck, AHS EMS chief paramedic, in an emailed statement.

According to online information, regarding sole sourced contracts, the cost of that service was $30,000.

“The amount posted on the AHS public web page is the estimated contract amount to provide fairness monitoring for the Air Ambulance RFP process,” said Sandbeck. “Due to the complexity of this RFP, additional fairness monitoring work was required.”

The Procurement Office specializes in public sector procurement, providing procurement professionals with comprehensive training, technology, and advisory solutions, according to its website.

“In larger requests for proposals (RFPs), like the air ambulance contract, AHS takes extra precautions to demonstrate that decisions are made appropriately by bringing in a third party for to provide oversight and direction,” said Sandbeck. “The fairness monitor ensures that the RFP meets the standards that would enable an open, fair, transparent procurement process. In addition, the fairness monitor confirms that AHS conducted the RFP process fairly and consistently in accordance with the rules set out in the RFP.”