Canada - 9 September 2025
Medavie Health Services has been given a historic $561.7 million contract by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (GNL) to oversee and run the province's Integrated Ambulance Services for a decade. The contract, which was announced on September 9, 2025, is one of the most extensive healthcare service procurements in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador and demonstrates the province's dedication to updating emergency medical response systems.
The Public Procurement Agency, acting on behalf of the Department of Health and Community Services, issued the procurement through a Negotiated Request for Proposal (NRFP) process with reference 0000260728 and solicitation number 123012024. Formally known as Contract No. A123012024, the agreement went into effect on September 1, 2025, and will remain in effect until March 31, 2035.
Under the terms of the agreement, ground, air, and non-medical ambulance transport services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will be planned, managed, and provided by Medavie Health Services, a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based company. Under the direction of the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) and the Minister of Health and Community Services, the scope also covers management of ambulance bases, paramedicine personnel, dispatch operations, and IT and communications infrastructure.
The new integrated model seeks to improve service delivery standards, expedite emergency response coordination, and guarantee uniform coverage throughout the province's urban and rural areas. Additionally, the initiative supports the upcoming Emergency Health and Paramedicine Services Act, which, once it is implemented, will regulate paramedicine providers' operations and standards.
Important Aspects of the Contract:
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Complete Coverage: Air ambulance operations, non-medical transport, ground ambulance, and Medical Communications Centre (MCC).
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System Modernisation: Data-driven resource deployment, NLHS IT system management, and ambulance base location optimisation using Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) data.
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Workforce Development: Expanding Community Paramedicine programmes and upskilling staff to at least Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) certification through the implementation of a 10-year Paramedicine Resource Plan.
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Operational Oversight: Manage current fixed-wing and helicopter services in the short term, then build capacity for a province-wide Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) over the long term.
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Establishing business continuity guidelines, emergency response plans, and a training and quality improvement programme are all examples of quality assurance.
About Medavie Health Services, the recipient of the award:
One of Canada's top private healthcare providers, Medavie Health Services has vast experience running clinical care, telehealth, and ambulance systems in several provinces. The business, which is a division of Medavie Blue Cross, has a long history of innovative emergency medical services and public-private cooperation. Because of its selection, Newfoundland and Labrador will have access to advanced operational models, integrated digital infrastructure, and national expertise.
Importance of the Agreement:
This long-term collaboration is a significant step in modernising the emergency medical system in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the goal of improving patient outcomes, efficiency, and response times. The province's objective of a sustainable, technologically advanced, and community-focused healthcare system will be supported by the consolidation of services under a single operator, which will also lessen administrative fragmentation.
To sum up:
Medavie Health Services was awarded the $561.7 million contract, marking the beginning of a revolutionary decade for emergency health operations in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is anticipated that the integrated model will transform ambulance services throughout the province, boosting public trust, assisting frontline paramedics, and guaranteeing that all residents receive prompt, well-coordinated emergency care.
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