Provision of Community Lab Services

Saskatchewan has a long-standing history of partnering with Third Party Providers to deliver Community Laboratory Services (CLS). These services have been offered in the province since 2004, first by Dynacare and, since 2018, by LifeLabs. The current agreement with LifeLabs is set to expire on March 31, 2026.

In response to the evolving health care environment in Saskatchewan, this Statement of Work (SoW) will define the core services required and outline additional services and potential value-added opportunities as separate options.

The primary goal of this RFP is to ensure the safe, reliable, and high-quality delivery of Community Laboratory Services (CLS) across Saskatchewan. This initiative supports timely access to specimen collection and processing, while aligning patients with appropriate community-based care settings. Community laboratory services are a critical part of diagnosis and ongoing care. Saskatchewan Health Authority previously, in line with practices across most major centres in Canada plans to continue with a third-party provider model for these services, as it has proven effective and sustainable in supporting patient care.
The SHA is therefore seeking a single third-party provider to deliver provincial Community Laboratory Services, including but not limited to specimen collection through Patient Service Centres (PSCs), mobile phlebotomy, transportation of specimens and related materials, and procurement and management of required equipment and supplies. Services must be delivered in accordance with applicable clinical, quality, and regulatory standards, and ensure safe, accessible, and equitable patient care.
Community-based laboratory services will continue to enhance patient access, support provincial health system priorities, and ensure that Saskatchewan residents receive timely and reliable testing services in the most appropriate care setting.