Provision of integrated statistical databases, statistical models, and scientific manuscripts on the study of the relationship between ambient air pollution and COVID-19 across three phases: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic emergency period
Contract Value:
-
Notice Type:
Contract Notice
Published Date:
12 February 2026
Closing Date:
09 March 2026
Location(s):
CA CANADA
Description:
Development of integrated statistical databases, models, and manuscripts to analyze the relationship between ambient air pollution and COVID-19 across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic phases, focusing on health outcomes and equity.
Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA); World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO GPA); Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA); Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA); Free trade agreements between Canada and Chile/Colombia/Honduras/Panama; Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement; Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union; and Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA); Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Reciprocal Supply Policy Subject to any other terms or international sanctions, Canadian Suppliers, Suppliers from a relevant trading partner, and Suppliers from a non-trade partner country are eligible to respond to this request for proposal. Competitive Market Strategy: Acceptable bid with the lowest price Reserved under the Indigenous Business Procurement Strategy: This contract is not reserved for indigenous suppliers. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement: This procurement is not subject to a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement. Security Requirements: This standing offer does not contain any security requirements. Nature of Requirements: Below is a summary of the statement of work for this need. Development of integrated statistical databases, statistical models, and scientific manuscripts on the study of the relationship between ambient air pollution and COVID-19 across three phases: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic emergency period Health Canada requires scientific services, analytical services, and reporting services to examine the complex and bidirectional relationship between ambient air pollution (AAP) and COVID-19 across the following three phases: 1. Pre-pandemic phase (2011 to 2019) 2. Pandemic phase (January 2020 to December 2022; early and late phase based on community immunity) 3. Post-pandemic emergency period (2023 to 2024) The contractor will integrate datasets from multiple sources (i.e. air pollution, climate, built environment, COVID-19 health outcomes, serological surveys, wastewater, and intervention indices) and apply multipollutant, time-variant, and spatial statistical models to quantify the effects on COVID-19 related and unrelated outcomes (e.g., cardiopulmonary), stratified by age, sex, urban or rural built environment, and socioeconomic factors. The scope of work includes integrating multiple datasets (i.e. environmental, health, behavioral, and contextual) across seven provinces. The analyses are conducted at the census division (CD) level and, where possible, at the individual level using secure data environments (e.g., the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences [ICES] for Ontario). Deliverables should include harmonized databases, analytical chains, and scientific manuscripts summarizing risk estimates across three periods: pre-pandemic (2011 to 2019); pandemic (2020 to 2022, subdivided by levels of community immunity); post-pandemic emergency period (2023 to 2024). The analyses will be stratified by age, sex, and built environment (i.e., urban or rural) to identify health inequities among populations exposed to greater risks or vulnerabilities in various contexts. Objectives: The overall objective of this requirement is to produce new evidence, related to policy development, on the interaction between ambient air pollution and COVID-19 as well as related public health measures, and on the effects of this interaction on population health outcomes in Canada. Existing studies have linked air pollution to the severity of COVID-19; however, they mainly focus on the early phases of the pandemic, on pollutants taken in isolation or on long-term exposures. This contract will provide a comprehensive assessment of these relationships across three phases – pre-pandemic (reference period), pandemic, and post-pandemic emergency period – while examining the effect of pandemic-related changes such as vaccination, government interventions (e.g., lockdowns), and behavior changes (e.g., mask-wearing, physical distancing) on health outcomes related and unrelated to COVID-19 associated with air pollution. Through the integration of environmental, behavioral, health, and contextual datasets, the contractor will produce harmonized databases, reproducible analytical chains, and drafts of scientific manuscripts intended for peer-reviewed publication, in order to quantify health risks according to short-, medium-, and long-term exposure periods, stratified by age, sex, built environment, and other factors. These deliverables will provide Health Canada with: • Updated risk estimates concerning mortality and hospitalizations associated with air pollution, including COVID-19 related outcomes; • Evidence on changing relationships between air pollution and health outcomes based on pandemic-related interventions and immunity; • Relevant equity-related results for vulnerable subpopulations and diverse community settings; • Actionable data for health impact assessment tools (e.g., Air Quality Benefit Assessment Tool [AQBAT], Health-Focused Air Quality Index [HFAQI], and Air-Health Trends Indicators [AHTI]). The intended use of the work performed aims to enhance Health Canada's capacity to assess, manage, and communicate health risks associated with air pollution during and after pandemics. The results will support regulatory risk management, guide public health communication strategies, inform the assessment of government interventions, and improve preparedness for future pandemic emergencies. Deliverables: Integrated databases + metadata, result sets, manuscripts. All reports must be submitted in English. Contractor Obligations 1. Unless otherwise stated, the contractor must use their own equipment and software for the execution of tasks under this statement of work. 2. The contractor must maintain audit trails and ensure version control. 3. The contractor must comply with all data governance, privacy, and security requirements. 4. The contractor must provide complete documentation for any tools or equipment purchased or ordered, where applicable, as per the terms of the contract. 5. The contractor must take reasonable care of any property assigned to Canada until directed otherwise by the project authority. 6. The contractor must deliver high-quality, reproducible analyses and documentation in accordance with sections 3.1 to 3.4. Work Location, Work Site, and Delivery Location 1. The contractor should perform the majority of the work at their own facilities while ensuring secure remote collaboration. 2. The contractor will participate in virtual or in-person meetings requested by the project authority. 3. The contractor must submit deliverables electronically to the project authority.