Third-Party Protective Services

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is currently inviting Proponents to provide proposals for the supply of certain services (the “Services”) as further outlined in this Request for Proposals (“RFP”).

The SHA Protective Services section is committed to fostering a culturally safe, inclusive, and representative environment that reflects the communities we serve. To support this commitment, we expect contracted security providers to demonstrate culturally safe workforce practices by partnering with First Nations and Métis communities, engaging Indigenous-owned or Indigenous-staffed contractors, and maintaining a culturally diverse and inclusive workforce. Contractors should ensure their recruitment, training, and operational practices uphold principles of respect, equity, and meaningful collaboration with Indigenous Peoples.
The focus of this RFP is to conduct a province-wide procurement to identify cost-effective, flexible, and responsive security service delivery for deployment across Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) facilities. The intent is to ensure the SHA can meet increasing safety and critical security demands for patients, staff, physicians, and visitors. Due to escalating risks, enhanced security services are urgently required at several priority SHA facilities, including but not limited to the communities listed herein, with the option to expand services to additional sites as future needs arise.
• La Loche,
• Shellbrook,
• Swift Current
• Moose Jaw,
• Weyburn,
• Nipawin,
• Melfort,
• Kamsack

The SHA uses contracted security providers across several locations, with varying levels of 24-hour coverage. Current contracted services operate in Adult and Youth Mental Health, Triage Emergency, Front Entrance/Dispatch, Parking, and Addictions/Access areas. These services generally follow an “observe and report” model that avoids engagement during serious criminal activity. As a result, the current approach often lacks the physical presence and capability needed to deter or respond to verbal or physical aggression by patients or visitors.
Violent and aggressive individuals present in SHA facilities both as patients requiring care and as visitors. Third-party security contractors have the same legal authority as other security agencies in Saskatchewan and are increasingly involved in managing challenging situations inside SHA facilities—provided they have appropriate direction, training, and skills.
Given increasing community mental-health concerns, rising violence toward healthcare workers, and escalating security demands in the areas covered by this RFP, the SHA requires third-party contractors to demonstrate training standards that enable their staff to lawfully arrest individuals who are found committing criminal offences against SHA staff, physicians, patients, or visitors.