Training aids for Detector Dogs to Screen for COVID-19

CLARIFICATION TO THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Health Canada is not looking for dogs or dogs trainers. The Request for Information (RFI) is to identify potential bidders who can conduct research to determine if there is a signature scent associated with COVID-19. Based on the identification of a scent, the potential bidder would also develop a training aid to inform detector dog training for Covid-19.

Please consult the Application information section of the solicitation document to determine what is required to be considered to receive a bid package.

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Health Canada is issuing this RFI to determine potential bidders who can develop a safe s training aid that can be used in a pilot program to train detector dogs (DDs), to assist in screening of incoming travellers for COVID-19 testing. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, it is assumed that the virus itself will not be the training aid as there is no current evidence to suggest that the virus will have a unique volatile organic compound (VOC) signature. Therefore, the expected focus will be the VOC signature directly or indirectly related to the host inflammatory response induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection.