THE City of Surrey is taking decisive action to expand access to primary care by launching a Request for Proposals for an experienced health care partner to open and operate a network of community-based medical clinics.

Alongside this initiative, the City is hiring a Health Care Administrator to oversee the clinics and ensure delivery, performance, and accountability.

“Surrey is Canada’s fastest growing big city, and too many families are going without timely primary care,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “While health care is a provincial responsibility, our residents need solutions now. Surrey is stepping up strategically and collaboratively to bring in more family doctors, relieve pressure on emergency rooms, and improve health outcomes. By pairing a top-tier operating partner with a new Health Care Administrator, we are building the capacity, governance, and partnerships to deliver results for Surrey residents.”

Surrey has approximately 59 family physicians per 100,000 residents – less than half the 136 per 100,000 in Vancouver. To help close this gap, the City’s RFP seeks a proven operator to plan and manage multiple clinics with an equity-focused, neighbourhood-based approach.

The successful proponent will: 

• Identify priority locations, and provide full planning and design support, with site selection grounded in access, equity, and community need.
• Operate clinics from start to finish, including clinical administration, patient intake, daily operations, and maintaining high-quality care.
• Recruit and retain family doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to serve Surrey residents.
• Partner with Simon Fraser University’s School of Medicine (opening next fall) to create teaching sites that train the next generation of family doctors and health professionals in Surrey.

“Surrey’s approach is practical and ambitious,” said Locke. “We’re matching local leadership with provincial partnerships, aligning with SFU’s new medical school, and insisting on clear performance standards. This is how we close care gaps quickly and sustainably.”

The City expects to select a preferred proponent by the end of the year, with the first clinics scheduled to open by mid-2026. More information about the RFP, including timelines and evaluation criteria, is available on the City’s procurement portal.