The purpose of this request for proposals is to adapt, or re-purpose, an existing platform to build a Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal that will contain genomic sequences and minimal metadata and will facilitate broad access to this data. The Data Portal will be mirrored to GISAID and will contain a centralized, replicated environment for data storage and analysis in Canada. To protect the data and the confidentiality of people diagnosed with COVID-19, the dehosted viral genome data and minimal metadata contained in the public Data Portal will not include any identifiable personal data. To the extent possible, data from the Data Portal will be deposited into global public databases, such as GISAID, to contribute to international efforts to track viral evolution. The overall objective of the Data Portal is to enhance the value of sequence data by creating an integrated dataset with minimal metadata and a real-time dashboard summarizing all SARS-CoV-2 genomic data available in Canada for the purpose of advancing research and informing public health at a national and international level.
This funding is not for a research project. The objective is to provide a service to the research community by enabling access to the SARS-CoV-2 genomic data and minimal metadata. The provider of this service will have no special access to the data, for research or other purposes, beyond improving infrastructure within the scope of this project.
The overall objective is to move this initiative forward as quickly as possible to ensure a Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal is in place in the shortest possible timeframe. The call for proposals will be launched on February 24, 2021 with a deadline for proposal submission to CanCOGeN of March 3, 2021. The review panel will meet on March 8, 2021. Questions regarding the process and submission of the proposal should be directed toward CanCOGeN staff, specifically, Koko Agborsangaya kagborsangaya@genomecanada.ca.