ECCC Water Survey of Canada (WSC) Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training of Hydrometric Technicians – Open Water

Purpose

The purpose of this contract is to deliver specific Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training to Water Survey of Canada (WSC) staff to meet objectives included in Appendix A (list of training courses required with their associated enabling objectives). Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) intends to contract services from one company (subcontractors allowed) capable of delivering professional training services that meet the established WSC training requirements.

Background

The WSC is the national authority responsible for the collection, interpretation and dissemination of standardized water resource data and information in Canada. In partnership with the provinces, territories and other agencies, WSC operates over 2,200 active hydrometric gauges across the country. The operation of this network requires extensive field work in a variety of conditions and the use of many different types of equipment.

WSC ensures OHS training addresses three objectives:

1. Meet legal obligations and licensing requirements;

2. Raise awareness about task hazards and safe work practices; and

3. Provide instructions and practical experience on the use of specific equipment.

Objective

The contractor must provide training recognized by the safety community and the WSC for the identified training requirements. The contractor must be willing to negotiate multiple sessions per year.

Description and Scope of Work

The contractor may be requested to deliver at least one training session per contract year as required by WSC that includes all of the courses listed in Appendix A. Customization of the training agenda for the session will be negotiated between the contractor and the Project Authority. The contractor must obtain approval on the training agenda from the Project Authority before commencing any training.

The list of courses and enabling objectives required to fulfill the contract are identified in Appendix A. ECCC Enabling Objectives may be subject to minor changes during the life of the contract. Notification of these changes will be provided at least 60 days prior to the negotiated training dates.

The training requires theoretical and practical instruction to provide both the knowledge of key occupational health and safety concepts and the skills necessary to operate safely under prescribed conditions.

Business and/or Technical Environment

WSC trainees have a standard work day of 7.5 hours (for example 8am to 4pm with half an hour for lunch) and the contractor should consider this when developing the overall training agenda. However, the trainees are available for up to a maximum additional 3.0 hours/day if, due to unforeseen circumstances, the contractor requires additional time to complete the training. Additional time requires prior approval by the Project Authority. Approval is negotiated during configuration of the training agenda.

The overall training agenda duration should be no longer than 19 days which will include 2 travel days and required days off during the session. Union requirements and WSC management require that employees do not work more than 6 days in a row, a day off must then be provided.

Language of Work

Training will be delivered in English.

Contractor Resource Requirements and Qualifications

The contractor will have experience in managing and coordinating groups and activities as required by the complexity of the proposed training agenda.

The contractor will provide instructors qualified to teach the training identified for each course in

Appendix A.

The contractor will provide instructors recognized training documentation and certification for subjects covered by them.

Scheduling / Milestones

The training will be delivered during agreed upon dates. Delivery will be scheduled dependent on the requirements of WSC staff and the availability of the contractor. Course dates are to be agreed upon between the contractor and the Project Authority at least 30 business days prior to the course delivery.

Approach and Methodology

Finalization of course participants and agenda approval will be given to the contractor at a minimum of

30 days prior to the course. Cancellation of the training by either party requires 30 days notification.

The ratio of participants per trainer must be specified in the bid and should reflect practices recognized by the safety community in the delivery of each specific course subject matter. The contractor must demonstrate that there will be adequate supervision of participants during the training courses identified in Appendix A.

Performance Standards and Quality Assurance

The contractor is responsible for the quality of all training provided, including services provided by their sub‐contractors. If services provided do not meet contract specifications, it will be the responsibility of the contracted company to ensure that proper remediation steps are taken. A senior WSC staff member may attend the training to observe and report to the Project Authority on contractor performance and quality.

The contractor is responsible to ensure that its personnel and sub‐contractors are operating at all times in accordance with all applicable legislation, regulations, codes and policies.

Reporting and Communications

The contractor must coordinate with the WSC Project Authority to work out details pertaining to the delivery of the training.

The contractor must issue certificates for each course to participants that complete the course requirements. The contractor must also provide an evaluation of each participant’s performance against expectations of each course. The contractor must not provide certification to participants that cannot complete the course requirements and must provide written notification of deficiencies to the Project Authority.

If the contractor has any reservations of the participant’s abilities to apply the acquired skills from any of the training courses, a written assessment must be provided to the Project Authority.

Certificates must not have expiry dates if not required by legislation. Certificates must reflect the date of the training completion, not the date the certificates were massed produced, where required.

The contractor is required to provide a report detailing the hours spent training by each trainee on a day by day basis upon completion of the training.

ECCC Input

ECCC shall provide the following:

a) Vehicle transportation for participants to and from the training locations.

b) PPE for trainees as identified in Appendix A.

c) Provide the contractor with the ECCC or WSC documents that pertain to the identified activities.

Location of Work and Travel

ECCC views ideal locations for this training to be: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa.

During the training session, there may be a requirement for participants to change training location. This will only be accepted when training is 2 or more days in length and cannot be more than 3 hours away from the primary training location.

Total daily travel time between the participants’ accommodations and the course training locations must be less than an hour.