Rapid assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on access to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection related services, including harm reduction services, among people who use drugs in Canada.

Please Note: The Procurement Entity is “Health Canada” and the End user is “Public Health Agency Canada” 

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

Title: Rapid assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on access to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection related services, including harm reduction services, among people who use drugs in Canada.

Solicitation Number: 1000223812

1. The Purpose and Explanation of an ACAN

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows the Public Health Agency of Canada to post a notice for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a goods, services or construction contract will be awarded to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the minimum requirements identified in the ACAN, the Contracting Authority may then proceed to award a contract to the pre-identified contractor.

2. Rights of Suppliers

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities demonstrating how they meet the advertised requirement. This Statement of Capabilities must be provided via e-mail only to the contact person identified in Section 12 of the Notice on or before the closing date and time of the Notice. If the Bidder can clearly demonstrate they possess the required capabilities, the requirement will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.

3. Proposed Contractor

Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs

102-68 Highfield Park Drive

Dartmouth, NS B3A 1X4

4. Definition of Requirements or Expected Results

Since the start of Canada’s COVID-19 epidemic, unprecedented challenges in delivering primary health care including sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) prevention and testing services and harm reduction services, have been reported across the country. These disruptions may have had a greater impact on populations that are most at risk for HIV and hepatitis, including people who use drugs (PWUD).

Rapid assessments of relevant services and community members will provide the information needed for public health decision making in preparation for a potential resurgence of COVID-19 and to guide the response to future emerging pathogens.

The objective of this project is to implement the structures needed to ensure that appropriate community engagement is in place to inform a rapid assessment to gather timely information on the impact of public health measures related to COVID-19 on availability of and access to sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) prevention and testing services including harm reduction services, among people who use drugs (PWUD) living in Canada.

The rapid assessment will involve two separate surveys:

A) Survey of community-based organizations and local public health units providing STBBI-related services and serving this population, examining the impact of COVID-19 on the ability to provide STBBI-related services; and,

B) Survey of PWUD to examine the impact of COVID-19 on access to STBBI-related services, including harm reduction services, as well as social and structural determinants of health that impact access to services, including mental health, family violence, stigma and discrimination, substance use, housing stability and food insecurity.

5. Minimum Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements:

1. A focus on the issues affecting people who use drugs, as evidenced through the contractor’s mandate, guiding principles and/or mission statement.
2. Established relationships with community-based organizations providing services to people who use drugs from across Canada.
3. A commitment to the meaningful engagement of people who use drugs as evidenced by Board membership, and/or employees in senior positions, of people with lived and living experience with substance use.
4. Experience with the development of tools or resources to promote the active and meaningful engagement of people who currently or formerly use drugs living in Canada.
5. Experience with conducting at least one or more national surveys of people who use drugs, including the promotion of the survey through networks of community-based organizations and through social media.
6. Experience with developing knowledge translation products such as fact sheets, websites and/or blogs specific to the issues facing people who use drugs.
7. Experience with using social media, including the use of facebook, twitter and linked in to promote various national initiatives related to the issues facing people who use drugs. 
8. Proven ability for central coordination of national initiatives that involve individuals with lived and living experience with substance use and/or organizations representing people who currently or formerly use drugs from across the country.
9. Proven ability to reach community-based organizations from across Canada, and community members through multiple methods of dissemination.

6. Reason for Non-Competitive Award

Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations contains four exceptions that permit the contracting authority to set aside the requirement to solicit bids. For the proposed procurement, the following exception applies:

(d) Only One Person or Firm is capable of performing the contract.

7. Applicable Trade Agreements

This procurement is subject to the following:

* Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

* Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA)

* Canada-Chile FTA,

* Canada-Colombia FTA,

* Canada-Panama FTA,

* Canada-Peru FTA

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property

Ownership of Intellectual Property will rest with the Crown for the purposed of generating knowledge and information for public dissemination.

9. Period of the Proposed Contract

The contract period shall be from date of contract award until March 31, 2021.

10. Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract

The total estimated value of the proposed contract should not exceed $300,000, including travel and living expenses (if applicable), and all applicable taxes."

11. Closing Date and Time

The Closing Date and Time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is September 24, 2020 at 2 p.m. EST).

12. Contact Person

All enquiries must be addressed by e-mail to:

Name: Darlene Fisher
E-Mail: Darlene.Fisher2@canada.ca