WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT AND ADVISORY SERVICES

This bid solicitation is being issued to satisfy the requirement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It is intended to result in the award of one (1) contract from contract award to March 31, 2025 with two (2), one (1) year option periods.

The Department has over 5,000 employees at 55 work locations (subject to change) across Canada. Locations include research centers, farms and regional offices. Persons are employed in a variety of different fields such as Business / Commerce, Communications, Human Resources, Information Technology, Internal Services and Science and Technology.

As COVID-19 measures and safety precautions are coming to an end, the majority of AAFC employees are working a hybrid work schedule with 40% to 60% of hours worked to be completed on-site, in the workplace. Some employees continue to work virtually from home, depending on their job requirements and personal or medical needs.

Pursuant to the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Directive on the Duty to Accommodate, AAFC has an obligation to develop an inclusive, barrier-free workplace. The goal is to provide a work environment that allows all candidates for employment and persons employed to work to the best of their abilities, without barriers or discrimination.

The AAFC Integrated Disability Management team supports and brings together employees, managers, union representatives (if applicable) and specialists to identify appropriate solutions to address limitations, restrictions or work-related needs.

AAFC must also meet the legal obligations established by:

Canadian Human Rights Act
Employment Equity Act
Privacy Act
Canada Labour Code
Accessible Canada Act

In order to implement the Treasury Board Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service and AAFC’s Workplace Accommodation Guidelines, the Department requires the assistance of external experts in accommodation and disability management, specifically the provision of workplace assessment and advisory services, including independent medical examinations (IMEs), but excluding the provision of ergonomic assessments.

Specifically, AAFC is looking for the provision of:

1. Workplace assessment and advisory services:

Services related to consultation, disability management, workplace assessment, case management and solutions to support and to assist the department in ensuring an appropriate environment for employees or potential employees who require an accommodation within the context of Duty to Accommodate.

Ergonomic assessments are not included in the scope of these services.

2. Independent medical examinations:

Services to evaluate the medical fitness for work of current or future employees, including those employees who may be on leave and/or returning to work, including assessment of accommodation needs, fitness to perform expected work, fitness to remain at work, fitness to return to work after absence, and identification of medical limitations or restrictions that require accommodation in the workplace and to consult on more complex requirements within the scope of this document.

3. Occupational Therapy/Rehabilitation Support:

Services by a certified professional to support and provide additional guidance, assessment, support and recommendations, on accommodations / return to work success / on-going struggles in the workplace and in the day to day duties of the job.

There is a Security component associated with this requirement.