Medical Evacuation Air Charter Services for Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, Saskatchewan Region

1.  The purpose and explanation of an ACAN

 An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows Health Canada contracting authorities to post a notice on Tender Management Application (TMA), for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a good, service 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 requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

2.  Rights of suppliers

Suppliers who believe that they are fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities clearly 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 there is a reasonable level of evidence regarding capability, the requirements will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.

3.  Proposed Contractor

Transwest Air
Box 100, Hangar 21
Prince Albert Municipal Airport
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
S6V 5R4

4.  Definition of Requirements or Expected Results
Residents and escorts in northern Saskatchewan during a medical emergency may require air transportation from home communities to other medical facilities.    Provincial Aeromedical Coordination Centre (PACC) provides the assessment and determines the most appropriate means of patient transport.  PACC selects the appropriate air carrier, aircraft and staffing complement.  The main communities in Saskatchewan that receive medical evacuation (medevac) services are, but not limited to, Fond Du Lac, Stony Rapids, Wollaston, Patuanak, Southend, Pinehouse, LaRonge, Sandy Bay, LaLoche, Ile a la Crosse, Uranium City, and Flin Flon, Manitoba.   Typically the air medevac destination is to La Ronge, Flin Flon, Prince Albert and Saskatoon.  During a medevac the patient must be provided with licenced medical attention.  At minimum an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) must be present or otherwise a nurse or doctor can be attending.

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

•	The Contractor must be able to provide medical evacuation (medevac) air charter services to remote Saskatchewan communities that include, but are not limited to, Fond Du Lac, Stony Rapids, Wollaston, Patuanak, Southend, Pinehouse, LaRonge, Sandy Bay, LaLoche, Ile a la Crosse, Uranium City and Flin Flon, Manitoba.  Typically the air medevac destination is to La Ronge, Flin Flon, Prince Albert and Saskatoon.
Services:
•	All flights must be coordinated by the Provincial Aeromedical Coordination Centre (PACC).
•	The Contractor must include the provision of trained medical crew (CAMATA trained) and  medical equipment, supplies and medication required for basic to intermediate life support treatment and which comply with Saskatchewan Health’s Emergency Treatment Protocols.  The Contractor is responsible to ensure that the minimum medical equipment and supplies is on board the aircraft prior to each medevac trip.  This equipment may either be stored in the aircraft, or brought on board in a carry-on kit.  Installed, fixed medical equipment must comply with Transport Canada Regulations.
•	The Contractor must have the ability to quickly obtain medical crew (available and at airport within 40 minutes). 
•	The Air Service provider must have both air craft with retractable landing gear and float/ski landing equipment, and provide long distance services to the entire health region as well as have short take-off and landing capability.
•	The Contractor must have base location with access to/be able to provide:
a)	A lighted, Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) airstrip greater than  3000' asphalt or 3500' clay/gravel/turf;
b)	Appropriate aircraft maintenance infrastructure (facilities and personnel);
c)	Pilots and medical crew; and,
d)	Be airborne within 60 minutes following notification from PACC dispatch.

Flight Crew

•	Each member of the flight crew must have 
a)	Have a current class 1 IFR rating.
b)	Be qualified and current on the type of aircraft being flown, with at least 30 hours on that type in the last 90 days.

Medical Crew

•	Aircraft must have a medical crew on board the aircraft when transporting patients. At minimum an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) must be present or otherwise a nurse or doctor can be attending.

6.  Reason for Non-Competitive Award
The Government Contracts Regulations and trade agreements allow the contracting authority to set aside the requirement to solicit bids when it is clear that “only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract.”

Transwest Air is the only service provider flying into many of the remote communities listed in the minimum requirements and is the only one providing the necessary medical evacuation services.

7.  Applicable Trade Agreements and Justification for Limited Tendering or the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business
Passenger Air Charter Services (V203) is not subject to either the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the World Trade Organization – Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP).  It is, however, subject to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), which allows limited tendering procedures in accordance with:
-	 AIT, Article 506.12 (b).
	
	which states that contracts may be directed to a particular firm when the products or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.
	
8.  Ownership of Intellectual Property
No Intellectual Property will arise as a result of this contract.
9.  Period of the Proposed Contract
The contract period shall be from date of contract award until March 31, 2015.
10.  Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract
The total estimated value of the proposed contract should not exceed $2,000,000, including travel and living expenses (if applicable), and all applicable taxes.
11. Closing Date and Time 
The closing date and time for accepting Statement of Capabilities is fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of posting. Date and time of closing will be January 6, 2014 at 3:00PM CST.
12. Contact Person
All inquiries with regard to this Notice must be addressed by e-mail to:

Adèle Palmer
Procurement & Contracting Specialist 
Materiel and Assets Management Division 
Health Canada 
E-mail:        adele.palmer@hc-sc.gc.ca