Behavioural Medicine Support

The CSA Operational Space Medicine (OSM) Program is mandated to ensure the overall health and safety of the Canadian Astronauts. To fulfill this mandate the OSM Program is required to address all the medical issues and requirements pertaining to the ISS missions in coordination with the ISS partners. This includes provision of behavioural medicine support in accordance of the established International Space Station (ISS) standards during all mission phases: selection, training, as well as in-flight and post-flight phases.

In view of the 2016-2017 astronaut recruitment campaign (ARC2016), need for ongoing behavioural medicine oversight for the Canadian astronauts and need for general consulting services for the CSA Operational Space Medicine in this area, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has a requirement to obtain support services in the area of psychiatry. This includes services to assist in the evaluation of astronauts during the selections of new astronauts (e.g. during ARC2016), as well as planning and provision of ongoing support in accordance with the ISS behavioural medicine standards. The requirement for evaluation, support and consulting services is dependent on the circumstances and schedule of missions and planning activities and, therefore, intermittent by nature, to be provided as and when required. The services are required from the award date of the contract until March 31, 2020.