Neurodevelopmental Disorder Assessments

This requirement is for: The Correctional Service of Canada, Springhill Institution, Dorchester Complex, and Atlantic Institution in the Atlantic Region.

Trade agreement: This procurement is not subject to any trade agreement.

Tendering procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid.

Competitive Procurement Strategy: Lowest priced compliant bid

Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business: This procurement is not subject to any set-asides for Aboriginal Suppliers.

Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: This procurement is not subject to a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement.

Security Requirements: This contract includes security requirements.

Nature of Requirements:

The following is a summary of the statement of work for this requirement.

The Correctional Service Canada has a requirement for the services of a psychologist

for offenders located in Springhill Institution, Dorchester Complex, and Atlantic Institution in the Atlantic Region.

The psychologist will provide neurodevelopmental disorder assessment to offenders and collaborate with the interdisciplinary health services team that includes, but is not limited to nursing, psychology, social work, occupational therapy and other allied healthcare professionals. Collaboration with the case management team is also essential and in community sites, the treatment/supervision team also includes the Parole Officer Supervisor, Parole Officer, and the CSC staff psychologist and/or the Project Authority.

Objectives:

Provide essential and non-essential neurodevelopmental disorder assessment to offenders, as requested by the Project Authority, at Springhill Institution, Dorchester Complex, and Atlantic Institution as a psychologist.

Deliverables:

Neurodevelopmental Disorders Assessment:

a. The Contractor must perform and submit psychological assessment reports to the CSC Project Authority and designates

b. Dates and times for offender interviews will be set by mutual agreement between the Project Authority and the Contractor;

c. The Contractor must conduct assessment interviews, administer all psychological tests (unless prearranged for self-report measure – see part f, below), interpret test results, and review offender files. Relevant files include Sentence Management, Case Management, and Health files. However, on occasion and if relevant to the specific case, the Contractor must review the Security Intelligence files or, alternatively, consult with Health Care and/or Security Intelligence staff about the offender. Consultation with other CSC personnel about the offenders’ referral and/or behaviour might also be necessary. The Contractor must integrate information obtained through testing, file review, clinical interview, and if relevant, staff member interviews, into a comprehensive intellectual disability psychological assessment report;

d. The Contractor must provide the Project Authority and designates with all original test data;

e. The Contractor must interpret all tests in a standardized manner with the use of norms supplied by the test publisher and/or author only. Placement of percentiles tests scores in reports is acceptable when deemed necessary by the Contractor, as part of the standardized test reporting process, or when requested by the Project Authority. Reports must not contain raw test scores under any circumstances;

f. All psychological assessment reports must comply with the following requested content and format. Sections may be added to the standardized format according to case-specific needs. Please note that this format is not necessarily all-inclusive, but represents the minimum number of areas to be covered:

i. Demographic information: Full name, age, date of birth, FPS number and ethnicity if relevant;

ii. Reason for Referral: Specific referral criteria, source and date of referral, document that the limits of confidentiality (informed consent) have been discussed with the offender, sharing of information;

iii. Interview Information: Date(s) seen, location of interview and the length of the interview(s);

iv. Documentation Reviewed: Indicate briefly what critical documents were reviewed for the assessment as well as what critical information or documents were, or were not, available to the author;

v. Brief Psychosocial/Relevant History: Provide the elements of the history which contribute to the analysis of the case. Include, as applicable, a brief overview of family, marital, school, employment, psychiatric/mental health, substance abuse, behavioural and adjustment problems, medical injuries and impairments. The focus should be on elements directly relating to intellectual functioning, adaptive functioning and/or deficits.

vi. Summary of Previous Assessments/Mental Health History: A brief summary of findings of previous psychological and/or psychiatric assessment reports including assessments of cognitive functioning and/or intellectual disability assessment.

vii. Psychological Testing: The psychological testing used by the contractor should be specific and adapted to the referral question. See below for minimum standard per assessment type.

viii. Observation and Current Mental Status: A brief section to document any relevant behavioral observations and current mental health status.

ix. Clinical opinion and Diagnostic Impression: The diagnosis of intellectual disability will be based on the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA) criteria with consideration being given to differential diagnosis. The rational will also be included.

x. Recommendations: If the assessment results in a diagnosis/confirmation, the report will specify the offender’s limitations as well as recommendations as to the provision of appropriate care and interventions and the level of support and assistance required. This could include, but is not limited to, occupational supports, volunteers or substitute decision-makers under relevant provincial/territorial legislation.

xi. Offender and Contractor Signature Block: The Contractor must sign the report and copies. Unless pre-arranged with the Project Authority, the Contractor must share the information with the offender and request that the offender sign the report to acknowledge that the information has been shared. CSC will distribute copies of the report in accordance with policy requirements. 

g. The Contractor must advise the Project Authority if he/she is unable to share the reports and coordinate signatures with the offender. At the discretion and prior approval of the project authority, CSC will assume the information sharing and offender signature responsibility.

h. The Project Authority or designate will refer any questions or concerns the offender has on the report back to the attention of the Contractor. While under contract with CSC, the Contractor must answer questions posed by an offender regarding a report for a two (2) year period after sharing the report.

i. The Contractor must submit completed reports to the Project Authority or designate no later than four (4) weeks from the date of referral. The Contractor must share the completed report with the offender no later than 3 weeks after initially interviewing the offender. Upon request of the Contractor, and at the sole discretion of the Project Authority, either or both of these deadlines can be extended for a period not exceeding four (4) weeks.

j. The CSC Mental Health Department will enter the finalized psychological assessment report into the EMR and OMS.

In addition, for Intellectual Disability Assessments:

Evaluation of intellectual functioning: Mental ability will be assessed with standardized intelligence testing. This will normally include the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (e.g. WAIS-IV). Based on the offender’s academic level, language and cultural background, additional standardized tests may be used in order to identify deficits in intellectual functioning. This will include a brief synopsis of psychological tests administered and their validity, interpretation, and diagnosis where appropriate and applicable.

Evaluation of adaptive functioning: Adaptive functioning will be assessed in at least three domains: conceptual (academic), social and practical as delineated in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA) using clinical evaluation and psychometrically sound measures that are both individualized and culturally appropriate. This will include a brief synopsis of psychological tests administered and their validity, interpretation, and diagnosis where appropriate and applicable.

In addition, for ADHD Assessments, the following sources of information should be used in all cases:

Collateral Information: Collateral historical information from sources such as family, school reports, teachers, specialized learning assessments, previous psychological testing and ADHD assessments, reports from community clinicians, etc. Documented written consent is necessary to obtain collateral information from external sources.

Current Functional Assessment: Clinician observation, patient self-report and information from collateral sources should all be used to assess function. Collateral sources could include correctional officers, program officers, teachers, work supervisors, and other clinical staff. Self-report of impairment by the inmate alone should not be considered sufficient for assessment of current functional impairment.

Adjunctive Assessment Tools: Adjunctive assessment tools should also be used to inform the diagnostic assessment and clinical decision-making such as ADHD rating scale, computerized continuous performance test, and formal cognitive or neuropsychological assessment.

Note that at a minimum, the report should include: Assessment of historical and current DSM-V ADHD symptoms; Assessment for co-morbid diagnoses; Assessment of substance use history and current substance use; Exploration of potential risks for misuse and diversion of prescribed medication; and Determination of whether functional impairment justifies treatment with medication.

Term of Contract:

Period of the Contract: The Work is to be performed during the period of September 1, 2020 to August 31^st, 2021 with the option to renew for three (3) additional one-year periods.

File Number: 21201-20-3546469

Contracting Authority: Lise Bourque

Telephone number: 506-851-6977

Facsimile number: 506-851-6327

E-mail: Lise. Bourque@csc-scc.gc.ca

NOTE TO BIDDERS: Bidders can obtain the complete statement of work and evaluation criteria by downloading the solicitation document and associated documents from Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders.

The Crown reserves the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada (English or French).

Given the nature of the requirements, proposals submitted by such means as facsimile or electronic mail will not be accepted.

After contract award, bidders may request a debriefing on the results of the bid solicitation process. Bidders should make the request to the Contracting Authority within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the results of the bid solicitation process. The debriefing may be in writing, by telephone or in person.

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