Elder Helper Services

An advanced contract award notice (ACAN) is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits, a statement of capabilities that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date and time stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

1. Definition of the requirement:

The Correctional Service Canada has a requirement to provide Elder programs to meet the needs of offenders. The Elder Helpers must be available to assist and supplement the Elder(s) thus enhancing the Indigenous Programs. The Elder Helpers facilitate the Elder programming. The Correctional Service Canada is legislated to provide Indigenous offenders with the opportunity to further develop their understanding of traditional Indigenous spirituality while allowing others to practice their beliefs and values systems.

1.1 Objectives:

As required by the CCRA and individual correctional plans, Elder Helpers are engaged to ensure the accommodation of Indigenous spiritual practices. They assist the Elders with the Indigenous offenders in their traditional healing journey, to further develop an understanding of traditional Indigenous culture through teachings, guidance and counselling. Further, they utilize traditional ceremonies and practices, where they have been given the responsibility to assist the Elder, to promote healing and balance.

1.2 Tasks:

The Indigenous Elder Helper must provide the following services:

The Elder Helper must assist offenders within the federal institutions to benefit from traditional healing and contemporary treatment interventions by supporting the work of the Elders and the interdisciplinary team as follows:

• Ensure that the Elder providing service is approached according to proper traditional protocol by offenders and staff.
• Ensure an adequate supply of traditional ceremonial material is on hand in order to ensure the ceremonial aspect of the work is maintained.
• Coordinate and provide supervision for offenders during traditional ceremonies; perform traditional ceremonies in the absence of the Elder, e.g. pipe ceremony, sweat lodge ceremony and sharing circles.
• Conduct group discussions in the identification and proper use of ceremonial objects for offenders and staff.
• Assist Indigenous Liaison Staff to prepare reports (verbal and written) and provide other technical support for case management and parole processes.
• Provide counselling services to offenders as directed when the Elder is absent or occupied.
• Assist in scheduling ceremonies so they do not conflict with other activities or the security of the institution and provide written notification of these events to appropriate Elders, Indigenous Liaison Officers and Correctional Service staff.
• Provide a list of contacts with offenders, activities and ceremonies attended to the Project Authority or their designate.
• Participate in meetings with staff to facilitate communication and cooperation with the Indigenous Elder.
• Provide cultural awareness sessions in traditional teachings/healing to Case Management team members and institutional staff in order to promote a balanced environment for Indigenous offenders.

1.3 Expected Results:

Provision of Indigenous programs and Elder Helper services to the offender population.

1.4 Reporting and communications

The Indigenous Elder Helper, with the assistance and coordination of the Indigenous Liaison Officer or Parole Officer, must report to the Technical Authority on a bi-weekly basis by providing a summary of the tasks and hours completed on the Elder Tasks – Weekly Summary and Elder Tasks – Bi-weekly Summary/Invoice provided by the Technical Authority.

1.5 Paper consumption:

a. Should printed material be required, double-sided printing in black and white format is the default unless otherwise specified by the Project Authority.

b. The Contractor must ensure printed material is on paper with a minimum recycled content of 30% and/or certified as originating from a sustainably managed forest.

c. The Contractor must recycle unneeded printed documents (in accordance with Security Requirements).

1.6 Constraints

1.6.1 Location of work:

a. The Contractor must perform the work within the Prairie Region, as determined by the Project Authority.

b. Travel:

Travel to other locations for Approved Escorted Temporary Absences and meetings in the Prairie Region must have prior authorization of the Project Authority and will be reimbursed at cost without any allowance for overhead or profit.

1.6.2 Language of Work:

The contractor must perform all work in English.

1.6.3 Security Requirements:

This contract includes the following security requirements:

1. The Contractor/Offeror must, at all times during the performance of the Contract/Standing Offer, hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS), issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).
2. The Contractor/Offeror personnel requiring access to PROTECTED information, assets or sensitive site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the CSP, PWGSC.
3. The Contractor/Offeror MUST NOT remove any PROTECTED information or assets from the identified site(s), and the Contractor/Offeror must ensure that its personnel are made aware of and comply with this restriction.
4. Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of the CSP, PWGSC.

5. The Contractor/Offeror must comply with the provisions of the:

a) Security Requirements Check List and security guide (if applicable), attached at Annex C;

b) Industrial Security Manual (Latest Edition).

2. Criteria for assessment of the statement of capabilities (minimum essential requirements):

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

• Provide a resume and two (2) references from the community who can confirm your work as an Indigenous Elder Helper.
• Assisting with and attending Indigenous Ceremonies are something that the Elder Helpers are usually born into and have been taught by the Elders in their family and community since they were young. Please provide Elder Helper experience and how it was attained.
• Any supplier that submits a statement of capabilities must meet with a circle of Elders already under contract with CSC where they will be able to share their experiences and where the Elders will be able to determine the validity of the statement of capabilities.

3. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is not subject to any trade agreement.

4. Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

This procurement is set-aside for an Indigenous Supplier in accordance with the government Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB). Therefore, only suppliers who meet the definition of an Indigenous business, as defined in the PSAB, may submit a statement of capabilities.

This restriction does not apply to contracts with individuals who are Indigenous Elder Helpers.

5. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)

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

6. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

There is a limited number of suppliers available to provide Elder Helper services to meet the reintegration needs of CSC Indigenous offenders.

The pre-identified supplier meets all of the minimum essential requirements described in this ACAN.

7. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection:

(d) Only one person is capable of performing the contract.

8. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the section of the trade agreement(s) specified:

This procurement is not subject to any trade agreement.

9. Ownership of Intellectual Property

There are no intellectual property terms in the contract.

10. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The proposed contract is for a period of 4 years from

April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2025.

11. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract is $316,674.14 (GST/HST extra)

12. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Name:  Indigenous Spiritual Elders Canada

Address: Driftpile, AB T0G 0V0

13. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date and time of this notice. This statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

14. Closing date and time for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is

March 22, 2021 at 2:00 PM CST.

15. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to:

Janet Nelson, Regional Procurement & Contract Officer

Correctional Service Canada

Regional Headquarters

3427 Faithfull Avenue

SASKATOON, SK S7K 8H6

Telephone: (306) 659-9252

Email: 501contracts@csc-scc.gc.ca