National Advisor Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)

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 meets 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:

Correctional Service Canada (CSC), Health Services, provide Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) as part of interdisciplinary primary care.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a recognized disease requiring therapeutic intervention and CSC has been providing OAT for over 20 years. There is strong evidence that OAT leads to reduction or cessation of opioid use and can allow for patients to reach sustained long-term remission. According to the existing literature, OAT is also effective in: reducing the risk of HIV and hepatitis C infections among people who inject drugs; decreasing the harm associated with opioid use in prison; and decreasing the likelihood of substance use upon return to the community.

The work will involve the following:

1.1 Objectives:

 To provide specialized professional advice to address issues related to CSC’s OAT Program.

1.2 Tasks:

The contractor must:

Collaborate with CSC’s National Medical Advisor and National Senior Psychiatrist to:

a) Provide expert clinical advice to primary care physicians and nurse practitioners within CSC related to the provision of OAT to inmates.

b) Provide OAT policy guidance and advice to the Director General Health Policy and Programs.

c) Provide advice on psychosocial supports and trauma informed care in the context of OAT.

d) Participate on CSC’s National Medical Advisory Committee (NMAC), at the request of the National Medical Advisor, Chair of the NMAC.

e) Provide advice to the National OAT Implementation Working Group to advance the implementation of OAT and monitor consistency of practice with the OAT Guidance document.

1.3 Expected results:

• Expert advice and recommendations to the Senior Health Services Executives for CSC’s OAT program;
• Expert advice to primary care physicians and nurse practitioners within CSC related to the provision of OAT to inmates; and
• Expert advice to the National OAT Implementation Working Group to advance the implementation of OAT and monitor consistency of practice with the OAT Guidance document.

1.4 Performance standards:

The Contractor must provide specialized medical advice on Opioid Agonist Treatment appropriate to the context of Primary Care and guided by CSC’s policy document “Guidance on Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT).” This document provides policy direction for OAT in CSC. CSC’s policy document highlights several contextual factors essential to an OAT program in a correctional setting including:

• Valuing and respecting the co-existence of treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement
• Maintaining clinical independence and avoiding dual loyalties
• Adopting a recovery orientation that recognizes that recovery is a non-linear process
• Promoting non-stigmatized service delivery
• Emphasizing a trauma informed approach to care
• Providing care that is culturally appropriate and culturally safe

The Contractor must hold and maintain a current license in good standing with their provincial licensing body for physicians and surgeons within Canada for the duration of the contract.

The Contractor must meet the requirements of their respective College’s Continuing Medical Education Program.

The Contractor must maintain Board Certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for the duration of the contract.

1.5 Deliverables:

1.5.1 National medical advisor for CSC’s Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) program must:

1. Respond to requests for consultations on OAT matters made by the National Medical Advisor; National Senior Psychiatrist; Regional Director Health Services (RDHS); Regional Physician leads (Primary Care/Psychiatrist); and Institutional physicians and Nurse Practitioners.
2. Provide expert clinical advice to primary care physicians and nurse practitioners within CSC related to the provision of OAT to inmates
3. Provide recommendations to the Director General Health Policy and Programs and the CSC National Medical Advisor on matters related to the OAT program such as managing wait lists;
4. Provide education for CSC staff on problematic substance use as a health condition;
5. Provide recommendations on the Guidance for Opioid Agonist Treatment document (CSC OAT Policy document)
6. Prepare presentations on OAT and substance use related topics for the National Medical Advisory Committee (NMAC), Director General Health Policy and Programs, and/or CSC National Medical Advisor as requested by the Project Authority.
7. Participate at the NMAC, at the request of the National Medical Advisor, Chair of the MAC, to provide advice related to the provision of OAT
8. Review and provide recommendations on Health Service policies and guidelines related to the provision of OAT, as required.
9. Develop presentations and progress reports and final reports when requested by CSC.
10. Advise CSC’s National Medical Advisor of clinical practice issues related to the provision of OAT to inmates.
11. Advise the Director General Health Policy and Programs and the National Medical Advisor on new and emerging trends in the treatment of opioid use disorder.

1.5.2 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 at the contractor’s place of business as well as at CSC designated sites.

b) The Contractor may perform work remotely via an encrypted laptop with network access provided by CSC.

c) The Contractor must attend meetings, in person, via teleconference, or videoconference as requested by the Project Authority.

b. Travel

Travel to attend meetings and perform site visits at the following locations will be required for performance of the work under this contract:

• National Head Quarters (Ottawa or other location);
• Regional Head Quarters;
• Institutional sites in regions, and others as requested and approved by the Project Authority.

All travel must have the prior authorization of the Project Authority.

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) Contract Security Manual (Latest Edition).

CSC Approved Health Services Exemption for the Removal, Offsite Storage and Electronic Data Processing of Offender Personal Medical Information under CSC issued contracts.

1. The Contractor/Offeror must practice and take measures to protect shared personal health information in accordance with the applicable legislation which governs the disclosure of personal and health information under federal and provincial laws, applicable provincial health information acts, and the provincial/territorial regulatory body’s professional practice standards. This includes collection, receipt, transmission, storage, disposal, use and disclosure of information under its control among authorized persons of employees of the Contractor/Offeror.

1. In case of security breach or the unauthorized use of shared personal information, the Contractor/Offeror must notify the CSC Project Authority and implement all procedures and disclosure requirements as defined by their professional certifying body and those required of federal and provincial laws and regulations.

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:

Experience:

• Must have a minimum of seven (7) years of experience obtained within the last (10) years prior to the ACAN closing date, in providing primary health care services as a licensed physician, in a correctional environment, federal or provincial.

• Must have five (5) years of experience obtained within the last seven (7) years prior to the ACAN closing date, in providing clinical care to patients with an opioid use disorder and experience in the delivery of an Opiate Agonist Treatment program within a correctional setting, federal or provincial.

• Must have five (5) years experience obtained within the last seven (7) years prior to the ACAN closing date, in Addiction Medicine that includes the diagnosis, prevention, evaluation, treatment, and recovery of persons with addiction, within a correctional setting, federal or provincial.

• Must have two (2) years of experience obtained within the last four (4) years prior to the ACAN closing date, in a Leadership position. This experience must include communicating effectively and collaborating strategically with diverse groups and stakeholders.

• Must have two (2) years of experience obtained within the last four (4) years prior o the ACAN closing date, in providing policy advice to senior executives in a correctional setting, federal or provincial.

• Must have two (2) years of experience obtained within the last four (4) years prior to the ACAN closing date,in applying the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM) National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder to develop and implement Protocols, Policies, Guidelines and Directives for a correctional environment, federal or provincial.

Academic qualifications:

The supplier must possess a Medical Degree obtained from a recognized Canadian university.

The degree must have been obtained from a recognized Canadian university, college or high school, or the equivalent as established by a recognized Canadian academic credentials assessment service, if obtained outside Canada.

The list of recognized organizations can be found under the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials web site.

Professional designation, accreditation and/or certification:

• Must have a valid license in good standing to practice medicine from a Provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, within Canada.

• Must be Board Certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

• Must provide a signed declaration that he/she is a member in good standing with his respective provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, that there are no investigations or judgments against the proposed physician in any area of professional conduct, and a license to practice medicine has no restrictions. If there are current investigations, judgments or restrictions registered against the proposed physician, details of them must be provided.

• Must have a Certificate of Added Competency in Addiction Medicine, from the Canadian College of Family of Physicians.

• Must have a Certified Correctional Health Professional – Physician Certification from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. (CCHP-P)

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 not subject to any set-asides for Aboriginal Suppliers.

5. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)

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

6. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

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

• The pre-identified supplier has extensive experience in the treatment and management of substance use and addictions in a correctional environment. The pre-identified supplier possesses the skills and expertise necessary to provide high-level advice to CSC and its Senior Health Services officials regarding addictions and opioid use.
• The pre-identified supplier worked as a physician for Correctional Services Canada as well as other Correctional organizations. He is aware of the challenges in the management and treatment of addictions and opioid use within the correctional environment. He is also aware of any current gaps in CSC’s ability to effectively and efficiently address the needs of inmates with opioid use disorders; and therefore possesses the ability to provide reasonable recommendations for the management of these gaps within the constraints of the correctional environment.

• The pre-Identified Supplier has significant clinical and administrative experience and certifications in Addictions medicine and in providing recommendations in a correctional environment, federal and provincial.

• The pre-identified supplier has accumulated community physician and Addiction Medicine experience that will be an asset to provide advice and make recommendations to Senior Management.
• The pre-Identified Supplier’s experience as an institutional physician as well as his work in other correctional organizations provides him the experience and community connections needed to be able to suggest effective solutions and/or recommendations.

• The pre-identified supplier has demonstrated excellent working relationships with health professionals, colleagues, nurses, inmates, and management. He also has a positive and professional patient-physician relationship.

• The pre-identified supplier has experience working as the Medical Director, Correctional Health Services, Addiction Medicine Lead, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, and Primary Care Physician, in federal and provincial corrections.

• The pre-identified supplier has significant experience on Advisory committees and task groups relevant to addictions and problematic substance use:

  • Currently on the Ministry of Health Opioid Epidemic Response Committee for BC (since 2017);
  • 2016-2018, Ministry of Health, Opioid Overdose Prevention and Response Treatment Task Group;
  • 2013-2018, Division Lead, Addiction Medicine, Mental Health Substance Use, Fraser Health Authority;
  • Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse(CRISM) National Guideline Review Committee;
  • Various other Committees related to Medication reconciliation, administration and management.
• The pre-identified supplier has experience with quality improvement, research, and involvement in key relevant organizations including
  • Academic Consortium of Criminal Justice Health;
  • Academy of Correctional Health Professionals;
  • American Society of Addiction Medicine;
  • Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine.

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

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 three (3) years, from Contract award to 3 years later with an option to extend the contract for two (2) additional one (1) year periods.

11. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $432,000.00 (GST/HST exempt).

12. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Name: Dr. Nader Sharifi

Address: 3266 – 164A Street

Surrey, BC V3V 0G5

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. The 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 April 07/2021 at 14:00 PM EST.

15. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to:

Nadine Pike, Senior Procurement Office

E-mail: Nadine.Pike@csc-scc.gc.ca