Antimicrobial Stewardship

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
An 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 stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

Definition of the requirement
The Department of Indigenous Services Canada has a requirement to work with an infectious disease specialist on strategies to optimize antimicrobial use in the nursing stations for improving patient safety and quality care. The work will involve the following: 

• Present relevant infectious disease topics to frontline practitioners (i.e. antimicrobial stewardship, urinary tract infection, skin infection, upper and lower respiratory tract infections)
• Assist with developing relevant guidelines/protocols or tools for use by frontline practitioners (i.e. urinary tract infection, skin infection, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, antibiogram)
• Develop on-line learning modules on relevant infectious disease topics for use by frontline practitioners. These will be delivered via existing learning platforms.
• Assist with antimicrobial stewardship quality assurance/quality improvement project(s)

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:
    1. 15 years’ experience in the past 20 years working as an assistant profession in medicine and infectious disease;
    2. 10 years’ experience in the past 20 years working as the external medical advisor for the FNIHB Nursing Station Formulary Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee;
    3. 10 years’ experience in the past 20 years providing direct patient care, academic teaching, supervision of learners and research.
  • Knowledge and understanding of infectious disease, Indigenous health, First Nations Clients’ cultures, challenges of delivering health services to First Nations clients living in remote/isolated communities;
  • Academic qualifications: The Contractor must possess an undergraduate degree from a recognized university in the field of Epidemiology and Medicine (Medical degree);
  • Professional designation, accreditation, and/or certification: Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease Specialist (MD FRCPC).

Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business
N/A

Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)
N/A

Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The Proposed Physician is a member of a shortage group [infectious disease medical specialists] with an epidemiology specialty, the numbers of which are extreme limited in Ontario and the country. The required physician is a skilled infectious disease specialist, familiar with the First Nation clients of Northern Ontario, their culture, and the epidemiological uniqueness of the population. The physician has developed effective professional relationship(s) with the Ontario area’s primary care providers and broader specialists and sub-specialists. The physician is heavily involved with the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada, known as a reputable leader and champion for antibiotic stewardship. Antibiotic stewardship is an urgent need in Ontario region, [nationally and globally] to enhance health status of the population that ISC is mandated to serve. It is not in the public interest to delay further particularly in light of the past pandemic and other novel infections that continue to adversely affect health status.

 Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection subsection 6 (c) “the nature of the work is such that it would not be in the public interest to solicit bids”.

Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons contained in the Trade Agreements

“Healthcare services are exempt from procurement obligations under the trade agreements.”

Ownership of Intellectual Property
N.A

Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
The proposed contract is for a period of 5 years, from the contract award to March 31, 2027.

Cost estimate of the proposed contract
The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $ 72,750.00 (GST/HST extra).

Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
YOKO S. SCHREIBER (DR)

Address: 5 Hoey Drive Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1C7

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 of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is (e.g. February 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EST).

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
soumissionbid@sac-isc.gc.ca (attn: Elly Ha)