Homeless and Veterans In Crisis Outreach Initiative

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited
to bid
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Protection of Human,
Animal, or Plant Life or Health
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada
PO Box 214
53 Queen St
Dartmouth Nova Scotia
Canada
B2Y3Y3
Nature of Requirements: 
Homeless and Veterans In Crisis Outreach Initiative

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), Charlottetown Prince Edward
Island, has a request for the following services:

Requirement:  
A number of Canadian veterans are homeless or in crisis and are
in need of community and government services.   As a result,
Veterans Affairs Canada has a requirement to engage and enter
into a contract for bilingual services to provide immediate
telephone, on-line, and in person assistance to homeless
veterans and all veterans in crisis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 days a year, including all statutory holidays and
weekends.  Services must be provided in both official languages
and must be national in scope covering all provinces as well as
northern Canada, especially more densely populated areas
including but not limited to:  Halifax, Montreal, Toronto,
Ottawa,  London, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and
Victoria. 

Services required include the capacity to provide 24 hour a day
coverage involving the dispatch of individuals or teams made up
of ex-military or former Royal Canadian Mounted Police personnel
throughout Canada.   Because there is normally a bond of trust
between soldiers, ex-military and former RCMP personnel are
expected to be advantaged in aiding homeless and in-crisis
veterans. 

The objective is to provide "one on one" interaction with
homeless or in-crisis veterans by providing assistance in
securing shelter, referral or escort to medical or substance
treatment programs, peer support, coaching, or other related
support as required.  Additionally, services may include acting
as an interface with various program or benefits available from
the Government of Canada or outside organizations such as
Veterans Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Legions etc.    

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:

1.  must currently have a broad national infrastructure
necessary to support homeless and in-crisis veterans across all
provinces as well as northern Canada; 
2. must have immediate capacity to provide support and
counseling 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in person, on-line,
and via the telephone, to veterans in the language of their
choice;
3.  must have experience and good working knowledge of available
Government of Canada programs and benefits as well as other
support systems available in relation to, but not limited to,
securing temporary shelter, referrals for medical and substance
treatment programs and peer support and coaching in support of
homeless or in-crisis veterans;  
4.  individuals in direct contact with homeless or in-crisis
veterans must consist of ex-military or former RCMP personnel
across Canada. 


Name and address of Proposed Supplier:  
Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada
PO Box 214, 53 Queen Street
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia  B2Y 3Y3
Operating as:  VETS Canada


Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier:
VETS Canada is the only known organization uniquely qualified to
meet the requirements of the services requested.   They have
working knowledge of the processes and procedures involved in
providing support in interfacing with a wide variety of
Government of Canada programs and benefits.   In addition, VETS
Canada currently have an established national infrastructure,
contacts, networks, and the experience required to provide
instant  assistance to homeless or in-crisis veterans in person,
on-line, or via the telephone.   VETS Canada operates a 24 hour
a day, 7 day a week, 365 days a year operation in both official
languages with chapters in communities across Canada.  Also, 
all VETS Canada's personnel, who are in direct contact with
homeless or in-crisis veterans, are ex-military or former Royal
Canadian Mounted Police personnel which is expected to have an
immediate benefit in providing assistance.    


Government Contract Regulations Exceptions:
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations
is invoked for this procurement:   Subsection 6 (d) - "only one
person is capable of performing the work". 

Applicability of the Trade Agreements: 
This procurement is not subject to any trade agreements.  

Exclusions from the Trade Agreements: 
This requirement is excluded from the following trade
agreements:   

World Trade Organization-Agreement on Government Procurement
(WTO-AGP):  Annex B  Services Covered for the WTO-AGP - Health
and Social Services are NOT Covered. 

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Annex 1001.1b-2,
Section B - Excluded Coverage  - Section  G - Health and Social
Services.

Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT):  Annex C, Part IV, Annex
502.1B, Para 1 - "All services are covered except the following:
(f) health services and social services.


Period of the Proposed Contract:  From date of award for a
twelve month period, with two separate and individual one year
options to extend the contract period (3 years total).  

Cost Estimated of the Proposed Contract:  $900,000.00 including
all option periods. HST is extra where applicable.

Security:   This requirement is subject to Reliability Status
Security Clearances.   


Inquiries or submission of statements of capabilities are to be
directed to: 
Colleen Skerry
Team Leader, Acquisitions
Public Works & Government Services Canada
1713 Bedford Row
Halifax, N.S.  B3J 3C9

Telephone:  902-496-5007
Fax:  902-496-5016
Email:  colleen.skerry@pwgsc.gc.ca


Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate
with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any
questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting
officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and
agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15)
calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it
intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a
pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or
before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets
the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority
may then proceed with the award.  However, should a Statement of
Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the
ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full
tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available
to provide the services/goods described herein, 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.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the
closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the
envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile
transmission, on the covering page.

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.