Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT) Initiative of the Public Health Agency of Canada

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: Canadian Paediatric Society 2305 St. Laurent Blvd. Ottawa Ontario Canada K1G4J8 Nature of Requirements: TITLE: IMMUNIZATION MONITORING PROGRAM, ACTIVE (IMPACT) INITIATIVE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has a requirement for the Operation of the Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT) Hospital-Based Surveillance Initiative. The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government's intention to award a contract for these services to the Canadian Paediatric Society, Ottawa, Ontario.

Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the 15 calendar day posting period.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the 15 calendar day posting period that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either the government's electronic tendering service or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the preselected supplier.

Background

IMPACT is a nationwide pediatric hospital-based surveillance initiative that provides the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) with information on selected adverse events following immunization, vaccine-preventable diseases, influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases, through a coordinated network of 12 designated paediatric hospital centres located across Canada.

The objective is to have targeted, hospital-based pediatric surveillance that contributes to the understanding of vaccine safety and the epidemiology of diseases that are currently or potentially vaccine preventable in children. The information obtained will complement existing national surveillance systems, support public health action, inform policy dialogue with Federal, Provincial, Territorial and other national stakeholders, and assist in meeting Canada's international commitments.

The work will involve both Core and Optional services as indicated below. The Optional services, will be provided through Task Authorizations on an "as and when requested" basis.

Core Services

Monitoring adverse events following immunization; Reporting of detailed epidemiologic information on vaccine preventable diseases Epidemiologic information on all cases of acute flaccid paralysis Detailed epidemiologic reporting on cases hospitalized due to influenza

Optional Services through Task Authorization

Validating admissions across the network of 12 centers for selected adverse events of special importance based on Brighton Collaboration Case Definitions Conducting pilot studies The addition of new target data for a specific period Expanded surveillance to an emerging public health event relevant to the work detailed above.

The proposed contract is for a period of 5 years, from date of contract award, estimated to be 1 July 2012 with an option for five (5) additional extension periods of one (1) year each.

The estimated value of the contract, including the option periods, is $20,000,000.00 (GST/HST included).

Minimum Essential Requirements

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

1.0 The organization must have demonstrated direct access to surveillance population (hospitalized children and case information) that meet the following criteria:

coverage of at least 3/4 of available tertiary care pediatric beds in Canada and that must involve Canadian acute care paediatric referral centres with a full range of pediatric specialties and subspecialties including but not limited to neurology, infectious disease, intensive care, immunology/allergy, cardiology, respirology, nephrology, and surgical disciplines; regional hospital representation across Canada (West coast, Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes) as a minimum; the total annual in-patients covered by the system must be in the range of 70,000 to 75,000 in order to ensure adequate capture of serious rare neurologic adverse events; ethical approval for the work; access to in-patient admission lists, microbiologic and haematologic laboratory results, and medical records in order to ascertain cases of surveillance targets; flexibility to add one or more new participating centres.

2.0 Experience, Knowledge and Professional Qualifications of Proposed Resources:

must be pediatricians or infectious disease subspecialists who have met the requirements of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Canada to practice their specialty or subspecialty in Canada; nurse monitors participating in the project to gather surveillance data must have a Registered Nurse diploma and be licensed in the province where they will be working to have access to participating centre medical charts and records.

Justification for the Preselected Supplier

The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) is currently the only known source of supply with the capacity to provide the liaison function with the pediatric hospitals which is necessary to meet this requirement. CPS is a national, voluntary, professional association representing more than 2,500 pediatricians and pediatric specialists. CPS has developed and maintains a network of 12 pediatric hospitals and utilizes pediatric volunteers in the delivery of the Work. It is well positioned to maintain this network to coordinate and deliver all required services under this program.

Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to meet the specified requirements may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the Contracting Authority 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 closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is (2:00 P.M., May 8th, 2012, EDST).

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to

Patricia Wheeler-Fournier A/Supply Team Leader Public Works and Government Services Canada Acquisitions Branch Services and Specialized Acquisitions Management Sector

Tel.: 819-956-1352 Fax: 819-997-2229 Email: patricia.wheeler-fournier@pwgsc-tpsgc.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.