NURSING DIRECT SERVICES

Trade Agreement: Set-Aside Program for Aboriginal Business (SPAB) Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Attachment: YES (MERX) Electronic Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements: NURSING SERVICES FOR REMOTE AND ISOLATED FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Please note that the section titled "FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY" has been updated and the new section REGISTRATION has been added to provide additional information on the subsequent steps of the Engagement Process.

SUBJECT - Respondents are requested to provide feedback on the enclosed draft documents pertaining to a requirement for Nursing Services for Remote and Isolated First Nations Communities, for Health Canada (HC).

RFI PURPOSE - The purpose of this RFI is to inform potential Bidders concerning the upcoming HC Nursing Services requirement and to obtain Industry input and feedback regarding the development of the Bid Solicitation.

POTENTIAL REQUIREMENT - Health Canada is having difficulty recruiting and retaining nurses in the nursing stations and federal hospitals located in Northern Manitoba, Northern Ontario, and northern Quebec on First Nations reserves. Without adequate service, the nursing stations and hospitals may have to close for periods of time which could result in liability to Canada. As a result, the use of contract relief nursing is urgently required.

The Department of Health Canada requires the services of three Contractors for the provision and management of a workforce of nurses to supplement internal HC resources on an as and when requested basis, at different remote and isolated locations of First Nations in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec provinces. The contracted services will include primary health care and hospital nursing service requirements.

The services provided by the Contractors will encompass the care of patients and the provision of assistance to medical doctors in the treatment of illness, the conduct of programs designed to promote health and prevent diseases, and the provision of advice. The services may also include direct patient care to individuals, families and groups in the home and community, consultation, administration or research, dependent upon the demands of individual task authorization.

The contract is expected to be awarded for a three-year initial period, plus five one-year option periods.

NATURE OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

This is not a bid solicitation. A contract will not result from this activity. This RFI will not necessarily result in any procurement action.

SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

Responses are requested on April 10, 2013.

This PWGSC office provides procurement services to the public in both official languages. Documents may be submitted in either official language.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY

In addition to the RFI process, the engagement process will also include an "Industry Engagement Session" followed by one-on-one "Industry Meetings".

Canada anticipates holding the Industry Engagement Session on April 22, 2013 and the Industry Meetings will be scheduled from April 23, 2013 to April 26, 2013. These sessions will be held in Ottawa and specific details about the location(s), and time(s) of the sessions will be provided directly to the registered industry participants prior to the Industry Engagement Session.

Industry Engagement Session: The purpose of the Industry Engagement Session is to provide Industry and other interested parties " participants" with general information on the Health Canada requirement for nursing services for Remote and Isolated First Nations Communities, the consultative process and the process timelines.

One-on-One Industry Meetings: Following the Industry Engagement Session, Canada will meet with Industry participants individually to listen to their concerns, recommendations and solutions. Canada will analyze and summarize industry input for further use during the final Bid Solicitation development phase or to identify topics that still need to be discussed at other consultation sessions, if required.

Canada may, in its discretion, set up subsequent consultation mechanisms, including one-on-one meetings with the industry participants to follow up with additional questions, or for clarification of any aspect of their input.

REGISTRATION

Participants that wish to attend the Industry Engagement Session and Industry Meetings are to register by notifying the PWGSC Contracting Authority, identified herein, by April 12, 2013. Participants must identify themselves by their legal name, corporate address, the names of representatives attending by their respective title as well as their office address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address.

Please note that: Due to space limitations, interested participants are asked to limit the number of representatives to a maximum of 4 persons.

All attendees are encouraged to register and will be required to sign-in upon arrival to the venue.

Interested participants are encouraged to provide written comments and recommendations on the draft Bid Solicitation, answer the list of Questions to Industry annexed to the RFI document and, if desired, suggest additional topics to the Contracting Authority they may wish to discuss at the one-on-one meeting.

Attendees are responsible for their own transportation, accommodation, meals, parking and all other expenses. Participation is not a mandatory requirement. Not attending the Industry Engagement Session and the individual meetings will not preclude an interested Service Provider from submitting a bid.

Media cannot participate in the one-on-one meetings. Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.