HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Attachment: None Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements: ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

SUBJECT - Information on the follow-up engagement activities relating to the Department of National Defense (DND) requirement for Health Care Providers (HCPs)

POTENTIAL REQUIREMENT - DND has a requirement for HCPs needed to supplement military members and civilian personnel in delivering health care services to the Canadian Forces (CF) at various locations across Canada.

DND's objective is to ensure that there are procurement instruments in place that can be utilized on an "as and when requested basis" to ensure that health care providers are available to provide various health care services to the CF members.

It is intended that the resulting contracting mechanism(s) will be used by DND under any of the following circumstances: Difficulties in recruiting and retaining military personnel for health services professions; Difficulties in recruiting public servants for health service professions or when the Public Service (PS) staffing process has not been successful; As an interim solution while awaiting a permanent PS staffing process to be completed; Replacements are required for maternity or paternity leave, operational deployment or training of military personnel when other solutions such as reserve staffing are not successful; Other health care services or health services support not readily available within the department are required; and Short term or Urgent HCPs requirements arise.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) PROCESS - An RFI document was posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca between October 10, 2013 and November 6, 2013 to inform potential Bidders of a DND's requirement for HCPs and to obtain Industry input and feedback regarding the draft requirement definition and constraints pertaining to this requirement.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY - In addition to the RFI process, the engagement process will also include one-on-one "Industry Meetings" with the industry participants. Canada may in its discretion, set up subsequent consultation sessions such as working groups, additional individual Industry meetings and other engagement processes, on as required basis, to follow up with additional questions, or for clarification of any aspect of their input.

Industry members interested in participating in the rest of the industry engagement process, including one-on-one "Industry Meetings", any subsequent engagement sessions, and a review of the final draft Bid Solicitation, must sign and agree to the Industry Engagement Rules of Engagement and Dispute Resolution Process.

One-on-One Industry Meetings: Following the RFI, 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 Bid solicitation development phase or to identify topics that still need to be discussed at other consultation sessions, if required.

Canada anticipates holding the one on one "Industry Meetings" with the Industry from November 25, 2013 to December 4, 2013. These sessions will be held in the National Capital Region (NCR) 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 one-on-one Industry Meeting.

Working Groups / Individual meetings: Following the One-On-One meetings, Industry Participants may be invited to further individual meeting and/or Working Group Meetings comprised of representatives from Industry, DND and PWGSC to discuss specific issues, potential solutions, recommendations etc. Canada will analyze and summarize industry input for further use during the Bid Solicitation development phase or to identify topics that still need to be discussed at other consultation sessions, if required.

Following the One-on-One Industry Meetings and any subsequent engagement sessions, if required, Canada will document all industry issues, positions and actions. Industry input will be used for the development of the Bid Solicitation. Prior to the official Bid Solicitation being published on https://buyandsell.gc.ca/, a draft Bid Solicitation will be made available for final review only to those participants who have signed and complied with the Rules of Engagement. Third Party Consultation: Third parties such as Industry Associations might be also consulted on an as and when required basis to discuss industry issues and recommendations on industry standard practices.

REGISTRATION - Participants that wish to attend the One-on-one Meeting are to register by notifying the PWGSC Contracting Authority, identified herein, by email (hana.benabdallah@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca) by November 20, 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: 1. Due to space limitations, interested participants are asked to limit the number of representatives to a maximum of 4 persons.

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

3. Interested participants are encouraged to provide written comments and recommendations on the draft requirement definition, 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.

4. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation, accommodation, meals, parking and all other expenses.

5. Participation is not a mandatory requirement. Not attending in the individual meetings and other engagement sessions will not preclude an interested Service Provider from submitting a bid.

6. 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.