An advanced contract award notice (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 and time stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.
1. Definition of the requirement:
Policy on Reciprocal Procurement: the Policy on Reciprocal Procurement does not apply to this procurement.
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, contributes to public safety by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control.
This includes:
• Management of offenders during their transition from the institution to the community, and while on supervision; and
• Ensuring the safety and security of members of the public, victims, staff and offenders in the community.
While decisions on the conditional release of offenders fall under the responsibility of the Parole Board of Canada, CSC is responsible for supervising offenders under federal jurisdiction on conditional release in the community until the end of their sentences and offenders subject to Long-Term Supervision Orders.
Hostels provide a bridge between the institution and the community, ensuring that suitable accommodation, support systems and monitoring are in place to assist conditionally released offenders to become law-abiding citizens.
The statement of work for Hostels includes, but is not limited to the following:
1.1 Objectives:
Provide accommodation, monitoring, general support and assistance to offenders under federal jurisdiction who have been released to the community on conditional release, statutory release, and those subject to Long-Term Supervision Orders.
1.2 Tasks:
1. The Hostel must provide residential services to offenders who are referred to it by CSC and accepted by the Hostel.
2. If applicable and where required, the Hostel will provide a strategy to accommodate diverse cultures and spiritualities, including, but not limited to, Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
3. If applicable, and where required, the Hostel must ensure that the acommodation is suitable and safe for children residing in the Hostel with their legal guardian in accordance with measures outlined in CD 715-4.
Admission Criteria & Selection Process
4. The Hostel must specify the conditions of eligibility for its services, admission criteria, and program availability; and provide CSC with information in writing upon request.
5. The Hostel must have a selection process that includes:
a) A review of any CSC referral;
b) An assessment against admission criteria and the capacity of the Hostel to address the offender’s needs; and,
c) A written decision of acceptance or refusal which includes a rationale for the decision against admission.
Support Services
6. The Hostel must provide monitoring and support services, which will in turn, assist offenders in attaining both short and long-term goals, as specified in the offender’s Correctional Plan and Community Strategy.
7. The Hostel must provide CSC with ongoing feedback regarding the offender’s residency.
Hostel House Rules
8. The Hostel must provide, orally and in writing, information regarding the house rules to each resident at admission and ensure that the resident understands and agrees to abide by the house rules of the Hostel. A form signed by the resident acknowledging the house rules must be retained on file. A signed copy must be provided to the resident.
9. House Rules must address at a minimum:
a) Responsibilities and expectations of the resident;
b) Grounds for non-voluntary termination from the residency;
c) Rules regarding programs and services including hours of operations (including curfew) and visiting hours if applicable;
d) Procedures regarding room searches and/or inspections (if applicable);
e) Storage and disposal of personal property;
f) Procedures regarding the handling of funds at the Hostel;
g) Hostel grievance policy and procedures; and,
h) Policy on the reporting of offender behaviour, and compliance with release plan and conditions, to the CSC.
Meals
10. If the Hostel is equipped to provide meals, meals must meet health and nutritional requirements in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide. Residents who are provided with a meal allowance must be responsible for the quality of their food intake and, consequently, their nutritional well being.
11. At, or prior to admission, the resident is responsible for identifying any religious and/or medical dietary requirements. If special requirements are identified, the Hostel Contractor must consult with the Project Authority and reasonable efforts must be made to meet the dietary needs of the resident.
Personal Effects
12. The Hostel must follow the provisions of CD 566-12. At the time of admission, the Hostel must ensure that residents are informed orally and in writing of procedures regarding personal property. CD 566-12 provision entitled “Loss or Damage – Community-Based Residential Facilities” must apply to offender claims for loss or damage to personal property at the Hostel.
Medical Considerations
13. Upon admission, the Hostel must ask the offender to identify any allergies or medical conditions that could require the urgent intervention of staff and/or emergency medical personnel.
14. The Hostel must advise offenders upon admission that they are responsible for carrying, and self-administer their individual medical prescription and over-the-counter medications.
15. Methadone and suboxone for offenders under CSC jurisdiction will not be kept on-site. The administration of the daily dose of prescribed methadone and/or suboxone can only be completed at a local pharmacy.
16. The Hostel must safeguard the confidentiality of medical information they are privy to and ensure that the type of medication and prescribed dosage is not shared except on a “need to know” basis.
SECURITY AND SAFETY
Static and Dynamic Security
17. The Hostel must ensure that all staff receive the necessary information about each resident so that the risk to their personal safety is minimized.
18. The Hostel must maintain formal records for documenting the following:
a) Activities;
b) Incidents;
c) Resident movement;
d) Resident behaviour/observations; and,
e) Violations and actions taken.
19. The Hostel must ensure that shift briefings are in writing in the duty log as well as communicated verbally before assuming responsibility for the shift.
20. The Hostel must ensure that staff are on-site 24 hours per day or that appropriate means of ensuring the integrity and security of the facilities are in place (e.g. monitored security cameras, rounds completed by a security company, other electronic means, etc.).
21. The Hostel must conduct a resident count at the beginning of each covered shifts. The date and time of each count must be recorded in the duty log. Counts must be conducted such as a presence of a live, breathing body can be determined.
22. In the absence of vital signs, a staff trained in CPR must perform artificial respiration and/or CPR, pursuant to their instruction and certification, and continue to administer such care in accordance with their instruction/certification until medical attendants arrive.
23. The Hostel must contact the local CSC office or National Monitoring Centre when a resident is discovered to be missing from the facility and no satisfactory explanation is known. In the event of a curfew violation, or failure to report as scheduled upon release, the Hostel must take immediate actions to locate the offender. The Hostel must report to CSC if the offender cannot be located within a maximum delay of ten (10) minutes.
24. If requested and agreed upon between the Project Authority and the Hostel Contractor, the Hostel must periodically check individual resident activities and destinations while the resident is away from the facility during the day and record the results of these checks in the duty log. The means used to verify individual resident activities and destinations must be agreed upon by the Hostel Contractor and the Project Authority.
25. If applicable and agreed upon, the Hostel must ensure that overnight leave privileges and travel permits have been approved by the supervising Parole Officer, in writing, prior to the leave commencing.
26. The Hostel must monitor the offender’s behaviour and must immediately report to a Parole Officer, the National Monitoring Centre, or a person with designated signing authority to issue a warrant of suspension, information concerning:
a) Any violation of standard or special conditions of release, or instructions issued by the supervising Parole Officer;
b) Any significant increase in the offender’s risk of re-offending; and,
c) Other relevant information concerning the offender’s behaviour and performance in the community.
27. Hostels are authorized to conduct searches of an offender’s room and its content under Section 66 of the CCRA when there are reasonable grounds to suspect a breach of conditions.
28. The Hostel must immediately report to CSC if any unauthorized items (as defined by the Hostel House Rules) or any items that could jeopardize the safety of staff, public, or offenders, are found.
29. The Hostel must ensure that staff adhere to the following procedure should an offender who is Unlawfully at Large, present himself/herself at a Hostel:
a) Where possible and safe to do so, isolate the offender from other residents;
b) Notify local Police;
c) Notify the local CSC Office or the National Monitoring Centre; and,
d) In the event the offender absconds before the police arrive, Hostel staff are not to apprehend the offender but rather provide relevant details to the police upon arrival.
30. Prior to contacting the National Monitoring Centre, the Hostel must ensure that the following information is readily available so as to not detract from the valuable time otherwise used in locating the offender:
a) Offender name and FPS number;
b) Offender release type;
c) Last known location/sign-out information, if applicable;
d) Any special instructions left by the supervising Parole Officer (e.g. curfew extension, weekend pass, etc.); and,
e) Any additional information that may be relevant in assisting the National Monitoring Centre in their assessment of the situation.
Safety and Emergency Measures
31. The Hostel must be in compliance with all applicable territorial, provincial, municipal and local legislation and regulations. The Hostel premises and equipment must conform to applicable zoning, health, safety, building and fire codes and regulations.
32. The Hostel must have written plans for dealing with fire, medical emergencies (including pandemic situations) and natural disasters, and Hostel staff must be trained accordingly. The Hostel must provide a copy of these plans to the Project Authority.
33. The Hostel must ensure that there is a First Aid Kit available to each shift with an inventory of medical contents approved by the St. John’s Ambulance, the Canadian Red Cross or equivalent, and that the contents are inspected monthly.
34. The Hostel must ensure that on each shift there is a staff member with a valid St. John’s Ambulance Certification (or other equivalent in first aid) in addition to valid CPR certification.
35. The Hostel must ensure that residents have access to a telephone and that emergency numbers are posted next to all telephones in the Hostel.
PERSONNEL
36. Volunteers/students must not be left in charge of a Hostel.
37. The Hostel must ensure that staff/volunteers/students have reached the age of majority in the province of operation.
Orientation, Staff Training and Development
38. Prior to any staff member assuming responsibility for their duties, the Hostel must provide an orientation suited for the position. Staff must sign a form confirming orientation has been completed and the form placed on their personnel file. The orientation for service providers must include, at a minimum, the following:
a) Hostel’s goals and objectives;
b) Hostel’s policy and procedures;
c) Confidentiality;
d) First aid;
e) Basic crisis intervention;
f) Emergency measures;
g) Relationship to the CSC; and,
h) Agency’s contractual obligations.
39. The Hostel must ensure that volunteers/students undergo proper training and orientation.
40. At the request of the Project Authority, the Hostel Contractor may be required or invited to attend additional orientation and/or information sessions related to the provision of services including, but not limited to, Aboriginal awareness and/or cultural training, mental health awareness training, “boundaries” training, and/or gender sensitivity training.
41. The Hostel has an overall responsibility for fostering a positive culture of values and ethics in their organization. They must ensure their employees are aware of their legal and ethical obligations and avoid conflicts of interest. It is the Hostel’s responsibility to inform CSC immediately when there is suspicion or confirmation that an Hostel staff member breached the facility’s conflict of interest policy, code of conduct or code of ethics, if the Hostel’s Management considers that the information or event could potentially impact its capacity to offer the services outlined in the contractual agreement.
42. The Hostel, upon learning that a Hostel employee is under criminal investigation or has been accused of violating the Criminal Code, must notify the Project Authority.
1.3 Expected results:
Assisting conditionally released offenders to safely and successfully reintegrate into the community as law abiding citizens.
1.4 Performance standards:
The Hostel and its officers, servants and subcontractors must comply with all applicable legislation and CSC’s Commissioner’s Directives (CDs), the Standard Operating Practice on Official Languages, and other Standards.
The Hostel must be in compliance with all applicable territorial, provincial, municipal and local legislation and regulations. The Hostel premises and equipment must conform to applicable zoning, health, safety, building and fire codes and regulations.
The Hostel must have written plans for dealing with fire, medical emergencies (including pandemic situations) and natural disasters, and the Hostel staff must be trained accordingly. The Hostel must provide a copy of these plans to the Project Authority.
The Hostel must ensure that staff members, volunteers and students have the qualifications required and receive proper training and orientation prior to assuming responsibility for their duties. The Hostel must also provide ongoing training to staff, volunteers and placement students essential for their assigned duties and responsibilities. The Hostel must ensure that staff, volunteers and placement students have reached the age of majority in the province of operation.
If applicable and where required, the Hostel must provide a strategy to accommodate diverse cultures and spiritualties, including, but not limited to, Indigenous culture and spirituality.
1.5 Deliverables:
1.5.1 To provide twenty-four (24) hour residential services to adult offenders that include, but are not limited to:
a) Beds, and meals or meal allowances, or both;
b) Referral services to community support groups and other agencies;
c) Storage and access of offenders to their medication and personal effects;
d) Static and dynamic security;
e) Staff orientation, training and development;
f) Reporting; and
g) Enhanced Services as requested by CSC.
1.5.2 Paper consumption:
a. Should printed material be required, double sided printing in black and white format is the default unless otherwise specified by the Project Authority.
b. The Contractor must ensure printed material is on paper with a minimum recycled content of 30% and/or certified as originating from a sustainably managed forest.
c. The Contractor must recycle unneeded printed documents (in accordance with Security Requirements).
1.6 Constraints:
1.6.1 Location of work:
a. The Contractor must perform the work at the contractor’s place of business.
b. Travel
i. Travel may be required for the performance of the work under these contracts.
1.6.2 Language of Work:
The contractor must perform all work in English
1.6.3 Security Requirements:
This contract includes the following security requirements:
SECURITY REQUIREMENT FOR CANADIAN SUPPLIER:
PWGSC FILE No. 21884-26-0008
1. The Contractor must, at all times during the performance of the Contract, hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS), and obtain approved Document Safeguarding Capability at the level of PROTECTED B, issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).
2. The Contractor personnel requiring access to PROTECTED information, assets, or sensitive site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the CSP, PWGSC.
3. The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its facilities to process, produce, or store PROTECTED information or assets until the CSP, PWGSC has issued written approval.
4. The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its Information Technology systems to electronically process, produce, or store PROTECTED information until the CSP, PWGSC has issued written approval. After approval has been granted or approved, these tasks may be performed at the level of PROTECTED B including an IT Link at the level of PROTECTED B.
5. Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of the CSP, PWGSC.
6. The Contractor must comply with the provisions of the:
(a) Security Requirements Check List and Supplemental Security and Classification Guide (if applicable), attached at Annex C;
(b) Contract Security Manual (Latest Edition)
SECURITY REQUIREMENT FOR CANADIAN SUPPLIER:
PWGSC FILE No. 21882-26-0009
1. The Contractor must, at all times during the performance of the Contract, hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS), and obtain approved Document Safeguarding Capability at the level of PROTECTED B, issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).
2. The Contractor personnel requiring access to PROTECTED information, assets, or sensitive site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the CSP, PWGSC.
3. The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its facilities to process, produce, or store PROTECTED information or assets until the CSP, PWGSC has issued written approval.
4. The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its Information Technology systems to electronically process, produce, or store PROTECTED information until the CSP, PWGSC has issued written approval. After approval has been granted or approved, these tasks may be performed at the level of PROTECTED B including an IT Link at the level of PROTECTED B.
5. Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of the CSP, PWGSC.
6. The Contractor must comply with the provisions of the:
(a) Security Requirements Check List and Supplemental Security and Classification Guide (if applicable), attached at Annex C;
(b) Contract Security Manual (Latest Edition)
2. 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:
A. Must have a minimum of two (2) years experience, obtained within the last five (5) years prior to the closing date of this ACAN, in working with adult offenders on conditional release;
B. Must have a minimum of two (2) years experience, obtained within the last five (5) years prior to the closing date of this ACAN, in providing accommodation to offenders in a residential setting.
3. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement
This procurement is not subject to any trade agreement.
4. Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business
This procurement is not subject to any set-asides for Indigenous Suppliers.
5. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)
This procurement is not subject to a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement.
6. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
There is a restricted number of qualified service providers in the Vancouver and Victoria areas who are willing and available to provide residential services to offenders on conditional release in order to meet CSC's offender accommodation needs in the community.
These Suppliers are uniquely positioned to provide these services given their specific mandate to provide accommodation, monitoring, general support and assistance to offenders under federal jurisdiction who have been released to the community on conditional release, statutory release, and those subject to Long-Term Supervision Orders.
The pre-identified supplier meets all of the minimum essential requirements described in this ACAN.
7. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection:
(d) only one person is capable of performing the contract.
8. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
This procurement is not subject to any trade agreement.
9. Ownership of Intellectual Property
There are no intellectual property terms in the contract.
10. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
See section 12. Name and address on the pre-identified supplier.
11. Cost estimate of the proposed contract
See section 12. Name and address on the pre-identified supplier.
12. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
Name: Connective Support Society 21884-26-0008
Address: 763 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5V 3C2
Period of the proposed contract: 1 year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 with an option to extend the contract for 3 additional one-year periods.
Cost estimate of the proposed contract including options: $9,928,484.00 (GST extra).
Name: Cridge Centre for the Family 21882-26-0009
Address: 1307 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 0A2
Period of the proposed contract: 1 year from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027 with an option to extend the contract for 4 additional one-year periods.
Cost estimate of the proposed contract including options: $626,750.00 (GST extra).
13. 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 and time of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
14. Closing date and time for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is March 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM PST.
15. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to:
Katie Simpson
100 – 33991 Gladys Avenue
Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E8
Telephone: 604-870-2401
E-mail: katie.simpson@csc-scc.gc.ca
