Community Living British Columbia (“CLBC”) has a mandate to provide services and support to adults with developmental disabilities and/or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder with adaptive functioning challenges.
The Community Living Authority Act that governs CLBC requires CLBC to endeavor to offer a range of funding and planning options that promote choice, flexibility and self-determination, such as individualized funding options for people and families eligible for CLBC. Over 5,000 individuals who are eligible for supports through CLBC and/or their families have expressed interest in and/or are using individualized funding (“IF”) and/or Person Centered Societies [“PCS”] to receive services and supports. This number has increased each year since CLBC’s inception. In order to support these individuals and families to navigate the complexities of individualized funding options and achieve sustainable service and supports through them, CLBC has funded VELA Microboard Association of BC (“VELA”) since 2008 to provide direct support to individuals and families across BC. This includes:
• education and training with regards to individualized funding options for individuals, families and other interest holders (like agencies funded by CLBC)
• direct support on a case-by-case basis to the individuals and families as they pursue and/or utilize individualized funding options and as challenges arise
• assistance to individuals and families exploring or utilizing individualized funding options to develop circles of support, family to family support, and other helpful social networks and connections in community that improve the sustainability and effectiveness of supports through individualized funding mechanisms
Given that VELA is the only organization in BC with the ability to provide individuals and families across BC with the information and a range of supports needed to make informed choices and sustain effective individualized services (IF and person centred societies) over time, notice is hereby given by CLBC, of its intent to expand the service deliverables, funding envelope and enter into a contract with VELA to provide the following supports to individuals and families in communities across BC interested in and/or utilizing individualize funding approaches. Below are the expectations as they relate to the support VELA will provide as part of this contract arrangement:
TRAINING AND EXPLORATION OF INCLUSIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS
Description: VELA will provide province-wide training, outreach, and individualized support to individuals eligible for CLBC services and their families/networks to explore and pursue personalized, inclusive, and creative support options.
Key Activities:
• Deliver information sessions to increase awareness of IF options, Microboards, and PCS.
• Facilitate workshops on inclusive planning, visioning, and goal setting.
• Provide one-on-one consultations to help individuals and families/support networks navigate planning and support options.
• Develop and maintain accessible resources (e.g. handouts, videos, templates, tools).
• Partner with community organizations to co-host learning/awareness building events.
SUPPORT FOR MICROBOARDS, PERSON CENTRED SOCIETIES (PCS) AND INDIVIDUALIZED FUNDING (IF) USERS
Description: Vela will provide individualized and group training, technical support, and tools to assist individuals and families/support networks in the development and ongoing management of Microboards and Person Centred Societies (PCS) and in implementing Individualized Funding supports in alignment with CLBC’s Policy Framework.
Key Activities:
• Deliver training sessions and consultations on how to establish and maintain Microboards and Person Centred Societies.
• Deliver training sessions and consultations on how to establish and implement Individualized Funding Supports (Direct Funding & Host Agency).
• Provide technical support for managing Direct Funding (DF), including employment responsibilities (e.g. CRA, WCB).
• Provide support for what to consider when choosing a Host Agency and developing an effective working relationship with a Host Agency.
• Offer specialized workshops based on the needs of IF, Microboard and PCS users.
• Respond to direct individual and family/support network inquiries and referrals from CLBC.
• Provide resources such as sample constitutions, job descriptions, and support agreements to Microboards and Direct Funded Agents.
• Provide one-on-one support in customizing governance documents and understanding incorporation processes under the applicable legislation in British Columbia. This does not include drafting incorporation documents or providing legal advice.
• Develop and make available templates and tools for board governance, reporting, and sustainability.
• Deliver introductory sessions to provide an overview of CLBC’s PCS Policy and Contracting Framework:
COLLABORATION WITH CLBC STAFF AND REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Description: Vela will collaborate with CLBC provincial and regional staff to ensure consistent, informed, and collaborative support for individuals and families navigating self-directed support options, including Individualized Funding, Microboards, and PCS arrangements.
CLBC has chosen not to tender the above contract for the following reason(s):
• VELA is the only organization in BC with the capacity, knowledge, experience and relationships (i.e. with other funding bodies and regional and local resources) to support individuals and families on a provincial scale to make decisions about pursing individualized funding options (IF and Person Centred Societies), develop and sustain individualized funding options, and problem-solve/navigate joint funding or other complexities that may arise as people pursue and sustain services and support for themselves and/or their family members through individualized funding options;
• VELA is the only organization in BC with the existing infrastructure and staff required to operate a sustainable model that CLBC requires to meet the needs of individuals and families interested in or using individualized funding options across BC;
• VELA is the only organization that has established a method of supporting individuals and families to create Person Centred Societies and sustain required learning with regards to individualized funding options on a provincial scale across BC
• VELA is the only organization in BC that has established and trained facilitators required to deliver workshops on individualized funding and Person Centred Societies to individuals, families, CLBC staff and other supporters/relevant entities across BC;
• VELA is the only organization in BC with long term established relationships and networks of over 900 unique individuals and families across BC who utilize IF and Person Centred Societies
CLBC’s current contract with VELA has been in place since 01 April 2016 and was most recently posted as an NOI to extend and increase the contract in January of 2020 (#81-CST-2020-396-NOI) with a max funding envelope of $650,000.00 per annum. Since the initial contract in 2016. The total contract aggregate dollar amount is $4,427,608.32 since April 1, 2016. CLBC is issuing this NOI in order to expand the scope of working, the requisite funding envelope, and extend the term of the previous contract.
The expansion of scope and funding envelope will support the following:
1. Increase staff by 0.5 FTE for a total of 6.45 FTE to support the increased support demands as a result of CLBC’s new Person Centred Society Policy and Contracting Framework.
2. Provide additional training and support to PCS, Microboards and IF agents.
The term of the resulting contract is expected to be fifteen (15) months from January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 with the option to renew, at the sole discretion of Community Living BC, for two (2) additional one (1) year terms. The contract value will not exceed $750,000 per annum.
Vendors wishing to object to this decision should submit in writing by email to the contact identified above on or before 14:00PM Pacific Time on November 26, 2025, detailing specific reasons for the objection and proof of capability to deliver the required services.
A vendor’s proof of ability to demonstrate capacity, experience and the established relationships and infrastructure required to provide the range of family support services listed above will be the key criterion with regard to the consideration of vendor objections.
CLBC will assess any challenge of the NOI process by a vendor and, at its sole discretion, CLBC will decide to undertake a competitive process or proceed to directly negotiate and award the contract. CLBC’s decisions in this regard will be final.
