Employ qualified therapists who have training in Emotional Focused Therapy for couples. Expertise in domestic violence, serving victims and offenders. Demonstrated collaborative relationship with relevant stakeholders (e.g. police, women’s shelter, child welfare). Demand for couple counselling that exceeds current resources. Ability to meet the needs of diverse populations, including providing services in French. One of the sites will be designated a Lead Agency. The Lead Agency will serve as the Vendor’s primary conduit for data and information about the intervention. For the purposes of calculating travel expenses, the Bidder may assume the northern site will be located from Sudbury and north, the rural site will be located approximately 250 - 350 km from Toronto and the urban site will likely be located within the greater Toronto area. Women who have requested conjoint counselling from the pilot sites for issues related to abuse, who do not have the means to pay, and who are appropriate for conjoint counselling will be invited to participate in the pilot study. (Note: An assessment session will be required to ensure it is safe to proceed with conjoint counselling.) Women can self-refer, however third party referrals are also anticipated from police (when no charges have been laid), Child Welfare agencies and other community counselling services. The following provides additional information of how the study will be conducted: The sample size will consist of 100 couples over a course of approximately 9 months. The specific goal of counselling will be to reduce thinking, behaviours and conflict that may lead to domestic violence. The two partners in each couple will first be seen alone, each for a 1 hour assessment, where they will be screened for safety using a standardized screening tool (e.g. Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream tool [H.I.T.S], Conflict Tactics Scale etc.). When couples are excluded from the pilot study due to risk, women will be offered VAW counselling services and men will be offered alternative services, such as individual counselling and/or other community based services. Participants will be limited to those who are comfortable receiving the counselling in English and/or French. All participants will sign a consent to service, which will include terms of service, privacy and confidentiality, limit of confidentiality (e.g. in cases of risk) and terms of research.
Bid Dispute Bidders are advised that a formal bid dispute process is available, the details for which are available from the Contact. Prohibited Bidder Communications Bidders shall address all questions and requests for clarification with respect to their Bids, or the RFB documents or the RFB process only to the Contact set out at Part 1 of this RFB. Bidders shall not contact or make any attempt to contact, any Ontario government employee or representative, other than the Ministry Contact; or, any other Bidder with respect to a Bid , the RFB documents, or the RFB process, at any time during the RFB process. Without limiting the generality of the Bidders, shall not contact or attempt to contact, any member of the Ministry evaluation team for the RFB; any expert or advisor assisting the Ministry evaluation team; any staff of the Premier of Ontario’s office or the Ontario Cabinet Office; any Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament or his or her staff or advisors; or any Member of the Ontario Provincial Cabinet or their staff or advisors, on matters related to their Bids, the RFB documents, or the RFB process at any time during the RFB process. Bidder Not to Make a Public Statement or Communicate With Media A Bidder may not at any time directly or indirectly make a public statement or communicate with the media in relation to this RFB or any contract awarded pursuant to this RFB without first obtaining the written permission of the Contact. Where a Bidder makes a communication contrary to this section the Ministry may disclose such information necessary to correct any inaccuracy of information.
Reserved Rights of the Ministry The Ministry reserves the right to: make public the names of any or all Bidders; the name of the Preferred Bidder(s); and, the total price for the contract awarded; request written clarification or the submission of supplementary written information in relation to the clarification request from any Bidder and incorporate a Bidder’s response to that request for clarification into the Bidder’s Bid; assess a Bidder’s Bid on the basis of: a financial analysis determining the actual cost of the Bid when considering factors including transition costs arising from the replacement of existing goods, services, practices, methodologies and infrastructure (howsoever originally established); information provided by references; the Bidder’s past performance on previous contracts awarded by the Government of Ontario; information provided by a Bidder pursuant to the Ministry exercising its clarification rights under this RFB process; or other relevant information that arises during this RFB process; waive non-compliance where, in the Ministry's sole discretion, such non-compliance is minor and not of a material nature, or to accept or reject in whole or in part any or all Bids, with or without giving notice. Such minor non-compliance will be deemed substantial compliance and capable of acceptance. The Ministry will be the sole judge of whether a Bid is accepted or rejected; verify with any Bidder or with a third party any information set out in a Bid; check references other than those provided by any Bidder; disqualify any Bidder whose Bid contains misrepresentations or any other inaccurate or misleading information; disqualify any bid or rescind any contract award where the bidder either: fails to disclose; or, is determined to have an actual or perceived unfair advantage or Conflict of Interest determined to be material by the Ministry; disqualify any Bidder or the Bid of any Bidder who has engaged in conduct prohibited by this RFB; make changes, including substantial changes, to this RFB provided that changes are issued by way of addenda in the manner set out in this RFB; select any Bidder other than the Bidder whose Bid reflects the lowest cost to the Ministry or the highest score;
Interpretive Value of Contract Documents Interpretive Value of Headings Force Majeure Notices by Prescribed Means Governing Law Currency Article 2 – Nature of Relationship Between Ministry and Vendor Vendor’s Power to Contract Representatives May Bind Parties Vendor Not a Partner, Agent or Employee Responsibility of Vendor No Subcontracting or Assignment Duty to Disclose Change of Control Conflict of Interest Contract Binding Article 3 – Performance by Vendor Commencement of Performance Performance Warranty Use and Access Restrictions Notification by Vendor to Ministry Condonation Not a Waiver Changes By Written Amendment Only Vendor to Comply with Reasonable Change Requests Pricing for Requested Changes Non-Exclusive Contract, Work Volumes Performance by Specified Individuals Only Security Clearance Accessibility Requirements Ministry Rights and Remedies & Vendor Obligations Not Limited to Contract Article 4 - Payment for Performance and Audit Payment According to Contract Default Billing and Payment Process Hold Back or Set Off No Expenses or Additional Charges Payment and Collection of Taxes and Duties Withholding Tax Interest on Late Payment Document Retention and Audit Article 5 – Confidentiality and FIPPA Confidentiality and Promotion Restrictions OPS Confidential Information Restrictions on Copying Injunctive and Other Relief Notice and Protective Records and Compliance Survival Article 6 - Intellectual Property Ministry Intellectual Property Newly Created Intellectual Property Vendor Intellectual Property Presumption Governing Intellectual Property Ownership Vendor’s Grant of Licence No Restrictive Material in Deliverables Vendor Representation and Warranty Regarding Third-Party Intellectual Property Assurances Regarding Moral Rights Copyright Notice Further Assurances Regarding Copyright No Use of Government Insignia Ministry May Prescribe Further Compliance Survival Article 7 - Indemnity and Insurance Article 8 - Termination, Expiry and Extension Immediate Termination of Contract Dispute Resolution by Rectification Notice Termination on Notice Termination for Non-Appropriation Vendor’s Obligations on Termination Vendor’s Payment Upon Termination Termination in Addition to Other Rights Expiry and Extension of Contract Article 9 – Security Clearance Definitions Security Screening Check Changes Default under Agreement Schedule 1 (Schedule of Deliverables, Rates and Supplementary Provisions)