Basic Information

Reference Number

0000159800

Issuing Organization

McMaster University

Owner Organization

Student Affairs

Solicitation Type

RFP - Request for Proposal (Formal)

Solicitation Number

JC 06-19-744

Title

Student Mental Health Support Services

Source ID

PU.AC.ON.224221.C98699

Agreement Types

Broader Public Sector (BPS)

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement(CETA)

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

Details

Location

Canada, Ontario

Delivery Point

McMaster University

Purchase Type

Duration: 2 years
Option: 1 year

Description

Background and Purpose

McMaster University invites qualified suppliers to submit responses for the provision of Student Mental Health Support Services in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Request for Proposal.
Over the past decade, Canadian Universities have experienced an increase in the number of students experiencing mental health difficulties. More recently, National College Health Assessment (a tool created in the United States) was distributed across colleges and universities within Canada for the second time within a five-year period. The results showed that a fifth of Canadian post-secondary students were depressed, anxious or battling other mental health issues. Reports of serious mental health crises such as major/clinical depression and suicidal thoughts also rose.
A particularly unique challenge is effectively reaching our international students. Many of them do not readily seek mental health supports, despite facing multiple challenges in their transition to a new country and educational system. International students experience the typical stressors experienced by students transitioning to university, along with culture shock, language barriers, and a strong focus on academic success. They may also come to campus with an internalized stigma about mental health, preventing them from seeking assistance/support. International students also report that they are unaware of resources around them, or are too afraid to reach out.

Scope/Objective

At McMaster University, similar to what is experienced on campuses across the country, we are seeing an increasing number of students with mental health difficulties on campus. In response to this growing issue, McMaster developed a Student Mental Health Strategy, identifying five key priorities, which are described in detail here: http://mentalhealthstrategy.mcmaster.ca.
McMaster University offers a wide array of support resources for students on campus, including:

International Student Services, including advisors, programming, legal advisor and student support coaches.
Student Accessibility Services: Provides students with a permanent disability with academic accommodations. Additional support resources offered to students include: peer-based mentoring program; coaching sessions with a specialist in autism spectrum disorder, etc.
Student Support and Case Management Office: Case management (navigational support, check in support meetings and advocacy) for students experiencing multiple barriers on campus.
Student Success Centre: Access to additional academic skills support, career counselling, financial support and leadership development.
Student Wellness Centre: Access to counselling, nurses, doctors, nutritionist, naturopath, psychiatrist. Health promotion and on-line counselling tools and support resources for students.
Residence Support: Residence life team support student development and are on coverage 24/7. Residence Support Case Manager provides additional support to students who are experiencing complex mental health needs, in addition to the other support resources the student may access on and off campus.
24 Support Lines supported by our student governments: Aspiria and Empower Me;

The University would like to bolster its support resources with an additional three-pronged approach that is further described in Section 5: Deliverables. Proponents may bid on one or more of the following services categories, and McMaster reserves the right to award up to three (3) Proponents, at its sole discretion, based on these service categories:

24/7 Call Centre Support;
Critical Incident Clinical Response;
Acute Mental Health Crisis Clinician On-Site.

Term

The Term of this agreement is for an initial period of two (2) years with an option to renew for one (1) additional year, at McMaster’s sole discretion. The anticipated start date of the contact is, December 1, 2019, subject to change at McMaster’s sole discretion.

Dates

Publication

2019/09/12 04:06:54 PM EDT

Question Acceptance Deadline

2019/10/11 02:00:00 PM EDT

Closing Date

2019/11/08 02:00:00 PM EST

Contact Information

James Carnemolla

905-525-9140 ext. 24587

carnemoj@mcmaster.ca

Bid Submission Process

Bid Submission Type

Electronic Bid Submission

Pricing

In attached document

Bid Documents List

Item Name	Description	Mandatory	Limited to 1 file
RFP Proposal	RFP Proposal	Yes	No
No entries

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