The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to post the University of Ottawa’s (uOttawa) intention to enter into contractual arrangements with TAO Connect Inc to provide the access to the online program tool identified in the requirements noted below.
This ACAN provides prospective vendors the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying all requirements set out in this ACAN by way of submitting a Statement of Capabilities on or before the posting end date.
SCOPE OF WORK FOR PROPOSED SERVICE PROVIDER
The Universiy of Ottawa SAAS – Student Academic Success Service requires to purchase an access to the online program tool from TAO Connect Inc to enable, support and compliment its face to face counselling for its student population. This online program is an essential component of the Stepped Care model[1] that SASS is implementing as part of its new service delivery model, informed by best practices in campus mental health (Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health: http://campusmentalhealth.ca/connect/conference-2017-innovation-opportunities-campus-mental-health/).
It is well known by the majority of post-secondary institutions that meeting the increasing demands of mental health services on campus through a traditional counselling or health care model is no longer possible. Stepped care has been demonstrated to be valuable and effective in systems where demand for services outweighs supply. The nine step model of mental health care offers same day access and multiple levels of online programming that contributes to a healthy campus while incorporating low-intesity preventative and proactive interventions that foster student autonomy and responsibility. Without a comprehensive and intereactive program like TAO, this service delivery model would not be possible, as the online platform provides assistance and support for seven of the nine step model. When implemented with all its components, the Stepped Care model has allowed many post-secondary institutions to eliminate waitlists
[1] Cornish, P., et al. (2017). Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Today’s College Student : Reinventing Services Through Stepped Care 2.0. American Psychological Association, 14, 428-442. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ser0000158
TAO Connect Inc has been identified to our knowledge as the only available Access Online Program Tool that meets the requirements, that can deliver the tool, and has an intimate understanding of Stepped Care program currently used by Canadian post-secondary institutionsntly including: Carleton University, McGill University, Memorial University, UBC, University of New Brunswick and New Brunswick Community College.
Furthermore, after researching the market place, we could not identify another comparable product like TAO that offers the range of modules, that allows Counsellors to interact with students or that can provide all the identified benefits. The only other products that are similar to TAO were WellTrack and My Student Body.
The table below highlights TAO’s superiority and uniqueness in terms of Modules and features capabilities;
Products
TAO
Modules: 9 Features: 9
WellTrack33
Modules: 3 Features: 3
My Student Body43
Modules: 4 Features: 3
For more information on this opportunityu, please order full document from Merx.
Thank you,
Val/rie Domingue
