(Quebec) The unprecedented tender for the deployment of independent workers in the healthcare network is suspended following a complaint filed with the Autorité des Marchés Publics.
Updated yesterday at 3:04pm.
The decision by the Electronic Tendering Service (SEAO) comes on the same day that La Presse reports on the concerns of the largest group of private employment agencies, who have denounced the introduction of new commitment clauses. According to him, the tender risked throwing the public health network “into chaos” in addition to “exploding the cost” of hiring independent health professionals.
According to the SEAO website, the controversial tender of unprecedented size is suspended after a complaint was lodged with the Autorité des Marchés Publics (AMP). The deadline for receipt and opening of bids, which was supposed to be Monday 23 January, has to be postponed due to processing time.
Group of Quebec Private Care Companies (EPPSQ) President Patrice Lapointe was briefed on SEAO’s decision on Thursday. He confirmed that the complaint, filed last Monday, came from a member of his association, which brings together around twenty companies. The elements of the complaint are essentially the issues denounced at La Presse, such as the introduction of a uniform tariff.
“What we find regrettable is that we are turning to the KAG [Centre d’acquisitions gouvernementales], we have no answer. We ask to speak to the government, we get no answer. We complain to the AMP, we have no news. And then we go to the media, then suddenly something happens, regrets Mr. Lapointe. Is this the only way to challenge the government? »
That leaves us [avec la question :] Was it our media release that started things?
Patrice Lapointe, President of the EPPSQ
The AMP stated that it is currently “in the analysis phase” of the complaint. “If this analysis leads to the conclusion that the applicable normative framework has been breached, the AMP could require changes from the public body and a decision could also be published,” we argue.
“However, if our analysis does not lead to the conclusion that a violation has occurred, the suspension of the public tender is lifted and the procedure can be continued by the public body,” the body explains.
In mid-December, the Government Acquisitions Center launched a call for tenders to fill the need, which is estimated at more than 8 million man-hours to be completed by workers from private agencies. This unprecedented volume is based on needs estimated by CISSSs and CIUSSSs across the province for the next year. The EEPSQ also regretted the short deadline of 30 days to respond to the tender.
“It’s not trivial, CAG is launching the largest contract ever in our industry, covering the entire province of Quebec. They do this on December 19th with the minimum time required by law, not a minute longer, changing the whole rules of the game. In the past there have been meetings with suppliers before the bidding process was launched. All of that has been abolished,” denounces Mr Lapointe.
In the tender, Quebec introduced the notion of “single rate,” meaning that a bidder must propose a single rate per employment group, regardless of whether the service is offered in Montreal or in Sept-Îles. Otherwise it is inadmissible.
In this framework strategy, too, the tender tightens the non-competition clause. For example, a caregiver who leaves the public network cannot work in a facility for a provider in the same administrative district as her previous employer or even “in the neighboring regions” for a period of one year – a new regulation.