Ministry of Correctional Services of Ontario enters public-private partnership with Compass Group Canada
Client
Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services
On January 12, 2002, the Ministry of Correctional Services of Ontario entered into a public-private partnership agreement with Compass Group Canada Ltd. providing for the operation and maintenance of a new cook chill food production centre (CCFPC) at the Maplehurst Correctional Centre in Milton, Ontario.
The private sector contractor, a subsidiary of UK-based Compass Group PLC, the world's largest food service company, was selected following a competitive selection process, including a request for proposals phase. The Government will own the land, building and equipment. The contractor will initially supply approximately 19,000 meals daily for inmates at three correctional institutions. These institutions account for approximately 50 percent of the Ministry's adult offender population.
The cook chill system allows meals to be prepared in advance, chilled for short-term storage and re-heated for serving. The intent of introducing cook chill technology into Ontario's correctional food services system is to realize cost savings. The new facility will save taxpayer dollars through large volume food preparation. Currently, food services operate on a jail-by-jail basis.
The agreement also requires the contractor to provide skills training opportunities for inmates as part of an industrial work program during times when meals are prepared for Ontario's correctional system. Qualified inmates involved in a temporary absence program will also be able to work at the CCFPC as part of an employment initiative. All inmates involved with the CCFPC will be low risk and carefully screened. The Ministry expects that its demands will not fully use the CCFPC's production capacity. Subject to meeting the Ministry's requirements as its first priority, the contractor will be permitted to use the CCFPC's excess capacity for the production of third party sales and the province will receive a share of the revenues.
The Ministry of Correctional Services was advised by Heather Plewes, Legal Counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney General. Fasken Martineau acted as outside counsel with lawyers David Doubilet and Tom Barlow (public-private partnerships), David Corbett (labour), Ian Kyer (information technology) and Donald Milner (creditors' rights).
|
|
|