Building Knowledge & Resources in Support of Indigenous Sign Languages

1. ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN) An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 2. DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT The Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has a requirement for research on the use, teaching and retention of Indigenous sign languages (ISL) and experiences of accessibility barriers by users of these languages, resources to promote awareness of Indigenous sign languages outside the specific communities where they have been created. This work will involve the following: research on the use of Indigenous sign languages, identification of communication barriers faced by users, and novel approaches and best practices for documenting and supporting the use of Indigenous sign languages, as well as the development of tools, resources and communication products to promote awareness of Indigenous sign languages and support their use. 2.1 BACKGROUND Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for the overall administration of the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), where this includes the development of policies and strategies that aim to advance accessibility within the federally regulated community and beyond. Communication, other than information and communication technologies, is one of the seven priority areas set out in the ACA, and persons with disabilities can face a wide range of communication-related barriers. Furthermore, the ACA recognizes American Sign Language, Langue des signes Québécoise and Indigenous sign languages (ISLs), as the primary languages for communication by deaf persons in Canada. Understandings of disability vary in Indigenous communities and disabilities are frequently celebrated, in that the use of a different language for communication is seen as a privilege more than a barrier. As a result, barriers such as lack of access to people who speak their Indigenous sign language can be the primary type of barrier faced by some Deaf First Nations persons when they leave their communities. Better understanding how Indigenous sign languages are taught used and retained, and the types of communication barriers that can be experienced by Indigenous persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing will help inform the Government to better effectively design related policies and strategies. 2.2 SCOPE OF WORK As part of its mandate to advance accessibility through a better understanding of the barriers faced by Canadians across the priority areas set out in the ACA, ESDC is seeking to learn more about how Indigenous sign languages are taught, used and retained by user groups over time. A secondary objective is to support the use of Indigenous sign languages as they are recognized in the ACA as primary languages of communication by Deaf persons across Canada along with American Sign Language and Langue des signes québécoise. The scope of work is divided into two parts: 1. Research on Indigenous sign language(s); and 2. Resource and communication tool development. PART ONE: RESEARCH Conduct research to learn more about: • The use of Indigenous sign language(s) (e.g., nature and number of users, range of dialects, etc.) and how they are taught; • The nature of communication barriers faced by users of Indigenous sign language(s) and recommendation on removal of barriers; • Novel approaches to supporting the use of Indigenous sign language(s) used in other jurisdictions; and • Best practices used in documenting Indigenous sign language(s) for the purposes cultural preservation and promoting their use. Research on the use of Indigenous sign language(s) will include filming participants who are users of Indigenous sign language(s), as identified by the contractor. Information collected about these participants will be limited to their name and community and will be stored in a secure format that only the project coordinator can access. The research may focus on a particular Indigenous sign language and present findings in a way that allows ESDC to extrapolate findings and recommendations to support a knowledge base about various Indigenous sign languages. PART TWO: SUPPORT THE USE OF INDIGENOUS SIGN LANGUAGES Develop tools, resources and/or communication products that may support and promote the use of Indigenous sign languages within communities and for use by the Government of Canada to promote awareness of Indigenous sign language(s). These may include video recordings, CDs, and printed products aimed at children or adults. Videos developed as communications products for this contract will include the purchase and use of traditional props (Haudenosaunee) such as baskets, water drums, rattles, etc. These props will remain the property of the Government of Canada and be used to support reconciliation-related learning within ESDC. 2.3 DELIVERABLES DELIVERABLE 1: Work Plan The Contractor must submit a work plan describing the work to be undertaken, including timelines. Due Date: Within 25 Business Days after Contract Award DELIVERABLE 2: Interim Report The Contractor must submit an interim report summarizing activities undertaken so far and outlining next steps. Due Date: February 15, 2024 DELIVERABLE 3: Draft Final / Research Report The Contractor must submit a draft final research report that addresses part one of the scope of work. Due Date: April 15, 2024 DELIVERABLE 4: Final Research Report & Tools, Resources and Communications Products The Contractor must submit a final research report, incorporating feedback from ESDC. The Contractor must submit a copy of all tools, resources and communications products developed as part two of the scope of work. Due Date: May 15, 2024 3. CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES (MINIMUM ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS) Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements: • Experience in teaching Indigenous languages. (10 pts) • Experience in developing resources to support and promote the use of Indigenous languages. (10 pts) • Knowledge and understanding of an Indigenous sign language. (30 pts) • Knowledge of the social context in which an ISL is used and transmitted within its community of users. (20 pts) • Knowledge of communication barriers experienced by ISL users. (10 pts) 4. APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT TO THE PROCUREMENT This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement: • Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement 5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER There is a severe lack of research on the number of users of various Indigenous sign languages in Canada, but the data that exists suggests that knowledge of these languages is very limited. The pre-identified suppliers are speakers of Oneida Sign Language, an Indigenous sign language, and are involved in efforts to promote and preserve this language within the Oneida First Nation. They have been identified as being able to provide first-hand expertise and lived experience with teaching and supporting the use of Indigenous sign languages, providing a perspective that is vital to the successful development of programming and policy in this area. 6. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION(S) The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement: • Section 6 (d) – only one person is capable of performing the contract. 7. OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Canada intends to retain ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract on the basis that the main purpose of the contract is: • Where the Foreground IP consists of material subject to copyright, with the exception of computer software and all documentation pertaining to that software. 8. PERIOD OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT The period of the proposed contract is from the Contract Award Date to May 31, 2024. 9. COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT The estimated value of the contract is $102,522.00 (applicable taxes included). 10. NAME OF THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER Dominique Ireland 11. SUPPLIERS RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing, by e-mail, to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date and time of this Notice. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements. 12. CLOSING DATE AND TIME The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is November 25, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. EST. 13. INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS OF CAPABILITIES All inquiries and statements of capabilities must be submitted by email to: Name: Camille Wanjohi Title: Senior Procurement Specialist Department: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Email: contact@example.gov