Coordinating the collection of data and samples from harvested beluga and biopsies from living beluga in Nunavik

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is seeking a contractor to coordinate the collection of biological samples and data from hunted and living beluga whales in Nunavik for the purpose of stock assessment and conservation management. This solicitation is issued as an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN), indicating that Makivvik Corporation has been pre-identified as the sole supplier capable of fulfilling the requirements due to its unique role under the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement and its established authority to engage with Indigenous communities. Interested parties must submit a Statement of Capabilities demonstrating they meet four minimum essential requirements: significant experience coordinating wildlife sampling in Nunavik communities; fluency in English, French, and Inuktitut; the ability to issue payments to individuals and organizations within four weeks; and demonstrated knowledge of the socio-economic, cultural, and political dimensions of beluga management in the region. The contract has an estimated value of $514,000, covering a base period through March 31, 2027, with an option to extend for up to four additional one-year periods. Key deliverables include two annual shipments of frozen beluga tissue samples by November 1 and January 15, annual submission of age-determination data derived from tooth growth layers by February 1, and accompanying digital datasets in English, French, and Inuktitut. Samples must be collected using provided kits, kept frozen at all times, and shipped in labeled coolers to the Maurice-Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli, Quebec. Metadata must be accurately recorded on sampling sheets and digitized in Excel format. The contractor will also be responsible for distributing sampling kits, managing logistics across Nunavik communities, ensuring proper cold-chain handling, and maintaining cultural and linguistic competency throughout program implementation. Proposals must be submitted by July 22, 2026, via email to the designated contracting officer, and no formal FAR clauses or detailed pricing line items are included in the notice, reflecting the non-competitive nature of the award based on unique capability.