Financial Consultant - British Columbia for the Farm Debt Mediation Service (FDMS)

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is seeking to establish a Task Authorization Contract with qualified contractors to provide financial counselling and mediation services under the Farm Debt Mediation Service (FDMS) in British Columbia. Four contracts will be awarded, each with a five-year term extending to March 31, 2031, to deliver essential support to farmers facing financial distress. Contractors are required to assign qualified Financial Consultants and Mediators who conduct on-site visits to inventory assets, prepare detailed financial statements and recovery plans, and facilitate confidential mediation sessions between farmers and creditors to reach mutually acceptable financial arrangements. All interactions are strictly confidential and intended solely for the purpose of mediation. The service operates on a demand basis, with specific timelines mandating that financial statements and recovery plans be completed within 30 to 45 days of file opening or 17 days prior to a scheduled mediation, and mediation meetings must occur within 50 to 70 days of file opening. Invoices are to be submitted electronically within five business days after file closure, and farm visit reports must be delivered within 15 days of the visit or three business days after the visit. Contractors must adhere to strict security protocols, including requiring all personnel to hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS clearance from AAFC and ensuring that no protected or classified information leaves AAFC-controlled environments or is handled on non-AAFC devices. Key personnel identified in the contract cannot be replaced without prior written notification, justification, qualification verification, and security clearance validation, with Canada retaining the right to reject any proposed replacement. Subcontracting is prohibited without explicit written consent from AAFC, and prime contractors remain fully liable for all subcontractor actions. Offerors must certify compliance with the Anti-Forced Labour Clause, affirm they have not paid contingency fees to lobbyists, and notify AAFC within ten days of any change in business location that could affect their status as a Canadian or applicable trading partner supplier. Proposals must be submitted electronically via CPC Connect with the solicitation number included and include a Technical Offer, Financial Offer, and Offeror Declaration Form. Evaluation is based on a trade-off process weighing technical merit—emphasizing financial analysis and recovery planning (50 points), third-party verification of assets and liabilities (20 points), counselling in high-stress situations (15 points), and understanding of the Farm Debt Mediation Act (15 points)—against price, with no lowest-price technically acceptable (LPTA) determination. Contractors must also comply with environmental packaging