Mediator Consultant - Quebec for the Farm Debt Mediation Service (FDMS)

The Programs Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is seeking to award up to six four-year Task Authorization Contracts to qualified contractors for the provision of financial counselling and mediation services under the Farm Debt Mediation Service in Quebec, excluding the National Capital Region. Contractors will deliver services on an as-and-when-requested basis to assist farmers facing financial hardship, facilitating confidential, voluntary mediation sessions between farmers and their creditors with the goal of reaching mutually acceptable repayment arrangements. Each contract will require the contractor to assign both a Financial Consultant and a Mediator who must collaborate closely, with the Mediator leading the mediation process, ensuring strict confidentiality of all information exchanged, and preparing formal written agreements when outcomes are reached. All services must be performed in either French or bilingual French and English, as chosen by the contractor, and must use AAFC-provided laptops and approved software, including M365 platforms such as Outlook and Teams. Contractors and their personnel are required to hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS security clearance issued by AAFC and comply with strict safeguarding protocols that prohibit the removal of protected or classified information from AAFC premises and mandate all electronic work be conducted solely on AAFC networks and devices. Proposals must be submitted in three distinct sections—Technical Offer, Financial Offer, and the mandatory Offer Submission and Declaration Forms—and evaluated against a pass/fail structure and weighted scoring system. The technical evaluation carries 70% weight and is based on three criteria: recent mediation experience (maximum 50 points, minimum 35 to pass), understanding of the FDMS framework (rated 1 to 5 points), and demonstrated approach to managing high-stress situations. Price, evaluated as a fixed all-inclusive per diem rate, accounts for the remaining 30%. Offers must meet a minimum overall technical score of 55 out of 80 points to be considered compliant. Contractors are responsible for maintaining comprehensive records for up to seven years after final payment, submitting invoices in electronic format with full expenditure details, and adhering to a 30-day payment cycle from invoice receipt, with interest accruing on overdue amounts at the Average Rate plus 3% annually. The contract includes clauses on confidentiality, intellectual property liability, termination for default, and inspection rights, with all documentation prioritized in a defined order from the Articles of Agreement down to the contractor’s offer. Contractors must also ensure compliance with security, insurance, and integrity requirements, and any misrepresentation in certifications may result in contract termination and future ineligibility for government contracts. The