Region of Waterloo Horizon Scanning Consultant Selection

The Region of Waterloo is seeking a consulting firm to conduct a strategic horizon scanning exercise to establish an evidence base for its 2027 corporate strategic planning process. The selected consultant will employ quantitative and qualitative methodologies to analyze mature and emergent trends across social, economic, environmental, political, legislative, and technological contexts. A primary objective is to evaluate how these trends have evolved since the previous strategic plan and how they specifically impact the Region's diverse populations and geographies, including Area Municipalities. Key deliverables include a trend and context analysis, the facilitation of sense-making sessions, and the production of updated trend cards and a final report. The estimated contract value ranges between 40,000.00 and 60,000.00 CAD, excluding HST. The selection process is a single-stage competition where proponents are evaluated on their understanding of the Region, the quality of their foresight methodology, and their experience with similar projects, with a mandatory minimum technical score of 70 percent to proceed to interviews and pricing. Successful bidders must adhere to strict compliance requirements, including providing three references and maintaining comprehensive public and automobile liability insurance of at least 2,000,000.00 per occurrence. Additionally, the consultant must ensure all employees are paid a minimum Living Wage as defined by the Ontario Living Wage Network and maintain a valid WSIB Clearance Certificate. The Region will not negotiate the terms of the professional consulting services agreement, and performance is monitored through an evaluation system that can lead to probation or suspension for scores below 80 percent.