RFP Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program Evaluation

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is seeking a consulting firm to conduct a summative evaluation of the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) for the period from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026. The evaluation will assess the program's relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and achievement of outcomes across three specific streams: Community Readiness and Opportunities Planning, Entrepreneurship and Business Development, and the Northern Indigenous Economic Research Stream. The project is scheduled to run from the date of award until March 31, 2027, and must comply with the Treasury Board Secretariat Policy and Directive on Results, as well as the Privacy and Financial Administration Acts. This is a fixed-price contract with a maximum estimated cost of 76,000 CAD for professional fees and approximately 8,700 CAD for travel. The award process uses a two-stage evaluation where technical proposals must score at least 70% to proceed to financial evaluation. Technical scoring is based on project summaries, understanding of requirements, methodology, proposal quality, and bidder profile, with priority points given to Indigenous-owned firms. Additionally, 30% of the total evaluated score is dedicated to Inuit and Nunavut Benefits Criteria, including ownership, employment, training, and location within the Nunavut Settlement Area. Proposals must be submitted by September 1, 2026, and must include a separate financial proposal and a detailed Inuit Benefits Plan.