RFSO - Written Translation and Comparative Editing Services - Indigenous Languages

Natural Resources Canada is soliciting standing offers for professional translation and comparative editing services to and from Canada’s official languages—English and French—and Indigenous languages, in alignment with the Official Languages Act and the Indigenous Languages Act. The initiative aims to support internal and external communication across federal, regional, and local levels, serving senior management, employees, union representatives, other government departments, the private sector, and the public. The initial standing offer period runs from the date of issuance through March 31, 2027, with the possibility of up to four one-year extensions, and up to five standing offers will be awarded. The contract is structured as a non-binding standing offer mechanism, where individual work assignments—known as call-ups—are issued under the standing offer, each capped at $39,999.99. Delivery of services occurs remotely, with all work performed by contractors using their own equipment, requiring adherence to ISO 17100 standards, use of TERMIUM Plus® for terminology, and delivery of error-free, fully accurate translations in original file formats, virus-free and with identical formatting to the source. Offerors must meet mandatory criteria including valid business registration, legal compliance, and submission of required documentation before advancing to a technical evaluation scored out of 51 points. Technical merit is assessed by experience in written translation services (up to 10 points) and the presence of a robust quality control system, including documented policies, ISO 17100 compliance, internal audits, multi-step review processes, and formal sign-off procedures (up to 15 points), among other factors. To be eligible for award, offerors must achieve at least 26 points. Indigenous businesses must certify 51% ownership and control by Indigenous persons, which triggers a requirement that 33% of the contract value be performed by Indigenous entities if participating in a joint venture. Former public servants receiving pensions must disclose this, and firms on the Federal Contractors Program “Limited Eligibility to Bid” list are automatically disqualified. Proposals must be submitted electronically through CPC Connect by the deadline of May 20, 2026, and include separate technical, financial, certification, and additional information sections. Invoices are to be sent via email as PDF attachments to a designated government address, with no use of standard federal payment systems like WAWF. All deliverables are inspected and accepted solely by the Project Authority upon electronic receipt, with quality assurance based on zero-defect standards, accuracy, terminology