Strengthening Public Service Institutions Initiative

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.2. Definition of the Requirement In support of The Government of Canada’s (GoC) commitment to:Achieving reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through renewed, Nation-to-Nation, Government-to-Government, and Inuit-Crown relationships based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership as the foundation for transformative change;The implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;Strengthening its capacity to engage effectively with Indigenous Peoples; andIncreasing Indigenous perspectives within the Federal Public ServicePacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) requires the services of a contractor with expertise in the areas of human resources, business consulting, and project management to help the department create two-way learning opportunities for First Nations communities and federal departments in the areas of public service development and capacity building.The work will be conducted collaboratively with PacifiCan, other government departments, and external partner organizations. The work will be focused on three key areas:Training and EducationTo provide mutually beneficial opportunities for knowledge transfer, training, and capacity building for the GoC and BC First Nations EmploymentTo encourage porous employment opportunities and 'learning through doing' for the GoC? and BC First Nations Communications and CoordinationTo support enhanced communications and coordination between the GoC? and BC First NationsTasks and deliverables may include, but are not limited to the following:Support communication between BC First Nations and the GoC?.Plan and facilitate collaborative learning events for First Nations and federal public servants (FPS);Plan and facilitate reverse town halls to FPS by First Nations on topics relevant to working with and in a First Nations administration;Facilitate delivery of Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) course instruction to BC First Nations participants;Create opportunities for First Nations public servants to attend FPS learning events and for FPS to participate in First Nations learning events and committees;Support GoC? participation in the Indigenous Intern Leadership Program (IILP);Facilitate External Indigenous Placements for IILP interns;Develop navigation tools to guide BC First Nations with sector-specific GoC? programs and services3. Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements: ExperienceMust be an Indigenous organization at the Provincial level or higher that has provided institutional supports for public servants and administrators in First Nation Governments and First Nation Organizations;Coordinating and strengthening human resources capacity and development in BC First Nations administrations;Facilitating engagement and collaboration between BC First Nations administrations and the GoC?;Coordinating, organizing, and facilitating, seminars, and other events for First Nations Administrations and the GoC?;Digital outreach and engagement with BC First Nations Administrations/Organizations and the GoC?;Providing guidance to First Nations Administrations/Organizations on researching, developing, and implementing policies related to human resources; Knowledge and understanding ofThe current landscape of BC First Nations Administrations/Organizations, including the current issues and challenges faced;Indigenous policy research, development, and implementation with regards to First Nations Administrations/Organizations;Indigenous human resources capacity building and development with regards to First Nations Administrations/Organizations;Nation-to-Nation engagement and knowledge sharing;Culturally responsive facilitation methods; Academic qualificationsAt least one (1) proposed resource must possess a graduate (Master’s) degree from a recognized university in one (1) of the following fields: 1) Political Science, 2) Communications, 3) Economics; Professional designation, accreditation, and/or certificationAt least one (1) proposed resource must have a project management certification from a recognized institution.4. Applicability of the Trade Agreement(s)Canada's free trade agreements pose no impediment to the inclusion of measures for the benefit of Indigenous Peoples and/or businesses in a procurement. This includes setting aside procurements for Indigenous business under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB). As such, this procurement is no longer subject to the obligations of the trade agreements and no longer falls under the jurisdiction of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT).5. Set-aside Under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB)This procurement is set-aside for an Indigenous supplier in accordance with PSIB. Therefore, only suppliers who meet the definition of an Indigenous business, as defined in the PSIB?, may submit a statement of capabilities. For more information on Indigenous business requirements of the Set-aside Program for Indigenous Business see Annex 9.4 of the Supply Manual.6. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements (CLCAs)This procurement is not subject to any CLCAs.7. Justification for the Pre-Identified SupplierThe Pre-Identified supplier is a provincial-level organization that supports First Nations in BC with capacity building, providing tools and training specifically tailored to the needs of BC First Nations public servants in the areas of: Records and Information Management, Policy Development, Human Resources Development, and Financial management. The pre-identified supplier is uniquely positioned to perform the work required by PacifiCan, specifically due to its expert knowledge and experience related to: facilitating intergovernmental relationships among First Nations Public Service and public servants in other levels of government (federal, provincial, municipal); its culturally responsive facilitation methods; and facilitating First Nations inter-organizational collaboration and capacity building. To our knowledge, no other Indigenous organization offers a comparable suite of tools, resources, and training specialized to the needs of public administration in First Nations communities and organizations in BC.The Pre-Identified Supplier has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PacifiCan, as outlined in Section 2 – Definition of Requirement, which includes signatories from the following stakeholder groups: BC First Nations; other government departments and agencies; and outside organizations. Owing to the MOU, the Pre-Identified Supplier has extensive pre-established collaborative relationships with these stakeholder groups that enables them to readily perform the work required by PacifiCan. For this reason, there are no other feasible options.The Pre-Identified Supplier’s resources meet all of the criteria described in this ACAN.8. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection:6(d) – “Only one person is capable of performing the work.”9. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering ReasonsThis procurement is set aside from the international trade agreements under the provision each has for measures with respect to Aboriginal peoples or for set-asides for small and minority businesses. Further to Article 800 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), CFTA does not apply to this procurement.10. Ownership of Intellectual PropertyOwnership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.11. Period of the Proposed Contract or Delivery DateThe proposed contract period is from date of contract award to March 31, 2023 with an option to extend the contract period by one (1) additional year.12. Cost Estimate of the Proposed ContractThe estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $1,000,000.00 (GST/HST extra).13. Name and Address of the Pre-Identified SupplierFirst Nations Public Service Secretariat#1200-100 Park Royal SouthWest Vancouver, BC V7T 1A2Canada14. Supplier’s Right to Submit a Statement of CapabilitiesSuppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.15. Closing Date for a Submission of a Statement of CapabilitiesThe closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is September 1, 2022 at 3:00PM PDT.16. Inquiries and Submission of Statements of CapabilitiesInquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to the contact identified in the notice.