INTRODUCTION
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern. The AFN hosts two Assemblies a year where mandates and directives for the organization are established through resolutions directed and supported by the First Nations-in-Assembly (elected Chiefs or proxies from member First Nations).
In addition to the direction provided by Chiefs of each member First Nation, the AFN is guided by an Executive Committee consisting of an elected National Chief and Regional Chiefs from each province and territory. Representatives from five national councils (Knowledge Keepers, Youth, Veterans, 2SLGBTQQIA+ and Women) support and guide the decisions of the Executive Committee.
The AFN has been directed by Resolution 16/2023, Distinctions-Based Indigenous Health Legislation (DBIHL) to make First Nations recommendations to the federal government about what should be included in any proposed health legislation. This work is guided by the AFN Leadership Table on DBIHL and the Chiefs Committee on Health (CCoH). This work will begin in October 2023 and end in March 2024. AFN is seeking support with strategic and legal advice on the review of key elements and consultation draft documents that Canada will send to the AFN First Nations Leadership Table. By late Winter (March) 2024, AFN will report back on key developments and FN specific feedback to First Nations-In-Assembly, before Canada introduces health legislation to Parliament.
OBJECTIVE
The AFN Health Sector is seeking legal support to help develop recommendations and strategic direction on federal distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation.
The objective of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to select a bidder (legal firm) to provide professional and high-quality legal services for the AFN Health Sector’s work on health legislation. The successful bidder will liaise with the Director of Health, the AFN Leadership Table, and the Chiefs Committee on Health to complete this work.
The start date of this contract will be determined by both parties to this agreement. All services will be rendered between October 2023 and March 2024.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
All proposals shall be received by the AFN no later than 5pm EDT on September 22, 2023. Proposals must be submitted electronically, and by both Word and PDF, with the subject line “Request for Proposal – Law Firm to Support AFN with Health Legislation.” Late submissions will not be accepted.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All proposals shall include the following information:
a) Cover Page;
b) Table of Contents:
c) Legal Project Summary (e.g., introduction, issue statement, objectives, methodology, qualifications of applicant organization, evaluation, long-term project plans, etc.);
d) Budget Description;
e) Team Biographies/Resumes;
f) Appendices (if applicable); and
g) List of References with accompanying Letters
RIGHTS OF THE AFN
The AFN reserves the right to:
a) reject any or all proposals received in response to this Request for Proposals;
b) enter into negotiation with one or more bidders on any or all aspects of their respective proposals;
c) accept any proposal in whole, or in part;
d) cancel and/or re-issue the modified version of a given RFP requirement at any time;
e) award one or more contracts;
f) verify all information provided with respect to a given RFP requirement, including the right to request a confirmation of the bidder’s legal status and signed documentation; and,
g) award contracts without competition for follow-up work, if any, to the selected bidder for a given project requirement.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The AFN will select the Proponent(s) which, in the AFN’s sole discretion, best serves the needs of the AFN Health Sector. The following is a summary of the general considerations that will be used to select the Proponent(s):
1. Overall Experience and Demonstrated Results 20%
2. Budget Approach and Cost Effectiveness 20%
3. Terms and Conditions 10%
4. Indigenous Organization 10%
5. Strategic Thinking and Planning Approach 40%
Total 100%
TIMELINE
The following dates are set forth for informational and planning purposes and may be changed at the AFN’s sole discretion:
Description of Deliverables October 2, 2023
Sign contract October 3, 2023
Negotiate work schedule October 2, 2023
Completion of Coordination/Facilitation Services March 21, 2024
The timetable is tentative only and may be changed by the AFN, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Price
Contractors must provide a firm fixed price, including administrative fees, travel, material costs, translation, printing of draft concepts and HST.
AFN will evaluate proposed systems and related costs in a separate process, with recommendations from the successful bidder/law firm.
Costs associated with this RFP is valued at $90,000. These costs are subject to how First Nations and their Chiefs decide to move forward with any health legislation proposed by the Government of Canada with the lead departments being Indigenous Services Canada and the Department of Justice.
Confidentiality
Responses to this RFP will be considered as confidential information by the AFN and will be used solely for the purposes of selecting the successful bidder/law firm.
Clarifications/Questions
All proposals submitted on time will be acknowledged.
Requests for clarification and/or questions regarding this RFP should be directed to:
Andrew Bisson
Health Director, Assembly of First Nations
[email protected]
Deadline for question is 5pm EDT on September 18, 2023.
Responses/Submission
Only those submissions that meet the deadline will be considered.
Response to this RFP must be received by the close of business date (5pm EDT) on September 22, 2023.
Response must be sent by e-mail to:
Andrew Bisson
Health Director, Assembly of First Nations
[email protected]