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Financial Analysis to Support MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategies

INTRODUCTION

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national representative organization of First Nations people in Canada. The AFN represents and advocates First Nations interests for more than 600 First Nations from across the country.

The AFN believes that urgent action is needed to fully implement the National Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (NAP). The AFN would like to further the work of implementing the NAP and the frameworks outlined in Breathing Life into the Calls for Justice: An action plan to end violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (“First Nations Action Plan”).

The AFN invites qualified individuals and/or companies to submit proposals to provide financial analysis services to provide cost estimation of the investments needed to develop a national strategy to prevent violence that is First Nations-based and First Nation-driven. The First Nations Action Plan Report outlines three (3) different framework strategies to address the root causes of violence experienced by First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (“MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategies”), including:

  1. Supporting Survivors and Families
  2. Prevention Services
  3. Healing Ourselves and Our Nations

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to select a bidder to provide financial analysis services and cost estimation to support the MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategy on Prevention Services by determining the cost to design and implement the framework strategy for First Nations.

The purpose of completing the financial analysis and cost estimation will be to determine the investments required to design and implement a MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategy on Prevention Services to effect meaningful change to prevent, reduce, and eliminate violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Results of the financial analysis is crucial to understanding the actual financial needs to support all of the MMIWG2S+ Framework Strategies and will be used as the foundation in advocating for meaningful change for First Nations MMIWG2S+ survivors and families. 

The selection committee will have until June 12, 2024, to make their selection and have it approved by the AFN Executive Committee.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The role of the AFN is to advocate on behalf of First Nations as directed by First Nations-in-Assembly. This includes facilitation and coordination of national and regional discussions and dialogue, advocacy efforts and campaigns, legal and policy analysis, communicating with governments, including facilitating relationship building between First Nations and the Crown as well as public and private sectors and general public.

Each First Nation in Canada is entitled to be a member of the AFN. First Nations exercise their membership through their Chief (official delegate). There are over 634 First Nation delegates who are eligible to participate in the election of the National Chief.

The AFN carried out a Regional Engagement Strategy to incorporate perspectives from MMIWG2S+ survivors and families into the First Nations Action Plan report, which identified the three (3) national frameworks needed to guide the implementation work:

  1. Framework for Supporting Survivors and Families

The framework for supporting survivors and families guides the development and implementation of strategies that should be developed by all levels of government to support First Nations survivors and families when they need it most. The three primary pillars to support survivors and families includes a national strategy to provide “wrap-around” services for survivors and families so there is consistency between jurisdictions, creating and funding of a national investigative taskforce to review or reopen cold case investigations involving First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and establishing a National Indigenous Human Rights Ombudsperson and National Indigenous Human Rights Tribunal. 

  1. Framework on Prevention Services

The framework for prevention recognizes that First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people have the right to live free of violence and all forms of discrimination. A national First Nations MMIWG2S+ Prevention Strategy is needed to address the underlying factors that contribute to the disproportionate rate of violence experienced by First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. While there are a number of existing programs and services being offered, there is no comprehensive and coordinated national response for a First Nations led violence and prevention strategy. The development, creation, and implementation of prevention strategies and programs must be led by First Nations and rooted in our nations’ unique cultures, traditions, customs, and practices.

  1. Framework for Healing Ourselves and Our Nations

The framework for healing ourselves and our nations recognizes that overcoming violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is an ongoing process that requires continual support and resources both at the individual and First Nation level. Four areas must be considered in this healing process, including immediate funding for First Nations healing centres, shelters, and safe spaces. There also need to be additional resources provided for cultural practices and land-based activities to be incorporated into programs and services. An area that has been highlighted as a gap in the work around addressing violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is the role of First Nations men and boys who also need to have access to mental and emotional health supports to address intergenerational trauma and abuse. At a First Nations level, there needs to be an increase in efforts to support self-determination and revitalizing First Nations laws to exercise their jurisdiction to ensure the safety and security of their own people.

The full First Nations Action Plan report release in 2021 is available at on the AFN Website.

A companion report, Connecting Hearts and Making Change, was released in 2023 and is available on the AFN Website.

SCOPE OF WORK

The successful proponent will be responsible for developing a research and reporting strategy to produce a final report on the results of a financial analysis and cost estimation for the investments required to implement the MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategies in Canada.

The First Nations Action Plan report from 2021, companion report from 2023, and related Regional Engagement Reports will be provided as the guide for conducting the financial analysis. The consultant will work closely with the AFN to identify and source supplemental data where more information is required.

Financial analysis and cost estimates will be guided by the following research questions under the themes of the MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategies:

Framework for Supporting Survivors and Families:

  1. What additional investments would be required from all levels of government to provide immediate “wrap-around” services for MMIWG2S+ survivors and families?

Framework on Prevention Services:

  1. What are the current costs of delivering existing prevention-based programs and services that address violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people?
  2. What additional investments would be required from all levels of government to expand prevention-based programs and services into a national program that would prevent violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people?

Framework for Healing Ourselves and Our Nations:

  1. What are the costs required, including administrative costs, for First Nations to establish and deliver their own healing and wellness programs, services, and land-based activities aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people?
  2. What are the current costs required, including administrative costs, for First Nations to establish and delivering their own programming to support the mental and emotional health needs of men and boys that addresses intergenerational trauma and abuse?

Costs should be projected for up to 10 years. Cost estimates must consider all aspects, including initial investment and ongoing costs (lifecycle costs), inflation, labour costs, market rates, taxes where applicable, risk identification and mitigation, and other factors the consultant may identify.             

Project Requirements

The successful proponent will:

  • Provide a research and reporting strategy;
  • Provide the necessary research and analytical software, if required;
  • Review and incorporate existing research and engagement reports provided by the AFN, including research and engagement to develop the First Nations Action Plan report from 2021, companion report from 2023, and related Regional Engagement Reports;
  • Work closely with AFN to clarify and/or identify cost categories and consider other points of departure such as costs related to geography and capacity;
  • Provide cost estimates that are national in scope and taking into account northern and remoteness factors;
  • Provide an interim update which may include a presentation to the AFN Women’s Council and AFN 2SLGBTQQIA+ Council, as well as a draft final report (for AFN input), final report, and presentation suitable for First Nations leadership and other priority audiences. The final report and presentation will describe and summarize the key research questions complete with project description, methodology (including data and information used), techniques, and assumptions.
  • The final report will also include analysis and recommendations related to the investments required to prevent violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Qualifications and experience:

Proponents should possess the following qualifications:

  • Expert-level knowledge in financial analysis and cost-estimation
  • Experience in designing and populating cost estimation models, with special attention to the uniqueness of First Nations’ contexts
  • Substantial experience collaborating with First Nations and First Nations-led organizations
  • Have rigorous data custodial practices, governed by OCAP® Principles
  • Expert knowledge of federal cabinet, budgeting, and expenditure authorities of the Government of Canada, including memoranda to cabinet, federal budgets and Treasury Board submissions

Project Timeframe:

The work shall be completed between July 1, 2024, and March 31, 2024.

Project Deliverables

The following dates are set forth for informational and planning purposes and may be changed at the AFN’s sole discretion. The successful proponent will provide:

Description of Deliverable

Date

Project Initiation/Kick-off

Work Plan

Regular Check-in Meetings

Interim Update

Draft Report

Final Report

July 2, 2024

August 2024

On-going, bi-weekly

October 2024

January 2024

March 31, 2024

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All proposals shall be received by electronic mail (email) to Kyrie Tristary [email protected] no later than Friday, June 7, 2024.

All proposals will clearly identify the name of the proponent and the note “RFP for Financial Analysis to Support MMIWG2S+ First Nations Framework Strategies” in the subject line.

Late submissions will not be accepted and will be returned unopened without exception. The use of the mail or courier services for delivery of a Bid will be at the risk of the bidder.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All proposals shall include the following information:

  1. An Executive Summary outlining the background information of the proponent’s company, including contents of the proposal.
  2. Qualifications: provide a description of the proponent’s capabilities/experience specifically related to the AFN’s financial analysis requirements.
  3. A statement and description of the physical and human resources required to complete the required financial analysis and cost estimation described in this RFP, including software and intellectual material;
  4. Project Organization: Identify the composition of the proposed project team, if any, including:
    1. Project team members;
    2. Description of the roles of the team members
    3. Level of experience of the team members specific to financial analysis and cost estimate research.
  1. Client References: the names of three (3) references which have used the services of the bidder to provide financial analysis and cost estimation for similar projects. References to include the client name, title, and contact information.
  1. Cost Breakdown: The Proponent shall provide a detailed cost breakdown for the proposed services, showing the total cost for the performance of all services, expenses, materials, deliverables, and software/hardware costs (if applicable), to be used for completion of the work. The cost breakdown should also delineate between the three thematic areas of the research questions. Total cost shall be in Canadian dollars and inclusive of HST.

RIGHTS OF THE AFN

The AFN reserves the right to:

  1. reject any or all proposals received in response to this Request for Proposals;
  2. enter into negotiation with one or more Consultants on any or all aspects of their respective proposals;
  3. accept any proposal in whole, or in part;
  4. cancel and/or re-issue the modified version of a given RFP requirement at any time;
  5. award one or more contracts;
  6. verify all information provided with respect to a given RFP requirement, including the right to request a confirmation of the Consultant’s legal status and signed documentation; and
  7. award contracts without competition for follow-up work, if any, to the selected Consultant for a given project requirement.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The AFN will select the Proponent(s) which, in the AFN’s sole discretion, best serves the overall needs of the AFN. The following is a summary of the general considerations that will be used to determine the Proponent(s) that will be selected:

1. Experience in quantitative data analysis including financial analysis and cost estimation.

20%

2. Experience in working with First Nations to conduct research and/or analyzing First Nations data.

20%

3. Proposed Work Plan and Approach/Methodology.

20%

4. Experience in project planning, strategy development, problem solving, quantitative and Indigenous research methodologies, and applicable standards.

15%

5. Total price

 25%

TIMETABLE

The following dates are set forth for informational and planning purposes and may be changed at the AFN’s sole discretion.

RFP Released/Advertised/Posted – May 6, 2024

Deadline for questions  – June 6, 2024

Deadline for submission of proposals – June 7, 2024

Completion of proposal evaluations – June 10, 2024

Finalist Interviews (if required) – June  11, 2024

Final Selection (date) – June 12, 2024

Contract Start Date (date) – July 1, 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.

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.

Clarification/ Questions

All proposals will be acknowledged.

Requests for clarification and/or questions regarding this RFP should be directed to:

Kyrie Tristary
Director of Justice
Assembly of First Nations
50 O’Connor Street, Suite 200
Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2
Telephone: (613) 241-6789
Facsimile: (613) 241-5808
Electronic Mail: [email protected]

Responses/ Submission

Only those submissions that meet the deadline will be considered.

Responses to this RFP must be received by the close of business (5:00 pm EST) on June 7, 2024.

Responses may be sent by electronic mail only to:

Director of Justice
[email protected]
Assembly of First Nations
50 O’Connor Street, Suite 200
Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2

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