Introduction
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations. The AFN hosts at least two Assemblies each 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.) The AFN is also guided by an Executive Committee consisting of an elected National Chief and Regional Chiefs from each province and territory.
The AFN’s National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan sets out a vision for First Nations-led approaches to addressing homelessness where First Nations control and delivering holistic and culturally safe supports so their citizens can access safe and supportive housing no matter where they live. In support of this vision, the Action Plan puts forward seven objectives representing key focus areas of the Action Plan, as well as a detailed set of actions and recommendations. The AFN is seeking a consultant to lead the work on updating the Action Plan through literature review and regional engagements.
Objective
The objective of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to select a bidder to provide a high quality of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality in carrying out the work of 1) conducting a review of the latest and most up-to-date literature relating to the objectives set out in the Action Plan, 2) developing engagement materials, 3) facilitating regional engagements and interviews with First Nations, 4) producing engagement summaries, and 5) developing and presenting an updated Action Plan. The proponent will provide facilitation, research, and report writing services for the duration of the project.
First Nations have distinct experiences with homelessness due to the difficult living and housing conditions in First Nations communities, migration between First Nations communities and urban centres, and ongoing impacts of colonialism. First Nations are uniquely overrepresented in the unhoused population and have distinct inherent and treaty rights. A specific First Nations-led and controlled approach is necessary to address First Nations homelessness that responds to the unique ways in which First Nations experience homelessness. The Action Plan aims to support a First Nations-controlled approach to address homelessness by advocating for distinct funding and resources for First Nations to develop and administer services, in support of First Nations exercising increased care and control of their own housing and social service systems.
This work will look at what has been done to-date in support of the efforts set out in the Action Plan. It will examine what regional initiatives are in place and what national or federal government responses contribute to the achievement of the Action Plan goals. Updating the Action Plan will also explore and identify the challenges preventing these goals from being achieved, including homelessness-related governance capacity needs for First Nations, impacts of jurisdictional gaps in homelessness services, and the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the unhoused population. The term of this work will be 17 months.
Proponents scoring above 85% on their proposal will be contacted for an interview where they will be further assessed on their ability to manage and perform within the project requirements, timeframe and delivery of products.
Background
Resolution 79/19, Action Plan for First Nations Homelessness On- and Off-Reserve, mandated the AFN to develop a National Homelessness Strategy. Subsequently, Resolution 75/23, Approval and Implementation of a National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan, aims to improve the delivery of federal government homelessness programs for First Nations peoples and ultimately facilitate the transition of First Nations housing and infrastructure to First Nations management, control, and care. The Action Plan is aimed at supporting the vision that First Nations control and deliver holistic and culturally safe supports and services so their citizens can access safe and supportive housing no matter where they live.
In support of this vision, the Action Plan sets out several First Nations-led actions as a roadmap to achieving and implementing this vision. This includes conducting research and engagement to identify the distinct service needs of First Nations women, Veterans, Elders and youth experiencing homelessness and advocate for dedicated resources for First Nations to develop and deliver these services. The AFN has conducted some of the First Nations-led actions alongside regions and maintains communication on the subject with other First Nations through its Homelessness Sub-Committee. Although some First Nations have begun to implement the vision of the Action Plan, some still face barriers.
Resolution 27/23 also mandates the AFN to develop an updated and renewed National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan in 2028 in alignment with the vision and objectives of an updated First Nations Housing Strategy. This mandate presents an opportunity to further research and engage with First Nations on what those barriers are and identify successes and new approaches in an updated National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan achieve the vision it was intended to.
Additionally, the AFN’s 10 Year First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy (First Nations Housing Strategy) is currently undergoing a renewal. It is important that an updated National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan is aligned with a renewed First Nations Housing Strategy, as intended through resolutions 79/19 and 75/23.
Scope of Work
The AFN seeks to engage a qualified consultant to provide work required to update the National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan by drawing on the experience and expertise from across the First Nations housing and homelessness related sectors. It will also involve delivery of a literature review of research investigating homelessness amongst First Nations and to facilitate engagements across six regions and a presentation to Chiefs at an AFN Assembly dialogue session. Depending on any feedback from First Nations in Assembly dialogue sessions, another round of edits will be incorporated before seeking adoption from First Nations in Assembly.
The consultant will work collaboratively with the AFN, the Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure (CCOHI) and regional technicians to ensure the updated Action Plan reflects First Nations community and regional priorities. The consultant will be responsible for working with the AFN to:
- Develop a project work plan and engagement strategy;
- Meet with CCoHI and regional housing technicians to ensure alignment of the work plan and engagement strategy;
- Meet regularly with AFN’s Housing and Infrastructure Sector and AFN regional housing technicians for status updates and guidance.
- Complete a literature review that will provide data and analysis required to update the Action Plan. The literature review will be supplemented by engagements designed to fill knowledge gaps and identify homelessness-related governance and capacity needs for First Nations. This will include service navigator needs and needs for potential transfer of care and control of programs and services to First Nations. The literature review will include:
- The causes of First Nations homelessness on- and off-reserve
- Up-to-date data and statistics on First Nations homelessness on- and off-reserve
- A jurisdictional scan comparing how federal, provincial and territorial, and First Nations organizations address homelessness on- and off-reserve. This should include a description of how First Nations care and control over homelessness services has changed since the Action Plan was established.
- An analysis of how funding and service gaps impact and contribute to First Nations experiences of homelessness, and how these can be mitigated.
- Opportunities and best practices for addressing First Nations homelessness on- and off-reserve.
- Assist the AFN in the preparation of outreach and communication materials, invitations, and other preliminary documents related to coordinating experts, First Nation leaders, and other interested participants;
- Develop and supply engagement materials and resources for group discussions, breakout sessions, and other exercises as required to ensure effective dialogue;
- Complete six regional engagements on regional experiences, priorities, and policy challenges in First Nations homelessness, and engagement summaries for each region.
- Work with the AFN and CCoHI to analyze engagement feedback to identify what key objectives, outcomes, and opportunities exist for a renewed action plan.
- Complete a draft updated First Nations Homelessness Action Plan based on the literature review and analysis of engagement feedback. The draft updated Acton Plan will include background information as well as vision, goals, and outcomes.
- Present an updated First Nations Homelessness Action Plan at an AFN dialogue session. This presentation will explain the methodology and findings and renewed recommendations. It is meant to inform Chiefs of the new Action Plan and to create an opportunity for feedback.
- The Contractor may be asked to moderate/facilitate session(s) in a way that participants share their knowledge, experiences and views as well as potential ideas and solutions in approaches to First Nations needs in addressing homelessness.
Project Timeframe:
The work shall be completed between November 20, 2026 and March 31, 2028.
Project Deliverables
Engagement Materials December 14, 2026
Literature Review January 4, 2027
Engagements January 18 to April 30, 2027
Engagement Summaries January 25 to April 30, 2027
Analysis May 30, 2027
Final Report June 30, 2027
Dialogue session To Be Determine (either AGA or SCA
Final Report February 26, 2028
Proposal Submission Instructions
All proposals shall be received by the AFN no later than October 16, 2026.
All proposals must be submitted electronically and clearly identify on the email subject line the name of the RFP “RFP for Research and Engagement to Update the Homelessness Action Plan”.
Individuals shall indicate whether they identify as Indigenous and what Indigenous community acknowledges their membership. Corporate entities shall do the same for the ownership of the entity and for those who will conduct the work under the.
Late submissions will not be accepted and will be 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:
- An Executive Summary outlining the background information of the proponent’s company, including contents of the proposal.
- Qualifications: provide a description of the proponent’s capabilities/experience specifically related to engagements, research, and knowledge of First Nations homelessness.
- A statement and description of the physical and human resources required to complete the work including software and intellectual material;
- Project Organization: Identify the composition of the proposed project team, if any, including:
- Project team members;
- Description of the roles of the team members
- Level of experience of the team members specific to engagement and homelessness policy.
- Client References: the names of three (3) references which have used the services of the bidder. References to include the client name, title, contact information.
- 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. Total cost shall be in Canadian dollars and inclusive of HST.
Rights of the AFN
The AFN reserves the right to:
- reject any or all proposals received in response to this Request for Proposals;
- enter into negotiation with one or more bidders on any or all aspects of their respective proposals;
- accept any proposal in whole, or in part;
- cancel and/or re-issue the modified version of a given RFP requirement at any time;
- award one or more contracts;
- 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
- 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. The following is a summary of the general considerations that will be used to determine the Proponent(s) that will be selected:
| Overall Experience and Demonstrated Results | 20 |
| Budget Approach and Cost Effectiveness | 20 |
| OCAP Principles | 10 |
| Indigenous Organization / Individual (or experience working with either) | 10 |
| Strategic Thinking and Planning Approach | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Timetable
| Description of Deliverables | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. RFP gets posted | Oct 05, 2026 |
| 2. RFP closes | Oct 16, 2026 |
| 3. AFN Interviews with selected bidders October 19 – October 23, 2026 |
Oct 19, 2026 |
| 4. RFP Awarded | Oct 30, 2026 |
| 5. Work Starts | Nov 20, 2026 |
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.
Costs pertaining to the retention of additional services to facilitate on-line voting (should this be necessary) do not need to be included. AFN will evaluate proposed systems and related costs in a separate process, with recommendations from the successful bidder.
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 on-time proposals will be acknowledged.
Requests for clarification and/or questions regarding this RFP should be directed to:
Kalyne Beaudry
Senior Policy Analyst
Assembly of First Nations
50 O’Connor Street, Suite 200 Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2
Telephone: (613) 294-0977
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 (5:00pm EST) on October 16, 2026.
Responses may be sent by mail or courier to:
Kalyne Beaudry
Assembly of First Nations
50 O’Connor Street, Suite 200
Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2