Private Investigator Services - Set-Aside for Aboriginal business

Notice of Proposed Procurement – Set Aside #20-13-6007

Private Investigative Services for Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector – Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada – Standing Offer Agreement (SOA)
 
The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada – Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector (DIAND-RIAS) has the responsibility for settling claims of abuse associated with the legacy of the Indian residential school system that operated in Canada from the late 1800’s through the 1980’s.

Within the context of Canada’s strategic approach to residential school abuse claims, Canada has a specific mandate to achieve resolution of claims through an approach that will promote healing and reconciliation.  

In line with this mandate, the department resolves claims of former residential school students, in cooperation with other parties, through the Independent Assessment Process that is part of the 2007-2013 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (class action settlement).
The court mandated Settlement Agreement provides for an enhanced alternative dispute resolution process called the Independent Assessment Process (IAP).  The IAP is the  process to help former students settle their claims for abuse they suffered at Indian Residential Schools. The IAP compensates former students for sexual abuse, serious physical abuse and certain other wrongful acts which caused serious psychological consequences for the individual.

In the IAP process, former employees of Indian Residential Schools, clergy, former students and other individuals have been named by former students as alleged perpetrators concerning abuse.  The Settlement agreement mandates DIAND-RIAS to locate and contact alleged perpetrators.  The Settlement Agreement requires that alleged perpetrators be informed of and be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations concerning them.  The Settlement Agreement provides a strict timeframe for DIAND-RIAS to locate and contact these alleged perpetrators.

DIAND-RIAS requires the services of Private Investigators to locate alleged perpetrators. Firms and/or individuals are required to conduct investigative tasks and other related services in order to locate alleged perpetrators in one or more of the following regions:
- British Columbia and the north (including Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut);
- Alberta and the north (including Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut); 
- Saskatchewan;
- Manitoba;
- Ontario and the Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador);
- Quebec 

The successful Firms and/or individuals will be required to conduct investigative tasks and other related services such as the following:
	
•	Locate alleged perpetrators, and provide DIAND-RIAS with contact information, or verification including the source of information (death certificate, etc.) if the alleged perpetrator is deceased.

•	Locate alleged perpetrators using standard private investigator procedures including, but not limited to, telephone, facsimile, internet, and e-mail. 


DIAND-RIAS is committed to supporting the business development in Aboriginal communities both on and off reserves and in promoting Aboriginal business.

In support of the DIAND-RIAS resolution of Residential School claims, DIAND-RIAS is seeking to establish up to a maximum of five (5) competitively awarded Standing Offer Agreements with professional Contractors to acquire access to qualified resources with experience in standard private investigative procedures and skills.

To guide any interested firms/individuals  in determining their eligibility and/or strength capacities against DIAND-RIAS requirements, what follows summarizes the evaluation criteria against which any proposal be assessed.

A Bidder’s proposal MUST meet ALL Mandatory Requirements in order for the Proposal to be deemed compliant and considered for further evaluation.  Failure on the part of the Bidder to meet any one (1) of the Mandatory Requirements will result in the proposal being deemed non-compliant, with the Proposal being given no further consideration.

1.	Proposed Resource(s)

The Bidder MUST include detailed curriculum vitae (CV) for each proposed resource named in their Proposal demonstrating that the proposed resource has the relevant knowledge and professional experience as described in the Request for Proposal (RFSO).

The Bidder MUST include for each proposed resource their security clearance status and confirmation of their ability to deliver private investigative services for one or more regions as described in the RFSO.

The Bidder, firm or individual, Must provide references as well as certify that it is an Aboriginal business or eligible joint venture as described in the RFSO.




2.	Point-Rated Criteria

As well as the Mandatory Requirements, the Proposal will be assessed under the Point-Rated Criteria as described in the RFSO, for the following:

•	Experience related to private investigations or related fields;
•	Two (2) or more Client References;
•	Experience dealing with people accused/convicted of physical and/or sexual abuse;
•	Experience interviewing people and eliciting and verifying information; and,
•	Experience and/or knowledge Canadian Aboriginal Peoples

3. 	Project Summaries

The Bidder MUST include written project summaries for each proposed resource describing in detail how the resource meets the mandatory and rated requirements providing investigative services as described in the RFSO.

It is the intention of DIAND-RIAS to award up to a maximum of five (5) Standing Offer Agreements for a one (1) year period, with  four (4) one (1) year optional extensions, as a result of this proposal call.

This procurement is set-side subject to the provisions of the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB).