Future of Food Conference Event Management

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS –   Future of Food Conference Event Management


ABOUT FCC

FCC is proud to be 100% invested in Canadian agriculture and food. Our employees are committed to the long-standing success of those who produce and process Canadian food. FCC provides flexible financing and capital solutions, while creating value through data, knowledge, relationships and expertise. FCC offers a complement of financial and non-financial products and services designed to support the complex and evolving needs of the industry. As a commercial Crown corporation, FCC is a stable partner that reinvests profits back into the industry and communities it serves. For more information, visit fcc.ca.

RFP CONTACT

Chris Ugochukwu
Category Manager
Farm Credit Canada
procurement@fcc.ca

RFP SCOPE

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) hosts The Future of Food Conference, a premier national event, convening leaders from agriculture, agri-food, government, and industry to shape the future of Canada’s food system. FCC intends to expand the scale and ambition of the conference, starting in 2027.
 To support this evolution and the implementation of a refreshed event strategy currently in development, FCC is seeking to engage an experienced event management company capable of managing a large-scale, high-profile conference in Ottawa, Ontario. This outsourcing will allow FCC to maintain strategic leadership (content, partnerships, and outcomes) while the vendor provides operational excellence, cost efficiency, and a scalable delivery model.

The Future of Food Conference integrates connection, collaboration, and innovation into a single national platform. It offers a full-day program of speakers and panels, an evening networking reception, and an industry showcase, all designed to foster engagement and inspire action. In its current format, the conference attracts approximately 700 attendees during the day and between 650 to 700 participants at the off-site evening networking reception. The conference week also includes independently hosted side events coordinated in alignment with FCC and other partners, extending the impact of the main event across the sector.

The selected proponent will:

1. observe and assess the 2026 event to gain familiarity with the model, expectations, and operational approach
2. provide logistical management - assume full logistical leadership for the 2027 event and beyond.  

For further details, refer to the RFP document (RFP_PS25-CU-036_ Future of Food Conference Event Management) that is uploaded to MERX.

RFP PARTICULARS
 

• All conditions for Proponent participation are included in the RFP documents.
• Duration of Contract: Three (3) years – base period
• Options: Two (2) one (1) year term(s)

RFP SCHEDULE
 

• RFP Release Date: November 10, 2025
• Proponent Questions Accepted Until:  November 17, 2025 @2:00 PM CST (SK time)
• FCC Response to Proponent Questions Delivered Before:  November 24, 2025 @ 5:00 PM CST (SK time)
• RFP Closing Date/Time:  December 5, 2025 @ 2:00 PM CST (SK time)

NOTE: All times are CST – Saskatchewan. The above dates are subject to change at the sole discretion of FCC. Any changes to the RFP Schedule will be communicated to all Proponents via amendment on MERX.

RFP PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS
 

• This opportunity is covered under the provisions of Chapter 5 (Government Procurement) of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and Chapter 19 (Government Procurement) of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
• FCC is subject to the Official Languages Act (Canada). Proponents may choose to respond to this RFP in their official language of choice (English or French).
• This opportunity notice references a non-binding, competitive RFP, and is not a call for tenders. FCC is not obligated to proceed with the Work described in the RFP Scope, and may cancel the RFP at any time. FCC’s procurement process allows for consecutive or concurrent negotiations between FCC and one (1) or multiple Proponents, prior to awarding a Contract.

MERX ELECTRONIC BIDDING SYSTEM
 

• This Request for Proposals (RFP), including any attachments and amendments to such RFP, is available for download by the Proponent on MERX. MERX is a Canadian Public Tenders electronic bidding system accessible at https://www.merx.com. It is the sole responsibility of the Proponent to ensure its compatibility with MERX.
• Proponent proposals MUST be submitted electronically through MERX, preferably in a PDF or MS Word file, prior to the RFP Closing Date/Time specified in the RFP. Proposals submitted in other formats, by other methods or through any other means, or after the RFP Closing Date/Time specified in the RFP, may be rejected by FCC.

PRIORITY OF DOCUMENTS

In the event there are any discrepancies between this opportunity notice and the information on the MERX website proper, this opportunity notice shall take precedence.
 

Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.