SET-ASIDE FOR ABORIGINAL SUPPLIERS - Aboriginal Demographic and Socio-Economic Policy Research, and Métis Rights and/or Non-Status Indian Issues, Policy and Research – Standing Offer Agreements

PROJECT TITLE:	Aboriginal Demographic and Socio-Economic Policy Research, and Métis Rights and/or Non-Status Indian Issues, Policy and Research – Standing Offer Agreements
CLOSING DATE:	October 2, 2013

This requirement is set aside for Aboriginal suppliers in accordance with the government Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.  The bidder must certify in its bid that he or she is an Aboriginal business or joint venture as defined within the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.
BACKGROUND

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) supports Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and Northerners in their efforts to: improve social well-being and economic prosperity; develop healthier, more sustainable communities; and participate more fully in Canada's political, social and economic development - to the benefit of all Canadians.  To support this mandate, AANDC requires timely access to high-calibre resources able to provide research, analysis and related services corresponding to all Aboriginal peoples in Canada as well as to specific populations including First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Non-Status Indians, including those who live in urban areas across Canada.

The Métis and Non-Status Indian Relations Directorate works primarily with Aboriginal political organizations who represent the interests of Métis and Non-Status Indians (MNSI) and other off-reserve Aboriginal organizations.  In this role, the Directorate works to maintain and strengthen the Government of Canada's relationship with the two national Aboriginal organizations that represent MNSI people: the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Métis National Council.  The Directorate is also responsible for leading the federal participation in self-government (tripartite) processes with provinces, Métis and other off-reserve Aboriginal organizations under the policy Federal Approach to the Implementation of the Inherent Right and Negotiation of Aboriginal Self-government (1995) and leading the Government of Canada's multi-faceted response to the Supreme Court's R. v. Powley (2003) decision.  The Directorate maintains a research network with universities and other leaders in the field to help support policy development, analysis and advice.

The mandate of the Strategic Research Directorate (SRD) is to support AANDC and the federal government’s policy-making in Aboriginal and Northern matters by providing evidence-based knowledge, through a program of survey development, policy research, and knowledge transfer. 

The Statistics and Measurement Directorate (SMD) is the focal point of contact within AANDC for demographic and socio-economic statistics on Aboriginal peoples and Northerners. Through the provision of authoritative data and analytical advice, SMD supports research, program and policy development as well as performance measurement activities.

The Urban Aboriginal Initiatives Directorate is AANDC's Urban Aboriginal Centre of Expertise on policy development, program design, performance tracking and reporting.

OBJECTIVES

To acquire research, analysis and policy advice concerning: 
(1) 	Aboriginal demographic and socio-economic policy and research; and 
(2) 	Métis rights, and/or non-status Indian issues, policy and research 
		on an as and when required basis through Standing Offer Agreements (SOA).

As a result from this proposal call, DIAND intends to award up to six (6) Standing Offer Agreements as follows:
Work Stream 1				A maximum of 1 Standing Offer Agreements
Work Stream 2				A maximum of 1 Standing Offer Agreements
Work Stream 3				A maximum of 1 Standing Offer Agreements
Work Stream 4				A maximum of 1 Standing Offer Agreements
Work Stream 5				A maximum of 1 Standing Offer Agreements
Work Stream 6				A maximum of 1 Standing Offer Agreements
Period of the Standing Offers is from award to October 31, 2016 with two (2) additional one (1) year option periods. 
The Bidder must identify at least one (1) of the following work streams for which they are submitting a proposal and submit a separate proposal for each work stream:

1. Research Design Services -  Aboriginal Demographic and Socio-Economic Issues
2.Quantitative Analysis and Knowledge Transfer Services -  Aboriginal Demographic and Socio-Economic Issues 
3. Research Services - Métis Rights, and/or Non-status Indian Issues, Policy – Governance and Capacity
4. Research Services - Métis Rights, and/or Non-status Indian Issues, Policy – Emerging Issues
5. Research Services - Métis Rights, and/or Non-status Indian Issues, Policy – Historical Research
6. Policy Development Services – Aboriginal Relations and Socioeconomic Issues
In a companion Request for Proposals (RFP), solicitation 20-13-6005, DIAND is seeking to establish twenty-nine (29) Standing Offer Agreements.
In the event that less than twenty-nine (29) Standing Offer Agreements are awarded under the companion solicitation 20-13-6005 to this solicitation, DIAND will increase the number of competitively awarded Standing Offer Agreements under this solicitation up to a maximum of  thirty-five (35) Standing Offer Agreements overall.

SELECTION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

Each Proposal will be evaluated separately, against the Mandatory Requirements and Point-Rated Criteria for the Work Stream(s) for which the Bidder has indicated it wishes to provide services.  Within each Work Stream, the Selection and Evaluation Process for Proposals consists of the following three (3) stages:

Stage 1 - 	Bidders will be evaluated on Mandatory Requirements M1-M2 (Stream 6: M1-M3).
Stage 2 - 	Bidders meeting ALL of M1-M2 (Stream 6: M1-M3) will be evaluated on the basis of Point-Rated Criteria R1-R3.
Stage 3 - 	Bidders’ proposed resources meeting the pass mark (70%) for Point-Rated Criteria R1-R3 inclusive, will be evaluated on the basis of their Financial Proposal.

Bidders failing to meet any of the above will be deemed non-compliant at the stage where they fail to meet, and will be given no further consideration beyond that stage.
Security
Pursuant to the Government of Canada Security Policy, the nature of the services to be provided under the Standing Offer Agreement requires a Government of Canada Security Clearance.

Bidders must sign, date and submit, with their Technical Proposal, all certifications contained and requested in the RFP document.
Each proposal will be evaluated against the Mandatory Requirements and Point-Rated Criteria.  
This procurement is subject to the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Businesses (PSAB).