Standing offer for Investigation services

This requirement is for a Request for standing offer for Investigation services for the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
BACKGROUND
The Canadian Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) is a small independent agency (approx. 190 employees) reporting directly to Parliament on an annual basis.  It was established in 1978 to administer the Canadian Human Rights Act.  The purpose of the Act is to promote equality of opportunity and to protect individuals from discrimination.  The Commission also has a mandate under the Employment Equity Act, which seeks to correct disadvantageous conditions of employment experienced by women, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.  Both the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Employment Equity Act apply to federal departments and agencies, Crown Corporations and federally regulated private sector companies.  Information on the Commission is available on the Internet at http://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca.
Part III of the Canadian Human Rights Act sets out the Commission’s responsibilities in relation to complaints of discrimination.  As part of the Human Rights Protection Branch, the Investigations Division is responsible for, amongst other matters, the investigation of complaints.  The term “investigation” under the Canadian Human Rights Act refers to the stage of the complaint process in which evidence is gathered and analysed for the purpose of making a recommendation to the members of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on the disposition of the complaint.
The investigator, who is designated under the Canadian Human Rights Act, is responsible for conducting the investigation and preparing a report to the members of the Commission in which he or she makes a recommendation on the disposition of the complaint.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE AND REQUIREMENTS
The Commission is establishing a Departmental Individual Standing Offer for investigative services related to complaints received by the Commission.  All work performed by the selected Bidder must meet the Commission’s high standards of objectivity and neutrality.  
SCOPE OF WORK
Investigative services may include meetings and interviews with the complainant, respondent and witnesses as identified throughout the process and the preparation of an investigative report setting out the evidence gathered, all in accordance with the Commission’s investigation procedures. Work can be carried out in person, by telephone and/or correspondence, or through a combination of these as determined in consultation with the Commission Representative.  Interested Bidders should be aware of the national scope of the Commission’s mandate and of its efforts to effectively deliver its mandate in different geographic areas.

PERIOD OF RESULTING STANDING OFFERS
The period for placing call-ups against any of the resulting Standing Offers shall be for a period of two (2) years from the award date.
No contractual agreement shall be deemed as binding until such time as a call-up against a resulting Standing Offer is awarded to any of the successful Offerors.
The Commission does not guarantee any specific volume of work to be awarded to successful Offerors further to this Request for Standing Offers.
OPTION TO EXTEND PERIOD OF STANDING OFFERS
The Offeror shall provide the Commission with an irrevocable option to extend the period of any resulting Standing Offer by three (3) additional periods of one (1) year under the same terms and conditions. The Commission may exercise the option period at any time by providing written notice to the Contractors at least 5 calendar days prior to the termination of year of the Standing Offers(s).

Proposal can be submitted in either official languages of Canada.