Canadian Indigenous Languages Technology project

Canadian Indigenous Languages Technology project

Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP): This procurement has been set aside under the federal government's Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB).

1. Purpose of the NPP: 

The purpose of this notice is to announce that the National Research Council Canada has entered into negotiations with pre-selected Indigenous firms for a Canadian Indigenous Languages Technology project. A call for proposal was issued over the month of April 2019 and advertised in accordance with the Governments high level requirements (Canadian Indigenous Languages Technology Project). Over one hundred submissions were received and considered. Proposals were evaluated by NRC in accordance with the criteria listed in the Request for the Project Proposal. As a result, 5 proposals are being considered for contract award pending successful negotiations with the contractor.

2.0 Project overview and objective:

The Project includes speech-and text-based technologies that aims to assist the stabilization, revitalization and reclamation of Indigenous languages by supporting Indigenous language educators and students, promoting the accessibility of audio recordings, and supporting Indigenous language translators, transcribers and other language professionals. The National Research Council Canada will work in close collaboration with external Indigenous Advisors, Indigenous community organizations and Indigenous communities across Canada to deliver the key objectives of the project.

• There are thousands of hours of recordings of Indigenous languages from across the country.
• The recordings are difficult for Indigenous communities to access and make use of because they are not always fully transcribed, and sometimes are missing metadata (information about what languages are being spoken, who is speaking, etc.)
• The Project aim will be to create software that will automatically segment and label audio files while they're being recorded (or shortly afterwards).
• To build and test audio-indexation software that makes it possible to search through existing recordings, including recordings made decades ago, to find key words or phrases.
• Each proponent proposed a solution in accordance against evaluation criteria in the call for proposal.

3.0 Set-a-side from the international trade agreements:

• This requirement is hereby set-aside from the international trade agreements under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business. This procurement is set-aside for an Aboriginal supplier in accordance with the government’s Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB).

4.0 Intellectual Property:

• No (IP) generated as a result of these projects.

  5.0 Contract period:

• Estimated contract period shall be from September 1^st 2019 to March 31^st 2020.

• The dates listed in this notice are estimates and maybe adapted in accordance with the needs of the NRC.

  6.0 Justification for the selected firms:

• The following firms were selected as a result of NRC’s call for proposal in accordance with the following:

  The firms selected were the highest technically rated proposals out of all the submissions received. All proposals were reviewed in accordance with the evaluation procedures laid out in the call for proposals.

  Contractors selected and contract values:

• Tsilhqot’in National Government - $299,729.00 - (19-58027)
• Council of Yukon First Nations - $296,088 - (19-58028)
• Tsi Tyonnheht na Onkwawen:na Language and Cultural Centre - $259,546.88 - (19-58029)
• Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle - $136,081.00- (19-58030)
• Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation - $159,000.00 - (19-58031)

  7.0 Closing:

• This notice will close August 16th 2019, 2pm eastern standard time.
• Inquires maybe directed to: Procurement Officer: Johnathon Gillis – Phone 613-993-5506

  Email: Johnathon.Gillis@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca