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Request for Proposals (RFP): Inventory and Impact Assessment of Housing Investments in Inuit Nunangat

By March 7, 2023 No Comments
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Overview

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is seeking a consultant(s) to support its Inuit housing work through studying the impact of recent and current housing investments across Inuit Nunangat. Specifically, the research would examine how federal spending has been used to deliver housing and housing-related programs in each region, what the outputs of the spending have been, and how these outputs have shaped Inuit experiences of housing in Inuit Nunangat.

The proposed work will consist of five main components:

  1. The development of an inventory of current and recent federal investments for housing in Inuit Nunangat.
  2. The completion of an impact assessment study that assesses the impacts of federal investments.
  3. The creation of a methodology to identify spending gaps based on regional understanding of housing needs.
  4. A complimentary literature review on housing in Inuit Nunangat.
  5. A final project report

 

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is a federally incorporated registered charitable organization representing and promoting the interests of 70,000 Inuit in Canada on a wide variety of environmental, social, cultural, and political issues and challenges on the national level. The majority of Inuit reside in these four regions collectively known as Inuit Nunangat: the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Northwest Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Québec), and Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador). Inuit Nunangat includes 51 communities and encompasses roughly 40 percent of Canada’s land area and 72 percent of its coastline. Consistent with its founding purpose, ITK represents the rights and interests of Inuit at the national level through a democratic governance structure representing all Inuit regions.

The comprehensive land claim agreements settled in Inuit Nunangat form a core component of ITK’s mandate. These land claims have the status of protected treaties under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and ITK remains committed to working in partnership with the Crown toward full implementation. In addition, ITK advocates for policies, programs, and services to address the social, cultural, political, and environmental issues facing our people.

ITK is governed by a Board of Directors that is composed of the following members from the four (4) Land Claims Organizations (LCOs):

  • Chair and CEO, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC)
  • President, Makivvik Corporation
  • President, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI)
  • President, Nunatsiavut Government (NG)

In addition to voting members, the following non-voting permanent participant representatives also sit on the Board:

  • President, Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada
  • President, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
  • President, National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC)

 

FILE DESCRIPTIONS AND OBJECTIVES:

Housing Caucus

The Department of Policy Advancement at ITK coordinates and works in collaboration on Inuit housing issues with the Inuit Housing Caucus. The Inuit Housing Caucus is comprised of representatives from the following organizations: Nunatsiavut Government, Makivvik Corporation, IRC, NTI, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and ITK.

This research would be led by ITK with oversight and direction provided by the Inuit Housing Caucus. The Inuit Housing Caucus has a wealth of knowledge and experience in housing-related issues and investments, particularly in an Inuit Nunangat regional context.

Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy

The co-developed Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy (INHS) was released in April 2019 by ITK and the Government of Canada. Its overall goal is to improve housing outcomes in Inuit Nunangat in line with outcomes for the rest of Canada, while developing Inuit-led housing solutions that reflect Inuit lifestyles, traditions, and culture. It builds on recent federal investments which recognize the need for significant investments in the short to medium term and the direct role of Inuit in managing housing in Inuit communities.

The INHS links research activities to the goal of closing the Inuit Nunangat housing gap. Actions under the strategy involving research include:

  • Inventory and assess recent and current housing investments, including undertaking an impact study (SA1, Year 1-2)
  • Establish a mechanism to fund research and data collection, based on regional determination of required support and capacity (SA3c, Year 2)
  • Conduct needs assessments in each region, on an ongoing basis (SA3a, Ongoing)

The Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy Implementation Plan was endorsed by the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee in December 2022. It proposes a timeline of activities from 2023 to 2029. The research-related activities mentioned above are core to the implementation plan.

 

SCOPE OF WORK AND REQUIRMENTS:

The consultant(s) will work with ITK staff and the Inuit Housing Caucus on the following four priority areas of work and will support the refinement of associated components:

1. The development of an inventory of current and recent federal investments for housing in Inuit Nunangat. Data will be collected primarily from federal departments and agencies on a regional basis, to support an understanding of impacts on individuals, families, and communities. The inventory would inform the impact assessment study report and recommendations on funding gaps. The inventory will include:

  • An extensive listing of all current and recent federal housing investments for Inuit Nunangat by identifying relevant federal funding programs, including distinctions-based programs, programs of national application, and transfers to provinces and territories.
  • An examination of spending patterns as they relate to Inuit housing.
  • Regional executive summaries outlining current and recent federal investments for housing.
  • An overview on any data gaps or challenges.

2. The completion of an impact assessment study that assesses the impacts of federal investments, identifies challenges and best practices in the roll out of investments, and outlines a preliminary impact measurement framework that could be used to assess impacts going forward. A final Impact assessment report that is separate from the final overall project report would include recommendations based on the inventory and impact study. The impact assessment report will additionally include:

  • Information (e.g. number of houses built, repaired, etc.) broken down regionally about the results of federal spending. This will include an analysis of the impacts of this federal spending on individuals, families, and communities.
  • An examination of the effectiveness (from an Inuit perspective) of the federal housing regime and how each regional land claim organization has adapted to this regime.
  • Recommendations including best practices for the roll out of investments and how to improve the use of investments going forward.

3. The development of a methodology to identify spending gaps based on a regional understanding of housing needs. This could include a review and synthesis of regional housing needs assessment work.

4. A complimentary annotated literature review on housing in Inuit Nunangat, including the exploration of topics such as home ownership, affordable rentals, security of tenure, etc. The literature review will also include:

  • An overview of the literature review findings, including themes, best practices, and policy recommendations.
  • The identification of gaps within the literature on housing in Inuit Nunangat.

5. A final overall project report that will include:

  • Executive Summary, introduction and purpose.
  • A high-level overview of the Impact Assessment study.
  • Summary of the methodology to identify spending gaps and outcomes of the research.
  • Annotated Inventory and Literature Review as appendices.

 

PROJECT TIMELINE:

This is expected to be a lengthy project spanning the entire year. All final reports must be completed and presented to ITK by March 31, 2024.

 

SUMMARY OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

Proposal:

We require a detailed proposal with a cost estimate and projected timelines for the activities broken down by project component.

Proposal(s) must include:

  1. Proposed activities, cost estimates, timelines and due dates for the various components of the project.
  2. Resume of the primary person(s) responsible for the development and coordination of the various work components.
  3. Daily (or hourly) rates for each of the team members with a breakdown of who will be responsible for each component of the work.
  4. Examples of two comparable scopes of work (projects) completed successfully.
  5. Three references, including email addresses and phone numbers, of people/organizations for whom you have conducted similar work.

Role of ITK Staff:

ITK staff will be responsible for the following:

  1. Providing the client project manager.
  2. Working with the successful consultant to finalize the scope of work and project plan.
  3. Serving as the primary point of contact for the consultant and managing the relationship with the Inuit Housing Caucus.
  4. Providing timely review of all deliverables.

Role of the Inuit Housing Caucus:

The Inuit Housing Caucus will be responsible for the following tasks:

  1. Providing high level guidance to ITK and/or the consultant(s).
  2. Providing relevant information (e.g. contributing to identifying key informants and key documents for review, including providing contact information).
  3. Providing a timely review of draft reports and timely approvals of plans and reports.

Role of the Consultant

The successful consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

  1. Providing a plan with a timeline for each component.
  2. Completing these components with input from ITK staff and/or Inuit Housing Caucus within the designated timeframe.
  3. Providing all necessary staff and equipment to conduct the components of the scope of work, including, but not limited to, research, writing, recording capability for meetings, transcription, etc., as required.

 

SELECTION CRITERA AND PROCESS:

The following are the criteria we will use in the selection process:

  1. Detailed plan and timeline (including projected costs for each component).
  2. Potential for an excellent working relationship.
  3. Evidence of high standards in the plan for the housing impact study.
  4. Experience working with Inuit and knowledge of Inuit governance.
  5. Knowledge of housing across the housing continuum, including in an Indigenous context.
  6. Understanding social equity and social determinants of Inuit health.
  7. Strong recommendations from references.
  8. Compliance with the deadline.

Proposals will be scored out of a total of 100 points, including up to 30 points for the qualifications and capacity of the proponent; up to 40 points for methodology and approach; up to 20 points for the budget and cost-effectiveness; and 10 points for overall quality and understanding of the assignment.

The proposals will be reviewed in detail according to the above criteria. Selection will be made by March 30, 2023, and work will begin immediately. All applicants will be promptly notified.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Your electronic submission should be sent by 4:00 pm EST on Friday, March 24, 2023 to Wesley Rodney, [email protected]

CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you have any questions, please contact Wesley Rodney, Senior Policy Advisor, at [email protected]

To apply for this job email your details to rodney@itk.ca.

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