Request for Proposal
Golden Area Initiatives (GAI) is seeking proposals from qualified consultants or businesses to undertake a community engagement process, in partnership with GAI Staff, to develop a Multi-Stakeholder Regional CED Assessment, Plan and Implementation Strategy. In consultation with CED stakeholders, the ‘Assessment’ will identify areas of service overlap and service gaps in the Region; the ‘Plan’ will identify short-term, medium-term and long-term actionable priorities over a period of 5 years (at minimum) to enable the communities and CED Stakeholders of Kicking Horse Country (Town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District ‘Area A’) to work collectively towards a common vision for the Region; and, the ‘Implementation Strategy’ will identify a program or structure within which the actionable priorities can be achieved.
Project Objectives
Golden Area Initiatives requires a successful proponent to assist Staff in developing and implementing a program to create a Multi-Stakeholder Regional CED Assessment, Plan and Implementation Strategy by:
- Reviewing the state of the local economy and the community’s economic vision and values by (1) identifying existing assets and constraints paying special attention to existing current and historical documents related to Community Economic Development within the Region (including the East Kootenay and Columbia Shuswap and Kicking Horse Country); (2) identifying what structure and infrastructure are required to support existing development goals; (3) identifying areas of service overlap and opportunities for collaborative future work.
- Facilitating a community stakeholder dialogue to identify collaborative CED Projects and Opportunities using case study examples from other communities where appropriate. (The proponent is asked to describe the method for seeking out, and receiving public input in the format of a Community Engagement Strategy).
- Identifying resources and business assistance to facilitate implementation, and identifying initiatives which are already underway within the community that could be partnered with to share resources/expertise/workloads
- Identifying resources, partnerships, and policy changes that may be required to implement identified opportunities.
- Developing measurement criteria to assess/evaluate plan implementation.
- To leverage community-based assets (particularly technological infrastructure i.e. Broadband) where possible in both the process and outcome of this initiative.
Proponent Qualifications
The successful proponent shall have demonstrated capabilities and experience in the following areas:
- Academic foundations in Community Economic Development, Sustainable Community Development and Community Engagement;
- The ability to work independently and in a team environment within specified timeframes;
- Demonstrated experience in Community Planning or a related field;
- Demonstrated experience in community engagement, facilitation, and dialogue; and,
- Excellent communication skills.
Timeline
- Advertising and issuance of this document to potential proponents by July 18th, 2011
- All proposals shall be received no later than August 8th, 2011 at 12:00pm (noon) MST
- Submissions will be review and evaluated based on the criteria identified herein by August 4th, 2011
- Awarding of the contract to the successful proponent by August 5th, 2011
- Work to commence by August 12th, 2011
- Work to be completed by November 15th, 2011
Proponents should include a proposed timeline / work plan of activities in their proposals.
Application Process
Proponents shall submit Proposals by Email or mail (three copies) prior to August 8th, by noon, 12:00pm (MST), to Golden Area Initiatives. Submissions should be addressed to Suzanne McCrimmon, Manager of Community Economic Development at the contact information provided below. Proponents shall be notified upon receipt of the completed proposal, and again after the selection process is complete.
Contact Information:
Suzanne McCrimmon
Manager of Community Economic Development
Golden Area Initiatives
PO Box 20190
Golden, BC V0A 1H0
Phone: 250.344.2420
Fax: 1.888.329.9756
Email: smccrimmon@goldenbritishcolumbia.com
Laura Archer
Community Economic Development Officer
Golden Area Initiatives
PO Box 20190
Golden, BC V0A 1H0
Phone: 250.344.2420
Fax: 1.888.329.9756
Email: edo@goldenbritishcolumbia.com
