Request for Proposals

KTUNAXA nation council

request for proposals

essential skills and workplace

readiness consultant

PROFILE

Ktunaxa (pronounced ‘k-too-nah-ha’) people have occupied the lands adjacent to the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia, Canada for more than 10,000 years.

The Traditional Territory of the Ktunaxa Nation covers approximately 70,000 square kilometers (27,000 square miles) within the Kootenay region of south eastern British Columbia and historically included parts of Alberta, Montana, Washington and Idaho.

The Ktunaxa Nation consists of four Bands within the boundaries of Canada. The four Bands located in Canada are St. Mary’s in the Cranbrook area, Tobacco Plains near Fernie, Lower Kootenay near Creston and Akisqnuk near Invermere. The current population of the Ktunaxa Nation is approximately 1800 including both status and non status.

Status refers to enrollment with Indian and Northern Affairs as a Registered Indian. It has no relevance to blood quantum or lineage and so is a poor gauge of actual population numbers.

The Ktunaxa Nation is not culturally affiliated with any other Indigenous group and its language is an isolate.

BACKGROUND:

The Ktunaxa Nation Council will endeavour to improve the employability of First Nation community members through the utilization of the Essential Skills model; and will engage local educational institutes, employment practitioners and employers in the development of appropriate assessment tools to enhance the work environment for employer and employee alike.

The role of the consultant is to develop a culturally relevant, observational tool for use in assessing the nine Essential Skills: literacy, numeracy, document use, writing, oral communication, working with others, thinking skills, computer use, continuous learning and reading. The current and popular TOWES (Test of Workplace Essential Skills) is not effective with our First Nations clients, in general. The Ktunaxa Nation Council is undertaking a one-year strategy ending in February 2011 to oversee the development, design and application of the observational assessment tool(s). The consultant will complete the assessment tool and/or training component within a 20-week timeframe.

SCOPE:

The successful Contractor will work with the Project Coordinator to develop an Essential Skills based observational assessment tool that can be used in an informal setting or workplace by employers or employment practitioners. The Contractor will have the following responsibilities:

1. Develop observational assessment tool:

Using tools such as focus sessions to solicit input into the design of the assessment tool; including input from a broad range of people including First Nation and non First Nation employment service providers, project partners (being industry, college, etc.)
Pilot assessment tool in two local First Nation communities
Make appropriate revisions;
Pilot in two additional First Nation communities

3. Develop a Train the Trainer module:

Train the Trainer will occur in the communities with employment and other paraprofessional staff
Develop and complete an evaluation of the module

Please note that travel to the three communities within the territory will be required: yakan nukiy (Creston, BC), akisqnuk (Windermere, BC), and akinkumlasnuqli?it (Grasmere, BC)

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT:

The Contractor will report to the Project Coordinator and day-to-day management is provided by the Ktunaxa Nation Council including invoicing and financial monitoring.

OWNERSHIP:

All materials, data, contact lists, documents, plans, and reports produced by or at the direction of the contractor in connection with this project will be owned by the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS:

Proposed budget including consultant day rate (based on an eight hour day), travel and accommodation for the consultant;
Proposals submitted must clearly outline the methodology;
Consultant’s relevant skills, background and experience;
Proposals must include 3 references that can provide information regarding the consultant’s abilities and/or past performance.