1. business and industrial
2. business operations
3. management
4. project management

Ontario East Economic Development
Commission
Request for Proposals
Economic Development Strategic Planning
Training
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Contents
1 Bid and Contract Schedule ......................................................................................................................... 3
2 Background and Purpose of the RFP.......................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Geographic Area ....................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Purpose of the RFP .............................................................................................................................. 4
3 Work Requirements ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Project Goals ....................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Project Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 Project Deliverables ............................................................................................................................ 5
3.4 Project Manager.................................................................................................................................. 6
3.5 Proposed Project Budget and Schedule .............................................................................................. 6
4 Proposal Submission .................................................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Submission Process ............................................................................................................................. 6
5 Proposal Content ....................................................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Submission Requirements .................................................................................................................. 6
6 Evaluation of Responses ............................................................................................................................ 8
6.1 Evaluation Criteria............................................................................................................................... 8
6.2 Award or Rejection of Bid ................................................................................................................... 8
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1 Bid and Contract Schedule
RFP Release Date
Proposal Submission Deadline
Consultant Selection
Project Initiation
Interim Progress
Delivery of training #1
Deliver of training #2
Submission of Final Report
March 3rd
March 16th
March 18th
March 25th
April 15th
early May
by June 30th
July 31st
2 Background and Purpose of the RFP
2.1 Background
The Ontario East Economic Development Commission (OEEDC) is a non-profit, nonshare capital
corporation formed in 1988 with the purpose of delivering collaborative regional economic
development marketing. Building on the success of OEEDC sector teams’ investment attraction
programs, and with increased community engagement and participation, the OEEDC plans to
expand on its strategy initiatives to enhance competitiveness of partner municipalities and other
economic development agencies to focus efforts on identifying and tracking opportunities and
removing barriers to secure new investment and business growth throughout Eastern Ontario.
The OEEDC has successfully developed five (5) key sectors for investment: Advanced
Manufacturing, Agri-Food/Food Processing, Logistics and Transportation, Investment Tourism
and Innovative Rural Opportunities (entrepreneurship, small business, etc.).
The OEEDC has a history of working collaboratively across Eastern Ontario to market the region
as a place for business growth and investment attraction.
Geographic Area
OEEDC Commission represents more
than 200 communities, thousands of
businesses and nearly two million
residents.
Ontario East members
include more than 125 Ontario East
economic development professionals
and business leaders working cooperatively to promote Eastern
Ontario as a premiere business
location.The geographical jurisdiction
of the project is the area represented
by the OEEDC as highlighted on the map.
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2.2 Purpose of the RFP
Strategic Planning for Economic Development.
OEEDC requires the development and delivery of training curriculum on Strategic Planning
specifically for Economic Development in municipalities.
“Strategic Planning” resources and information sharing were identified as specific economic
development needs in the next 5 years in the survey completed in June 2014 by OEEDC members.
This needs survey was a successful partnership between Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and OEEDC.
In response to the need the OEEDC, in partnership with OMAFRA, is now delivering a series of
workshops on Economic Development Strategic Planning for Economic Developers (i.e., staff,
officials, individuals, community groups or organizations) involved in Municipal and Regional
Economic Development . Participants will have the choice of taking these workshops at two
locations in Eastern Ontario.
3 Work Requirements
3.1 Project Goals
To deliver Strategic Planning workshops series for Municipal Economic Development Officials,
and other interested municipal staff and officials in two locations across Eastern Ontario.
Strategic Planning resources developed by OMAFRA (http://ontario.ca/b77p) as well as
performance measurement resources can be used for the development of the workshops.
Objectives of the training are:
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To understand the benefits of local and regional economic development strategic
planning;
To understand the products of economic development strategic planning and the keys
to successful planning and implementation of economic development initiatives;
To work collaboratively across the region in identifying commonalities and opportunities
for economic development;
To develop and incorporate analytically informed economic development strategic
planning and performance measures resources in the Economic Development Strategies
for use at the municipal and regional levels;
To pilot economic development strategic planning training resources in eastern Ontario.
3.2 Project Scope
The OEEDC will hire a consultant to complete the strategic planning training based on:
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Documents Review: an understanding of the OMAFRA-developed strategic planning and
performance measures resources, as well as additional community and regional economic
development strategic planning and performance measures resources.
Receive input from the OEEDC Executive Administrator, Board Members and OMAFRA, to
understand the specific requirements from individuals involved in municipal and regional
economic development, including an understanding of strategic planning and economic
development performance measures currently in use.
Develop a two (2) day training program plan for delivery in May and June, 2015. (The logistics of
the events will be the responsibility of OEEDC (ie venue arrangements and promotion of events).
The training will include, but not be restricted to, the following:
Session #1
The OMAFRA Strategic Planning can be resource for this session.
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The steps to strategic planning
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Accessing /analyzing data to identify community’s competitive advantage
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Mentoring/sharing best practices from experienced EDO’s
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Implementing and evaluating plans
Session #2
The OMAFRA Performance Measurement can be a resource for this session.
•
Performance measures for use by municipalities/regional that can be tracked locally
and rolled up regionally.
•
This session will build on the performance measures identified in a survey
completed in March 2015 by OEEDC members.
•
Review of new and/or existing plans for evaluation.
Conduct two sessions each of the training programs – one series being located in Belleville (or
area) and the other in Kemptville (or area).
Develop 4-6 common economic development performance measures for use by economic
developers in eastern Ontario.
Materials developed for training will be proprietary to Ontario East Economic Development
Commission.
3.3 Project Deliverables
Conduct a review of existing strategic planning materials specific to economic development for
municipalities or regions.
Develop training plans to inform participants on the objectives of the workshops.
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Deliver training sessions in May and June (each session will be held in 2 locations in eastern
Ontario (i.e. a total of 4 training days)) to economic developers in Eastern Ontario, specifically:
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Municipal and regional economic development professionals;
Economic development boards of directors, municipal councillors and community
business leaders;
Local or regional economic development organizations (e.g. Community Futures
Development Corporations);
Provide common economic development measures to be used locally and regionally in Eastern
Ontario to report outcomes.
Provide a final report including all materials used in the delivery of the training (hard and
electronic copies), as well as performance measures to be used locally and regionally.
3.4 Project Manager
This project will be completed under the direction of Bonnie O’Neill, Executive Administrator of
the OEEDC as the project manager.
3.5 Proposed Project Budget and Schedule
Consultants must clearly indicate the total project costs, with related taxes stated separately. In
addition to outlining the approach to be used, the proposal should include a proposed payment
schedule, cost breakdown by item or activities that are required to complete the project, and the
billing rates and hours for key personnel involved in the assignment.
4 Proposal Submission
4.1 Submission Process
One (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy compatible with Microsoft Office shall be
delivered to:
Ontario East Economic Development Commission
945 Princess Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
Attention:
Bonnie O’Neill, Executive Administrator
[email protected]
Proposals must be received no later than 4:00 pm on March 16, 2015.
5 Proposal Content
5.1 Submission Requirements
Proponents should address the following in their submission:
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General qualifications on similar training by respondent, including a sample outline.
Staffing plan, including brief career descriptions for senior project participants, and
availability of same
Reiteration of the proponent’s understanding of the project objectives and scope of
requirements
Identification of any clarifications and assumptions upon which the proposal is based,
with regard to scope, deliverables, and activities
Execution plan for the project, including detailed listing of activities, milestone schedule,
meetings and deliverables for each of the major study areas
Cost of services estimate, including corresponding fees and disbursements associated
with the work and HST
Company Background and Experience
Provide complete company information
 Organization name, mailing address, telephone, fax, website
 Type of organization (i.e. include a brief description of the services your company offers)
 Key contact person and contact information
 Years in business
 Number of full-time employees, size of entire team
 Any other information relevant to this project
 Provide three client references for work completed within the last five years
Proposed Project Resourcing
Provide a summary of the project team including:
 Size of team, brief bios of each person and the role they would assume on this project
 A summary of your approach to project management and client engagement
 Hours, daily and/or per project rate for the services to be rendered
Project Work Plan
This section must include:
 A work or project plan for the project including key tasks, dates, key responsibilities and
timetable. Include any/all relevant information regarding your approach
 A description of the general approach or method for completing the project displaying
an understanding of the project, project task, and project deliverables.
 Describe the methodology used in determining the project options
Pricing
 Describe your proposed pricing, including any and all fees and expenses
 Quote your fees exclusive of HST, the total HST payable, and total of fees including HST
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6 Evaluation of Responses
6.1 Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
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Quality of work plan – comprehensiveness, effectiveness and technical approach to
overall project
Cost and value
Demonstrated ability to complete the work on an efficient schedule
Quality, expertise and accessibility of personnel
Knowledge, experience and understanding of economic development, and business
investment attraction decision process
Recommendations from prior clients (including list of references) for whom the
consultant has performed similar projects
6.2 Award or Rejection of Bid
Any award made is subject to a signed contract. If a contract between the contractor and the
OEEDC cannot be negotiated in a timely fashion to OEEDC’s satisfaction, the award may be
withdrawn.
This RFP may be cancelled or re-tendered at any time. The lowest or any submission will not
necessarily be accepted. OEEDC is not obligated to award a contract arising from the RFP.
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