Updating the 10 Year First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy: Phase 1
Updating the 10 Year First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy: Phase 1
Introduction
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations.
The AFN hosts at least two Assemblies each year where mandates and directives for the organization are established through resolutions directed and supported by the First Nations in Assembly, (elected Chiefs or proxies from member First Nations.)
The AFN is also guided by an Executive Committee consisting of an elected National Chief and Regional Chiefs from each province and territory.
The AFN invites qualified individual(s) (and/or companies) to submit proposals to provide services related to updating the First Nations National Housing and Infrastructure Strategy including completing an environmental scan and conducting up to 20 interviews and eight(8) virtual or in-person regional focus groups.
The chosen proponent will best demonstrate knowledge of developing strategic plans with a regional or national focus and facilitating focus groups to draw out the input needed to create culturally appropriate context and feedback for strategic planning.
Objective
The objective of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to select a bidder to provide a high quality of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality in carrying out the Phase 1 work to update the First Nations National Housing and related Infrastructure Strategy including working with the AFN and the Chief’s Committee on Housing and Infrastructure Technicians in recruiting First Nations housing professionals, leadership and other relevant stakeholders to engage and gather feedback on required updates. Phase 1 will conclude prior to March 31st, 2025, with the delivery of a report outlining options for a draft vision, goals, and outcomes for a renewed First Nations housing strategy and recommendations for next steps.
Submissions will be accepted until November 12th, 2025.
Background
The Assembly of First Nations is committed to supporting sustainable, culturally appropriate, and community-led housing solutions for First Nations. The 2018 10 Year First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy (strategy) serves as a foundational document that outlines a vision for a sustainable First Nations housing system to 2035. The strategy aims to outline the steps required to ensure that all First Nations members living in or away from their First Nations will have access to housing that suits their needs.
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) was mandated by AFN Resolution 27/2017, Development of a First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy, to jointly develop, with the Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure (CCoHI) and the federal government a strategy to address First Nations housing.
The current housing strategy was finalized in 2019 and consists of four pillars:
- Governance and Delivery: New systems, institutions, and ways to deliver housing services to First Nations people. A First Nations Housing and Related Infrastructure Policy and Research Centre will gather and provide First Nations with important housing information, tools, best practices, and innovative First Nations approaches to housing.
- Funding and Financing: New financial instruments and additional government
- Skills and Capacity: Investments in skills and capacity, with the flexibility to direct the use of funding.
- First Nations Information Sessions: Responsiveness to where individual First Nations reside along the transfer of authority continuum in housing and
The update to the housing and related infrastructure strategy will be guided by the Joint Working Group on housing and homelessness with representatives from the AFN, CCoHI Technicians, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Housing, Infrastructure Communities Canada (HICC).
Scope of Work
The AFN seeks to engage a qualified consultant to provide work required to update the housing strategy by drawing on the experience and expertise from across the First Nations housing and related sectors. It will also involve delivering a national First Nations skills and capacity needs assessment relying on up-to-date data on First Nations housing skills development needs.
The consultant will work collaboratively with the AFN and CCoHI Technicians to ensure the updated strategy reflects current First Nation housing and related infrastructure needs and priorities, addresses challenges and identifies opportunities. The consultant will be responsible for:
- Developing a project work plan and meeting with AFN and CCoHI Technicians to ensure alignment on research and engagement strategy;
- Meeting regularly with AFN’s Housing and Infrastructure Sector and AFN regional housing technicians for status updates and troubleshooting.
- Completing an environmental scan that includes current understanding of First Nations housing and related infrastructure needs to close gaps, and a presentation of up-to-date data and statistics; socio-economic, demographic, and political context and projections; policy and program history including funding gaps; as well as a First Nations housing systems map;
- Completing an assessment of First Nations skills and capacity needs for housing, including data on First Nations housing skills development needs.
- Assisting the AFN in the preparation of outreach and communication materials, invitations, and other preliminary documents related to coordinating experts, First Nation leaders, and other interested participants;
- Developing and supplying materials and resources for group discussions, breakouts and other exercises as required to ensure effective dialogue;
- Conducting up to 20 in-person and virtual key informant interviews with First Nations housing experts, technicians and leadership to:
- explore information
- identify specific short-term and long-term First Nations housing and related infrastructure needs, trends and challenges, including human resource needs; and
- identify policy options requiring action
- consider other areas as
- Conducting 8 virtual or in-person regional engagement sessions with First Nations (selected by regions) to activate dialogue and gather feedback;
- Working with the AFN and CCoHI in analyzing engagement feedback to identify what key objectives, outcomes, and opportunities exist for a First Nation housing system;
- Completing a final report based on the environmental scan and feedback that clearly articulates options for a draft vision, goals, and outcomes for a renewed First Nations housing strategy and recommendations for next steps.
The Contractor will moderate/facilitate session(s) in a way that participants share their knowledge, experiences and views as well as potential ideas and solutions in approaches to addressing housing needs.
Project Timeframe:
The work shall be completed by March 31st, 2025
Proposal Submission Instructions
All proposals shall be received by the AFN no later than November 12th, 2025.
All proposals will clearly identify the name of the proponent and the note “RFP for Updating the First Nations National Housing and related Infrastructure Strategy: Phase 1”.
Individuals shall indicate whether they identify as First Nations and what First Nations community acknowledges their membership. Corporate entities shall do the same for the ownership of the entity and for those who will conduct the work under the.
Late submissions will not be accepted and will be returned unopened without exception. The use of the mail or courier services for delivery of a bid will be at the risk of the bidder.
All proposals shall include the following information:
- An Executive Summary outlining the background information of the proponent’s company, including contents of the proposal.
- Qualifications: provide a description of the proponent’s capabilities/experience specifically related to developing strategic plans with a regional/national focus.
- A statement and description of the physical and human resources required to complete a strategy document and coordinating and conducting engagements.
- Project Organization: Identify the composition of the proposed project team, if any, including:
- Project team members;
- Description of the roles of the team members
- Level of experience of the team members specific to First Nations housing and related infrastructure.
- Client References: the names of three (3) references which have used the services of the bidder. References to include the client name, title, contact information.
- Cost Breakdown: The Proponent shall provide a detailed cost breakdown for the proposed services, showing the total cost for the performance of all services, expenses, materials, deliverables, and software/hardware costs (if applicable), to be used for completion of the work. Total cost shall be in Canadian dollars and inclusive of HST. All travel, accommodation, and related expenses will be organized and paid by the AFN.
Rights of the AFN
The AFN reserves the right to:
- reject any or all proposals received in response to this Request for Proposals;
- enter into negotiation with one or more bidders on any or all aspects of their respective proposals;
- accept any proposal in whole, or in part;
- cancel and/or re-issue the modified version of a given RFP requirement at any time;
- award one or more contracts;
- verify all information provided with respect to a given RFP requirement, including the right to request a confirmation of the bidder’s legal status and signed documentation; and
- award contracts without competition for follow-up work, if any, to the selected bidder for a given project requirement.
Evaluation Criteria
The AFN will select the Proponent(s) which, in the AFN’s sole discretion, best serves the needs of the AFN. The following is a summary of the general considerations that will be used to determine the Proponent(s) that will be selected:
| Overall experience and demonstrated results in strategic plans, relationship building and facilitation | 25 |
| Budget approach and cost effectiveness | 20 |
| Indigenous organization / individual | 20 |
| Knowledge, training and application surrounding the principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®) | 10 |
| Strategic thinking and planning approach | 25 |
Timetable
| Description of Deliverables | Due Date |
| 1. The following dates are set forth for informational and planning purposes and may be changed at the AFN’s sole discretion. | Oct 29, 2025 |
| 2. Deadline for Questions: | Nov 07, 2025 |
| 3. Deadline for proposal Submission | Nov 12, 2025 |
| 4. Start Date for Contract | Nov 28, 2025 |
The timetable is tentative only and may be changed by the AFN, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline.
Miscellaneous Provisions
Price
Contractors must provide a firm fixed price, including administrative fees, travel, material costs, translation, printing of draft concepts and HST.
Confidentiality
Responses to this RFP will be considered as confidential information by the AFN and will be used solely for the purposes of selecting the successful bidder. Only those submissions that meet the deadline will be considered.
Clarification/Questions
All on-time proposals will be acknowledged.
Requests for clarification and/or questions regarding this RFP and final submission should be directed to:
Lisa McCormick Senior Policy Advisor
Assembly of First Nations
Electronic Mail: lmccormick@afn.ca
Responses to this RFP must be received by the close of business (5:00pm EST) on November 12th, 2025.
