Deadline: 20-Oct-20
The Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is seeking proposals for the Digital Navigation Matching Tool for Federal Programs and Services.
ISC is seeking a web-based navigation tool that enables users to navigate Indigenous federal programs, initiatives, and strategies, and that can match incoming requests from Indigenous businesses, organizations, and government officials to a federal program/service.
Funding Information
- Phase 1:
- The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $ 150,000.00 CAD excluding applicable taxes, shipping, travel, and living expenses, as required.
- The maximum duration for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is 6 months (excluding submission of the final report).
- Estimated number of Phase 1 contracts: 2
- Phase 2:
- The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $520,000.00 CAD excluding applicable taxes, shipping, travel, and living expenses, as required.
- The maximum duration for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is 12 months (excluding submission of the final report).
- Estimated number of Phase 2 contracts: 1
- Note: Only eligible businesses that have completed Phase 1 could be considered for Phase 2.
Outcomes
Essential (mandatory) outcomes
Proposed solutions must:
- Be scalable, and provide users with immediate interactive access (within seconds) to relevant, information adapted to their specific question(s) and need(s);
- be able to be integrated with current Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)/Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) systems, and should have interoperability with existing Government of Canada online databases and applications;
- have the capacity for adaptation over time-based on supervised or unsupervised machine learning in order to refine the user experience and better meet the information needs of Canadians;
- be able to provide the same interface to both internal and external users;
- be able to provide PDF fillable application forms to individuals wishing to apply to a certain program;
- automatically (perhaps with an algorithm or machine learning) update itself in real-time if there is a change, addition, or deletion on a federal program website so that this tool can always provide the most current information possible; and,
- be able to incorporate information from all Government of Canada programs and services. Not only Indigenous Services Canada.
Additional outcomes
Proposed solutions should:
- Have a chatbot function to interact with users on a real-time basis and be able to respond to queries (e.g. “I would like funding to open a business. What program can I apply to?”) in multiple languages including, but not limited to, both official languages English and French with the possibility to extend to Indigenous languages;
- Be fully accessible for individuals who may have learning, reading, a perceptual, physical or visual disability that impacts their ability to read conventional digitally displayed materials.
Eligibility Criteria
Solution proposals can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria:
- for-profit
- incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially)
- 499 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- research and development activities that take place in Canada
- 50% or more of its annual wages, salaries, and fees are currently paid to employees and contractors who spend the majority of their time working in Canada
- 50% or more of its FTE employees have Canada as their ordinary place of work
- 50% or more of its senior executives (Vice President and above) have Canada as their principal residence.
For more information, visit https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/00118.html