Request for Proposals – Midwifery Heritage Video: Promoting Inuit Women’s Cultural Reproductive Health Practices.

Statement of Work

Title: Midwifery Heritage Video: Promoting Inuit Women’s Cultural Reproductive Health practices.

Background and Objectives: 

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada (Pauktuutit) fosters greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, advocates for equality and social improvements, and encourages their participation in the community, regional and national life of Canada. Pauktuutit leads and supports Inuit women in Canada in policy development and community projects in all areas of interest to them for the social, cultural, political, and economic betterment of the women, their families, and communities.

In the early 1990’s, Pauktuutit conducted a research interviewing elders from ten communities across Inuit Nunangat. The knowledge gathered was translated into English, organized into a report highlighting the traditional ways of birthing and caring for children. Due to political barriers and systemic anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system, the participants of the research were among the last generation of Inuit to have given birth in the traditional way. 

Pauktuutit continues to raise concerns with government institutions that Inuit traditional midwifery knowledge practice must ensure a continuum while integrating mainstream practice. 

The current state of Inuit women’s sexual and reproductive health is a result of regulatory limitations that strike against traditional knowledge and practices and are not trauma informed practices that respect Inuit cultural values. The return of sustainable Inuit midwifery practices and education to Inuit communities remains one of Pauktuutit’s utmost priorities. To ensure transformative and sustainable change, Pauktuutit is developing a story-telling video of the current and historical practices of Inuit midwifery while highlighting the challenges, gaps and the needs for Inuit midwifery service and education in Inuit Nunagat.

Inuit Midwifery Recording and Production Project

This RFP is for the development, recording, production, and editing of a story-telling video, with interviews from various communities in the 4 regions of Inuit Nunagat, and southern centres. This video will tell the past and present practices of Inuit midwifery services, while highlighting the challenges, gaps and needs to promote Inuit midwifery services. The video also aims to inform future policy and programming initiatives, as well as increase capacity for Inuit midwifery services and education campaign.

Scope of Work:

• Support with coordination, meet and conduct interviews with Inuit midwives around their work and personal experiences in traditional midwifery.
• Shoot, record and produce innovative and culturally appropriate videos to be filmed in all four regions of Inuit Nunangat, communities or southern centers as specified by Pauktuutit.
• Incorporate existing transcript from previous research into newly recorded videos.
• Participate in the project meetings via video and teleconferences as appropriate.
• Provide regular progress updates, analytics, evaluation, and recommendations as required and on a weekly basis.
• Submit all final project documents, raw footage, and imagery, etc. upon completion of the contract.

The proposals shall be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Cost breakdown
2. Ability to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity towards the subject matter

• Consideration of the reality of the North /experience in the north
• Cultural safety and competency
• Project milestone and deliverable schedule
• Originality
• Feasibility
• Pertinence
• Proposed approach and methodology to deliver the scope of work.

1. A work plan with anticipated project milestone deliverables

Timeline

The duration of the contract will be from August 6^th, 2021- March 31^st, 2022

• bids accepted until July 29^th, 2021
• contract begins August 6^th, 2021
• completion of deliverables as outlined in contract by November 6^th 2021
• contract ends March 2022 (in line with Pauktuutit’s fiscal year)

*Depending on the COVID-19 pandemic – timelines are subject to change with approval by both parties.

Pauktuutit’s Roles and Responsibilities

The primary contact at Pauktuutit for this project is Fatima Adebanjo, Health Policy Coordinator, (fadebanjo@pauktuutit.ca). Pauktuutit commits to provide the information and materials necessary to complete the work and will respond to requests for information in a timely fashion. Pauktuutit will provide a decision within three business days.

Confidentiality, Privacy and Copyright

The successful applicant shall not disclose to any party any confidential information gained or resulting from activities undertaken under this project, nor shall the applicant disclose any information concerning Pauktuutit or their affairs where such information is obtained through this project.

Pauktuutit and the successful applicant will agree to acknowledge and accord appropriate credit for each other’s contribution in this project, including any products developed and disseminated as a result publicly and mutually. Both parties will come to an agreement on how credit is attributed, depending on the nature and degree of each organization’s contribution.

It is understood that Pauktuutit retains ownership of all materials and intellectual property created, designed, or produced because of activities undertaken by the successful applicant when awarded this project.

It is understood that the successful applicant will generate original work for this project.

Proposal Instructions

• Applicants must submit their company name, and confirm their incorporation, references, and/or portfolio.
• Submit by email to fadebanjo@pauktuutit.ca
• Word format or PDF.
• Estimates/budgets must remain firm until September 30^th 2021.
• No payment will be made for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this RFP.
• No costs incurred before receipt of a signed contract can be charged to the proposed contract.
• Pauktuutit reserves the right not to award a contract because of this RFP.

Budget

The proposal must demonstrate the following:

• Expertise and experience of the project team who will be assigned to deliver the work (this may be included in the form of CVs).
• Include a detailed budget not to exceed $113,000.00 including HST, that demonstrates that the objectives and deliverables for the project can be met.
• Indicate the billing rate.
• List any other expenses that might be applicable; and
• Total bid MUST include 13% HST tax.

Rights of the Organization

Pauktuutit reserves the right to:

• Enter negotiations with one or more bidders on any or all aspects of this proposal.
• Accept any proposal in whole or in part.
• Cancel and/or re-issue this requirement at any time.
• Award one or more contracts.
• Verify any or all information provided by the bidder with respect to this requirement.

Contact Information

Please direct the application to:

Fatima Adebanjo
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
520 – 1 Nicholas St. Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
fadebanjo@pauktuutit.ca
613-238-3977 ext. 273