RFP: OCASI Strategic Membership and Organizational/Structural Plan

June 10, 2010

Background

The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is the provincial umbrella for immigrant and refugee serving organizations in Ontario. OCASI is a registered charity governed by a volunteer board of directors. Formed in 1978 to act as the collective voice for immigrant and refugee serving agencies, OCASI's membership is comprised of more than 200 autonomous community-based organizations across Ontario.

OCASI's mission is to achieve equality, access and full participation for immigrants and refugees in every aspect of Canadian life.

OCASI is inviting proposals from qualified consultants to research, present options and make recommendations regarding its membership and board structure in order to support OCASI to meet its mission and mandate more effectively.

Scope of the Project

Review OCASI's Strategic Plan and other related documents.
Research similar mandated umbrella organizations in various jurisdictions to determine possible organizational and membership structures for OCASI.
Solicit input from key stakeholders and work closely with assigned members of the Board and staff.
Determine how OCASI can best position itself structurally to meet its mission in the context of emerging sectoral and environmental realities.
Development of an implementation plan.

Key Themes

The following key themes identified by the OCASI Board and Staff would inform the scope of the project:

Relevance of the OCASI mission and current membership criteria;
Relationship between the Council, its members, and new organizations participating in immigrant and refugee integration and settlement sector;
Relationship between the Council, funders and other stakeholders , including immigrant and refugee communities;
OCASI's advocacy priorities.

Selection criteria

Experience developing strategic plans for community-based registered charities;
Demonstrated knowledge of the public policy context for immigrant and refugee settlement including familiarity with pertinent issues and with key programs/services;
Extensive knowledge of not-for-profit and advocacy organizational structures and related legislation, etc.;
Experience in facilitating groups and conducting interviews for research purposes;
Ability to compile, analyze and critically evaluate large amounts of information and produce high-quality written material;
Demonstrated commitment to an inclusive, anti-racist and anti-oppression analysis;
Experience in undertaking larger scope, province-wide projects, is an asset;
Available to attend the OCASI Executive Directors Forum scheduled for November 1-3, 2010;
Ability to complete the above work with a budget that does not exceed $10,000.

Process for Selection

Proposals will be short listed based on the criteria above;
Short listed applicants may be invited to an interview with the Selection Committee on July 8, 2010;
Selection Committee will announce its decision to short-listed applicants by July 13, 2010.

Deliverables

Develop and implement an inclusive analytical framework (project charter);
A comprehensive report containing research and consultation results and organizational and membership options (including risks and advantages) for the Board of Directors consideration;
A set of recommendations for structural/organizational changes, implementation and reporting elements;
Scheduled project updates.

Proposal

The proposal must not exceed 8 pages, and must include the following specific information:

An overview of the consultant's understanding of the scope and requirements of the project, and the approach that the applicant will take in meeting its objectives ;
A work plan that takes into account the deliverables and timelines outlined above including considerations for successful implementation;
A brief description of how the applicant would work with OCASI Project Advisory Committee and staff managing the project;
A budget for the total cost of the work, including all personnel, materials, and other expenditures. The total budget cannot exceed $10,000 (inclusive of expenses, fees, disbursements and applicable taxes);
Confirmation of the consultant's availability for the duration of the project timeframe, including his/her availability to attend the OCASI Executive Directors Forum in early November, 2010.

Reference Information

The proposal must be accompanied by the following reference information:

CV for every applicant included in the proposal.
An outline of the applicant's work addressing the selection criteria, including examples of previous related work.
Names and contact information of three references for whom the applicant has conducted similar projects.

OCASI is committed to the principles of employment equity in its contracting practices.

All proposals will be kept confidential.

Proposals must be received by July 2, 2010 at 4 p.m.

Please send proposals to:

Strategic Plan Committee - Executive
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario M4R 1A3
OR
consultmembership@ocasi.org

Questions?

Questions related to this RFP may be addressed to consultmembership@ocasi.org, until June 18, 2010.

Responses to all questions submitted will be posted on this page by June 22, 2010.