Request For Proposal - Human Resources and Professional Development Support for Three Family Violence Shelters in Nunavut

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to support the appropriate staffing and professional development of family violence shelter positions for three Nunavut-based shelters in the Hamlets of Baker Lake, Pangnirtung, and Gjoa Haven. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and its representatives will be providing direct oversight of this initiative. 

Further detail about the scope of work and required timelines can be found in Section 2 and appendices below.

Proponents are not required to provide a response to every requirement of this RFP. Proponents may submit a proposal for only those areas for which they have the appropriate qualifications, experience, capacity and subject matter expertise.

NTI is requesting comprehensive Proposals from qualified proponents for the provision of Human Resource (HR) and professional development support for three 24-bed family violence shelters shelters located in Baker Lake, Pangnirtung and Gjoa Haven. This is a pilot project which, if completed in a manner satisfactory to NTI, could lead to preference in future similar projects and contracts for such facilities as they are developed across all of Nunavut. NTI is attempting to standardize such work to ensure consistent, appropriate, and efficient delivery of required services across the territory; this project represents the first attempt at such an approach, and its success could significantly improve administration and delivery of such services and the well-being of Inuit across all Nunavut’s communities.

• The facilities in Baker Lake and Pangnirtung are currently projected to open in March of 2027, with the facility in Gjoa Haven is projected to open in March 2028. Therefore, while the same services are required for all three communities, completing the work for Baker Lake and Pangnirtung prior to March 31, 2027 is considered priority. 
• Coordination with local Hamlet’sis essential and detailed below.

There are three primary service components to this project:

1. Human Resources Support: HR functions to finalize the positional needs, and staffing of such positions, at each of the three facilities, as needed. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Development of job descriptions (JDs) for positions which may be community specific; this includes but is not limited the below. A Nunavut scan and receipt of current shelter JD’s from existing shelters may be warranted to help in this task. Coordination with local Hamlet’s required.
• Counselor
• Shelter Executive Director
• Client Support Worker
• Cultural Support Worker/Elder
• Programming Coordinator
• Childcare Worker
• Cook
• Janitor
• Relief/Casual Shelter Worker
  • Draft or example JDs, if available, will be provided to the proponent upon awarding of the contract to reduce potential time required
• Confirmation of accreditation/certification requirements and relevant legislation or applicable laws surrounding positions is expected, particularly for the counselor position
• Development of organizational charts for each location (3), only as required, and in coordination with the local Hamlet’s 
• Compiling existing Nunavut shelter policies and procedures. This will aid in the development of similar policies and proceduresfor the three family violenceshelters to ensure consistent, appropriate and efficient services across all communities. 
• Create templates to support internal policies and procedures (i.e., intake forms, shift changes, critical incident forms, etc.) and reporting templates to meet reporting requirements for funding organizations (i.e., quarterly reports, mid-term reports, and annual reports; duty to report). Coordination with funding organizations is required.
• Research and development of appropriate pay scales, as needed, for each community for all relevant positions; union pay scales for each community must be considered
• Development of advertising and promotional materials and identification of advertising resources and options, as needed, and in partnership with each local Hamlet
• Overseeing, as needed, and in partnership with the local Hamlet’s, the hiring and running of the job competitions.

2. Training Plan: Design/customization/adaptation of professional development materials required to ensure shelter staff at all facilities have appropriate training. This includes both JD specific materials for all positions across all facilities, as well as generalized materials which will be mandated for all positions (or require proof of acquisition or equivalency) regardless of seniority. 

• Courses must include, but are not limited to:
• Cultural orientation and Nunavut Inuit cultural awareness training, as required, and in partnership with local Hamlet’s
• Trauma informed and culturally safe care
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation 
• Workplace safety, including: 
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Workplace planning and risk assessment
  • Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) requirements and expectations
• First Aid/CPR
• Mental health and addictions, including mental health first aid and opioid training
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)/SafeTalk
• Family and intimate partner violence psychoeducation
• Adverse childhood experiences and historical/intergenerational trauma psychoeducation
• Inunnguiniq training (short version) 
• Parenting support and early childhood education resources
• Self-care and vicarious trauma awareness and psychoeducation
• Training on ethics and confidentiality 
• Baseline administrative and professional skills training (Microsoft Office Suite, etc.), as needed and to discuss with local Hamlet’s 
• Training on internal policies and procedures (as developed under HR support functions service component)
• Training on territorial legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines as needed (i.e., mandatory reporting, client confidentiality, duty to report, etc.)

3. Training Plan Delivery: Delivery of professional development materials and courses in three communities. 

• Proponents may submit different suggestions for the frequency and length of professional development course deliveries. Priority of delivery of courses should be considered in the context of the opening date and readiness of the shelters, which may be a three (3) month to six (6 month) time frame upon contract award; ongoing training may be required upon initial phases of opening. See Section 2.1. However, at minimum, this must include:
• One in-person delivery of staff training in each community prior to the opening of the respective facility.
• Delivery of courses identified as mandatory for each position prior to the opening of the respective facility using available methods (in-person, on-line, virtual or blended)
• Training must be categorized according to start-up training, on-going training, and training for new-staff/staff turnover; each category shall provide a comprehensive and detailed training list. Each category will detail delivery method for training (on-line, in-person, virtual, or blended).
• Proponents are to indicate potential contractors, subcontractors, or other additional parties or stakeholders to be involved in service delivery if required, or identified as beneficial to the project
• Promotion and delivery of mentorship opportunities, and the ability to provide ongoing support for shelters, is considered an asset. 
• Promotion and delivery of counselling services, and the ability to provide ongoing support for shelters, is considered an asset
• Coordination, where needed, with Nunavut’s shelter network and existing training resources 

The selected proponent will report to NTI and/or the local Hamlet’s , but will be required to work with local stakeholders in each community to ensure local realities are incorporated into project materials, administration, and schedules. This includes but is not limited to:

1. The Hamlet of Baker Lake
2. The Hamlet of Pangnirtung
3. The Hamlet of Gjoa Haven

Proposals must be received by no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 30, 2026

All inquiries concerning this RFP are to be in writing and sent to procurement@tunngavik.com