Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation Call for Proposal

Transcription

1 Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation Call for Proposal Issue Date: May 4, 2015 Closing Date: 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on July 6, 2015 Submit proposals to:

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1- Introduction 1.0 Definitions Summary of the Requirement Eligibility Term of Transfer Payment Agreement... 5 Section 2 - Background 2.1 Ministry Situation / Overview Background... 7 Section 3 Project Overview & Scope of Work 3.1 Project Overview Sequencing of Centre s Activities Project Governance Stakeholder Outreach Research, Pilot and Evaluate Capacity-Building Website Section 4 Agreement Deliverables 4.1 Two-Year Business Plan Performance Management Quarterly Reports Year-End Report Evaluation Section 5 Call for Proposals - Expectations and Evaluation Criteria 5.1 Proposal Requirements Call for Proposals Expectations Capacity Knowledge and Expertise Approach Cost Evaluation Criteria Interview Process Communications Results Additional Requirements

3 Section 1 Introduction 1.0 Definitions Ministry means the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Centre means the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation. Employment Ontario network means the network of 171 employment service providers, over 200 literacy service provider organizations at over 300 sites across the province, and 70 apprenticeship training delivery offices. Employment Ontario service provider means the third party organizations delivering Employment Ontario s employment and training programs under transfer payment agreements. Evidence-based means policy-making that is grounded in extensive research where the problem and options are defined against thorough research and analysis; policy options are evaluated against specific measurable criteria; information is collected and evidence is explicitly considered; and knowledge gaps are proactively identified and addressed. Innovation means original, different and creative ideas turned into new things of added value, be it a project, product, service or process. Innovation incorporates: - Creativity: the use of imagination or original ideas; - Invention: the action of inventing something, typically a process or device; - Improvement: an example or instance of improving or being improved; and, - Discovery: the action or process of discovering or being discovered. Legal entity means an individual, a sole proprietorship, a corporation, a partnership, a joint venture, or another legally recognized entity that conducts business. Practitioners means front line staff working within the employment and training sector. Applicant means each of the individuals applying to become the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation through the Call for Proposals process. Partnership means one or more organizations collaborating and supporting a lead organization to support and fulfil the role of the Centre. 3

4 1.1 Summary of the Requirement The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (The Ministry ) is seeking proposals to set up and operate the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation (The Centre ) to be operational by late Fall The Centre will provide a single coordinated access point for research on evidence-based employment and training approaches for the Employment Ontario (EO) network and other partners, as well as access to user-friendly and actionable information, tools, resources and training. The Centre will be expected to provide accessible services and supports in English and in French. As a leading edge research organization, the Centre will drive innovative approaches in employment and training service delivery based on solid evidence of initiatives that demonstrate promising potential in Ontario and in other jurisdictions. The Centre s actions will contribute to building capacity throughout the EO network to work with clients, employers, and other partners to build a skilled, resilient and productive workforce. The Centre is intended to contribute to the following outcomes: The EO service provider network and other partners are aware of, participate in, and deliver innovative, evidence-based employment and training services; Project information will be coordinated, publicly available at no cost, and shared broadly with the EO network and other partners, in turn contributing to innovative, evidence-based employment and training practices; and, Increased system-wide innovation in employment and training practices (including technology and tools). Ultimately, the Centre s work will contribute to a more skilled, resilient and productive Ontario workforce. 1.2 Eligibility Applicants must be a legal entity that has demonstrated experience in: Researching, testing and evaluating best practices in labour market programming; Engaging stakeholders and leading collaborative projects; Supporting the ongoing professional development of a sector; and, Providing services in English and French. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their capacity to deliver all components of the Centre. 4

5 A joint submission by two or more legal entities having no formal legal relationship is acceptable. However, in this case, one of the Applicants must be prepared to take legal responsibility for the successful performance of the transfer payment agreement. The following entities are not eligible: For-profit organizations; Municipalities; Provincial governments; and, Federal government. 1.3 Term of the Transfer Payment Agreement The Centre services will be funded through transfer payment, with an initial two (2)-year agreement that will be signed by the successful Applicant and the Ministry. Upon identification of the successful Applicant, the project details and required detailed reports will be negotiated and included in the transfer payment agreement. The successful Applicant must set up and operate the Centre in the province of Ontario. The term of the transfer payment agreement will be from the date of signing until March 31, 2017, with potential for subsequent renewal. The maximum annual budget available for the Centre is $3.5 million dollars. The Centre s funding cycle will follow government s fiscal cycle of April 1 st to March 31 st of the following year. Additional funding will be available to facilitate set-up of the Centre. 5

6 2.1 Ministry Situation / Overview Section 2 Background The vision of the Ministry is for Ontario to have the most educated people and highly skilled workforce in the world to build the province s competitive advantage and quality of life. As part of delivering on this vision, the Ministry is responsible for the development, management and evaluation of a diverse suite of employment and training services. These programs and services have evolved over time to respond to changing labour market circumstances and priorities. The Ministry operates Employment Ontario (EO) as a one-stop source of information, services and programs for jobseekers and employers. The EO service promise is to: Ensure the highest quality of service and support to help individuals meet their career goals; Provide opportunities to make it easier for individuals to improve their skills through education and training; Ensure that no matter which EO office individuals walk into, they will get the help they need; and Work with employers and communities to build the highly skilled, highly educated workforce Ontario needs to be competitive. Further details about the Ministry s programs, services, and strategic objectives are available on the Ministry s website at: While the government currently invests over $1 billion per year in employment and training services through several ministries, the 2012 Commission on the Reform of Ontario s Public Services (Drummond Commission) identified opportunities to improve the efficiency and quality of employment and training services by integrating government-wide services with EO. The Drummond Commission s recommendation is supported by internal Ministry research, broad consultation, as well as a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the effectiveness of Ontario s programs and services. Building on the solid foundation of EO, the government is exploring new ways to meet the needs of jobseekers, workers who require training, and employers, and is moving forward with the integration of employment and training services across government in a carefully sequenced and phased manner. To support an integrated system, the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation will play a leadership role in building the capacity of the EO network by sharing knowledge and 6

7 promoting evidence-based practices. The Centre will also support innovation in the system by piloting and testing new approaches to employment and training services. 2.2 Background The EO network has a wide range of experience and expertise in working with the province s diverse clients, employers and other partners. Service providers and practitioners who seek to enhance their skills can find a wealth of information in the marketplace. However, Ontario does not have a key organization with a mandate to support effective and coordinated research, innovation and capacity-building in the system. The Centre is intended to be a single window available to provide information on research, innovation and capacity-building in employment and training policy, programs and services. The establishment of the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation is a key system feature to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to research, innovation and capacity-building across the Employment Ontario network and other service providers that will help support the achievement of outcomes for a range of clients with diverse needs. 7

8 Section 3 Project Overview & Scope of Work 3.1 Project Overview The Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation will provide coordinated leadership on innovative, evidence-based approaches to employment and training programming and service delivery, and increase the capacity and competencies of service providers. The Centre will be operational by late Fall 2015, and will: Engage extensively with key stakeholders (see section 3.3.2); Research, pilot and evaluate innovative employment and training projects (see section 3.3.3); Build capacity and support an employment and training community of practice (see section 3.3.4); and Launch, manage, and maintain an accessible, bilingual website that highlights key findings and opportunities for others to replicate promising practices (see section 3.3.5). Oversight of the Centre s operations will be guided by a steering committee. The steering committee must reflect the range of the Centre s activities and the diversity of EO stakeholders and partners. The steering committee will set strategic directions, annual operational targets, and long-term research agendas in line with Ontario s highest priority labour market needs (see section 3.3.1). The successful Applicant will develop a 2-year strategic plan to guide the operationalization of the Centre. The successful Applicant will also produce an annual plan and report, and quarterly progress reports. The Centre will be evaluated on its ability to meaningfully engage the EO network and other partners, produce effective and relevant research, and provide capacity-building tools that are of high quality and relevance to the network. The maximum budget available for the Centre is $3.5 million dollars per year. 3.2 Sequencing of the Centre s Activities It is anticipated that the Centre will undergo a four-month start-up phase. During this phase, the Centre will build its capacity, including recruiting staff and setting up any necessary infrastructure. The Centre will engage the EO network and other partners to identify strategic priorities and build strong linkages with the field to ensure it is 8

9 consistently aware of the highest priority labour market and service provider needs and best practices. By the end of the start-up phase, the Centre will also have a functioning accessible bilingual website that will provide information on its mandate, and disseminate information and findings to the EO network, key stakeholders and the public. The Centre will be operational by late Fall Over the course of the remaining fiscal year, the Centre will be expected to ramp up its project based activities, including: Furthering its engagement with the EO network and key stakeholders; Supporting practitioner professional development opportunities; and, Implementing an information dissemination strategy to ensure the resources posted on its website are widely and effectively used by the employment and training service provider community. For fiscal year , the Centre will be expected to complete all the projects set out in its transfer payment agreement, supporting the establishment of a community of practice among employment and training service providers, practitioners and researchers, and researching, piloting and evaluating promising practices that foster innovative solutions to Ontario s labour market challenges and priorities. 3.3 Project The project outlined in response to this Call for Proposals (CFP) must include the following activities: Governance The Centre will be governed by a steering committee that reflects the Centre s provincial mandate and diverse stakeholders (e.g. experience in employment and training service delivery or research working with: youth, women, immigrants, persons with disabilities, social assistance recipients, the long-term unemployed, Aboriginal people, Francophones, urban, rural and remote communities). At a minimum, the steering committee should include: Representation from the Employment Ontario network; Employment and training practitioners; Academic researchers in employment and training services; and, Representation from Employer, Sector, and Industry groups. The steering committee will also include a non-voting Ministry representative. The initial committee will be established in consultation with the Ministry. Ultimately, it would be responsible for setting the strategic direction, annual operational targets, and 9

10 a research agenda aligned with Ontario s priority labour market needs. The Centre s activities will be supported by the Ministry through regular meetings at the Centre executive and Ministry Director-level Stakeholder Outreach It is essential that stakeholders be actively engaged in the development and ongoing operations of the Centre. The Centre will aim to strengthen existing linkages among the EO network and other service provider networks to share information, best practices and research findings. The Centre will set its research, innovation and capacity-building priorities based on extensive outreach with stakeholders and government and ensure that unique and diverse perspectives are heard (e.g. youth, women, immigrants, persons with disabilities, social assistance recipients, the long-term unemployed, Aboriginal people, rural and remote communities, Francophone). The successful Applicant will maximize consultation, including opportunities for in-person engagement. At a minimum, stakeholder groups to be consulted should include: The Employment Ontario network and other service provider networks; Clients and client groups; Employer, Sector, and Industry groups (e.g. manufacturing, service, construction, small and medium enterprises, and large corporations); Local Boards and Local Employment Planning Councils, once launched; Universities, Colleges and Training Institutions; Unions; and, Agencies of the Government of Ontario (e.g. Ontario College of Trades, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario). The Centre will be expected to identify linkages to related organizations and ensure coordination where appropriate to reduce duplication of efforts Research, Pilot and Evaluate One of the Centre s key functions will be to research, pilot and evaluate projects that address Ontario s most pressing labour market and workforce development opportunities and challenges. The Centre will remain well-informed of key employment and training technologies and service delivery practices happening at the local, provincial, national and international levels. The Centre is expected to identify, build, maintain and articulate linkages between its work and the related work of others, including, for example: Local Boards and once launched, Local Employment Planning Council pilots; 10

11 Universities, Colleges and Training Institutions; Employer / Sector and Industry groups; Organizations that specialize in research and innovation; Ontario College of Trades; Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario; and, Government Ministries and Agencies. The Centre will also design, test and evaluate new and innovative approaches to employment and training that could be introduced to the broader Employment Ontario network. For those projects that evidence demonstrates to be most promising, the Centre will develop opportunities for training and sharing best practices, including disseminating user-friendly and actionable information and tools. All projects must be rigorously monitored and evaluated by individuals with appropriate expertise to determine the potential to be replicated in / across Ontario, and the outcomes must be publicly reported. The successful Applicant is welcome to identify opportunities to develop partnerships to accomplish the goals of the Centre, and will be expected to develop, post, award and manage research, innovation and capacity-building requests and contracts. The Centre s work is not intended to replace what exists within the marketplace. Instead, it is meant to complement those activities and its work will need to adhere to this vision. The successful Applicant will make its products publicly available at no cost to the end user, including on its website Capacity Building The Centre will create and promote opportunities for employment and training service providers to develop new knowledge and adopt evidence-based promising practices. The objective is to assist the employment and training community to improve capacity to deliver high quality programs and services by adopting new practices and technologies that have been proven to deliver results. The Centre will promote, train and provide technical assistance on the best practices it identifies and develops through its research and evaluation function. Training must be accessible, flexible and targeted to different audiences through a variety of media (e.g., webinars, web-based courses, resource guides, and in-person presentations and meetings). Technical assistance will also be flexible, responding by various means (e.g. , phone) to the specific practice questions/issues posed by users of the site. The Centre will also develop and support an employment and training community of practice that brings together service providers, researchers, employers, and other experts to share knowledge, evidence-based practices, and opportunities for innovation. 11

12 The approach can include conferences and webinars, in-person meetings and presentations, as well as social media. The Centre s capacity-building activities are intended to support the development of employment and training service provider skills and knowledge. Further, the Centre s community of practice and delivery of training is not intended to replace what exists in the marketplace. Instead, it is meant to complement other existing means of professional development and support Website The Centre is expected to provide a single bilingual, accessible point of entry to make publicly available best and emerging employment and training service delivery practices, research and innovation projects and technologies at no cost at to the end user. To support this requirement, the successful Applicant will build, operate and maintain an accessible, bilingual, and easy to use website that incorporates responsive web design e.g., mobile devise friendly. 12

13 Section 4 Agreement Deliverables Over the term of the agreement, the successful Applicant is required to produce the following deliverables: 4.1 Two-Year Business Plan As part of the transfer payment agreement deliverables, the successful Applicant will be required to prepare and present a 2-year business plan, to be updated annually and submitted to the Ministry for review. The plan will need to include, at a minimum, the following: Purpose, guiding principles, and objectives of the Centre; Strategic directions, including an overview of current and future activities; Proposed management and governance structure; Planned project activities for both year one and year two informed by labour market information and stakeholder outreach; Reporting deliverables: planned outcomes, performance measures and timelines; Stakeholder engagement and communication plan; Risks / mitigation strategies; and, The proposed budget required to meet the objectives of the Centre. The successful Applicant must carry out the plan, meeting the milestones, performance commitments and planned outcomes. 4.2 Performance Management The successful Applicant will be subject to performance management of its projects, expenditures and reports by the Ministry. This will provide the Ministry with the opportunity to determine how effectively the Centre is performing based on the requirements outlined in the agreement. The overall success of the Centre will be determined through ongoing year-round monitoring. A robust performance management framework will be outlined in the transfer payment agreement. The Ministry will work with the Centre to define performance measures and will set the Centre s performance targets. The Centre s performance will ultimately be reviewed against its effectiveness and efficiency, as well as reported user satisfaction with the Centre. The successful Applicant will be expected to outline the Centre s progress in meeting these deliverables over time, including in both the quarterly reports and the end of year report. The Centre s activities will be monitored by ministry staff on a regular basis to ensure project activities and timelines are met in accordance with the terms in the Centre agreement. The ministry monitors the activities to obtain updates on projects progress in meeting its objectives and outcomes. 13

14 In each year of the initial two-year agreement, the Centre must produce or update the following: Quarterly Reports The successful Applicant must submit quarterly progress reports. The reports must include, at a minimum, the following elements: Summary of overall activities and achievement of milestones in the Centre s business plan; Analysis of operational performance, including progress against planned expenditures; and, Results of the Centre s performance measurement targets and action to be taken when not on track to be achieved. The Centre s performance will be reviewed against prescribed outcomes as per the transfer payment agreement and will be monitored by the Ministry. Note: The Applicant may elect to propose additional reports, the costs of which should be clearly reflected in their proposal Year-End Report The successful Applicant will also be expected to outline the Centre s progress in meeting their deliverables over time in a Year-End Report. 4.3 Evaluation The Centre will take part in both a formative and summative evaluation, to be led by the Ministry. Both evaluations will require extensive consultation with key stakeholders actively involved in the work of the Centre. The formative evaluation will focus on the Centre s first year in operation, including its start-up phase, and will assess whether the Centre was implemented and is functioning as described in the Strategic Plan and two-year business plan, including whether the Centre: Successfully engaged and is collaborating with stakeholders to support effective service delivery; Produced useful and relevant information and activities to increase EO network access and awareness of evidence-based employment and training service delivery practices, technologies and/or tools; Increased participation in training and collaboration to support effective service delivery; and, Enhanced EO network capacity to deliver effective employment and training services. 14

15 A summative evaluation will focus on the intended impacts immediate and intermediate outcomes of the Centre, and the extent to which progress has been made in those areas. Decisions about possible extensions and funding for future years will be dependent upon the Centre s success in meeting the outcomes that will be described in the transfer payment agreement. 15

16 Section 5 CFP Expectations and Evaluation Criteria This section details all of the criteria against which proposals will be evaluated. Applicants should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria in order to receive full consideration during evaluation. The content of the successful CFP proposal will ultimately inform the transfer payment agreement. However, final deliverables will be subject to negotiations. 5.1 Proposal Requirements Applicants shall provide a completed proposal template (Appendix 1), as well as the other documents specified in the following sections to the Ministry. Each Applicant will submit their full proposal electronically to the address below: centreforworkforceinnovation@ontario.ca Any proposals received after the deadline will NOT be considered. Proposals submitted in any other manner will NOT be considered. All Applicants will be notified of the results of the evaluation process by no later than 90 days following the closing of the CFP application process. Note: The Ministry is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Any information submitted in confidence should be clearly marked. 5.2 CFP Expectations In order to receive full consideration during evaluation, the proposal must include a clear and detailed response to the following: Capacity a) Provide a profile of your organization (two pages maximum) that includes an outline of your organizational structure, number of years in operation, and affiliates that may be assisting with the work anticipated under the proposal. If applicable, provide the legal name and a brief description of any partner or affiliate that is part of your proposal, and briefly describe their role in the Centre s services. b) Describe how the Ministry s objectives for the Centre as set out in section 1.1 of this document fit with your organization s mission, goals and expertise. 16

17 c) Describe how you intend to set up the Centre (e.g. as a component of current operations or through the formulation of a new organization. If the latter, then describe the new legal entity and its organizational structure). d) Describe how you will ensure equal access to the Centre s resources and supports in English and French, and how you will consider accessibility as well as cultural and regional diversity. e) Describe your organization s proven capacity to manage government contracts or transfer payment agreement funds, including your demonstrated financial management experience and experience in meeting performance expectations Knowledge and Expertise a) Describe your proposed organization structure for the Centre, including roles, relationships and responsibilities. b) Provide resumes (two pages maximum) outlining the qualifications and areas of expertise of lead staff members. If appropriate, please also identify the number of staff and skill sets for which you would recruit, if your CFP proposal is successful. c) Describe your team s knowledge of Ontario s labour market priorities and employment and training programs and practices. d) Describe your team s overall experience in: a. Establishing similar enterprises or research institutes; b. Developing and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders; c. Conducting research, pilots and evaluations; d. Developing and delivering training; e. Providing assistance and support to stakeholders and clients (i.e. responding to practical questions/issues); f. Developing a community of practice; and, g. Building and maintaining a functional, accessible, bilingual, easy to use website. Per the evaluation criteria scoring grid on page 19, please note that an additional 2 points will be given to Applicants with experience conducting research, pilots and evaluations related to labour market policy, workforce development, and/or employment and training programs and services. 17

18 5.2.3 Approach a) Describe your proposed approach to building a suitable governance structure for the Centre, with reference to the minimum requirements outlined in section of the CFP. b) Describe your proposed approach to stakeholder outreach, including how you will confirm the relevant stakeholders/partners to be engaged and the strategies you will use to ensure sufficient and timely engagement. c) Describe how you will deliver the research, pilot and evaluation functions required in section of the CFP. Describe how you will define and identify best and emerging practices. Describe how you will determine research priorities that align with Ontario s priority labour market needs, including the regional focus of Employment Ontario. d) Describe your approach to the capacity-building function outlined in section e) Describe your approach to developing a functional, accessible, bilingual website that incorporates responsive web design e.g., mobile device friendly and key features of the site, including how the website will promote the dissemination of research, promising practices, tools and technology. f) Describe the tools that could be used to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction of the Centre Cost The proposal must set out a firm fixed cost for the term of the agreement that includes all costs related to the start-up and delivery of all activities of the Centre. The fixed cost, including any additional proposed costs for the start-up phase, must be substantiated by a budget detailing all costs and assumptions by fiscal year for both years of the transfer payment agreement including: From the date the transfer payment agreement is signed to March 31, 2016; and April 1, 2016 to March 31,

19 5.3 Evaluation Criteria This section details the criteria against which proposals will be scored and evaluated. In order to receive full consideration during evaluation, and advance to the interview stage of the application process, proposals must meet the minimum combined score for each of the criteria. Criteria Capacity a) Organization profile b) Organization s alignment with the Ministry s objectives for the Centre c) Start-up of the Centre d) Bilingual, accessible access to the Centre s resources e) Experience in managing government contracts, including financial management Knowledge and Expertise a) Roles, relationships, responsibilities b) Qualifications and expertise of lead staff c) Knowledge of Ontario s employment and training programs and practices d) Experience delivering relevant initiatives Note: An additional 2 points will be given to Applicants with experience conducting research, pilots and evaluations related to labour market policy, workforce development, and/or employment and training programs and services. These 2 additional points are included in the maximum 40 that can be awarded in this section. Maximum Combined Score Minimum Combined Score [20] [12] [40] [24] Approach a) Proposed governance approach b) Stakeholder engagement c) Research, pilot and evaluate function [40] [27] d) Capacity-building e) Website f) Performance management framework Total [100] [63] 19

20 5.4 Interview Process The Ministry intends to invite the highest scoring Applicant or Applicants in the case of a tie, to attend an in-person interview. The interview is an opportunity for the Ministry to validate the content of the proposal. The Applicant will present their proposal, demonstrate how they will meet or exceed the project requirements, and participate in a question and answer period. The Applicant will be responsible for bringing their own equipment for presentation purposes, such as laptop, projector, audio, or any other equipment. The Applicant will be responsible for all expenses and travel arrangements related to attending the interview. The interview will take place in Toronto. The Applicant s interview will be scored out of 15 points, with a minimum required score of 10 points (see table below). If the scoring differential of Applicants who pass the minimum scores set out in section 5.3 is five points or less, multiple Applicants will be interviewed. If the highest scoring Applicant, or Applicants in the case of a tie, does not meet the minimum score for the interview, the Ministry may interview additional Applicants. Interview Criteria Maximum Score Minimum Score Presentation 5 Questions and Answers 10 Total The successful Applicant will be asked to submit three references that have direct knowledge of the Applicant s work performance. The Ministry reserves the right to ask the interviewee(s) for additional documents to support the presentation. 5.5 Communications A series of frequently asked questions has been posted to the Employment Ontario Partners Gateway. Applicants will have up to three weeks to submit additional questions regarding the CFP process, following the issue date of the CFP. All questions can be sent to: centreforworkforceinnovation@ontario.ca by May 18, Questions and answers will be communicated to all Applicants via the Employment Ontario Partners Gateway by June 8,

21 No questions will be accepted by phone, and individual responses will not be provided. 5.6 Results The Ministry intends to enter into a transfer payment agreement with the highest scoring Applicant. If the proposals submitted for evaluation do not meet the minimum scores in section 5.3, the Ministry reserves the right to terminate the CFP process without entering into a contract with any of the Applicants. All Applicants will be notified of the results of their application in writing no later than 90 days following the close of the Call for Proposals. 5.7 Additional Requirements Negotiation of Agreement No services/activities will be delivered before reaching an agreement with the Ministry for the provision of the approved services/activities. The agreement will be in a format provided by the Ministry. The Ministry expects to begin negotiations for the specific project details and required detailed reports to be set out in the agreement no later than August 31, Audit Requirements All projects totalling $100,000 and over are required to submit a final detailed statement of revenue and expenditure report that has been independently audited, in accordance with generally accepted Canadian audit standards, within 90 days of project completion. The auditor will be required to verify, at a minimum, that proper and distinct accounts and records are maintained for expenditures by each budget line. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) FIPPA applies to information in the custody or under the control of the Ministry. Any information provided by an Applicant can be subject to an access request. An Applicant should identify any information in its proposal or any accompanying documentation that is supplied in confidence for which confidentiality is to be maintained by the Ministry. The confidentiality of such information will be maintained by the Ministry except as otherwise required by law or by order of a court, tribunal, or the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Applicants are advised that their proposals will, as necessary, be shared on a confidential basis, with the Ministry s advisers retained for the purpose of evaluating or participating in the evaluation of their proposals. 21

22 Conflict of Interest Applicants must disclose any information pertaining to any situation that may be a conflict of interest in submitting the proposal or, if selected, the obligations under the agreement to mitigate any prospective conflict. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance The successful Applicant who will sign the transfer payment agreement must secure comprehensive general liability insurance, with an insurer having a secure A.M. Best rating of B+ or greater, to an inclusive limit not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence on property damage, bodily injury and personal injury prior to receiving the funds from the Ministry. Media Communications Organizations may not at any time directly or indirectly communicate with the media in relation to this proposal application, the awarding of the same, or any resulting agreement(s) without the consent of the Ministry and then only in coordination with the Ministry. Marketing and Promotional Materials Full acknowledgement of Ontario government support must be provided in all marketing and promotional material, including on the Centre s website. 22