Request for Proposals
We are pleased to share the following Request for Proposals:
Diabetes Eye Program Evaluation & Assessment of the Retinal Screening Landscape in Alberta (Deadline: October 30, 2024)
Modernization of Alberta's Primary Care System - Indigenous Innovation Fund Grant Program (deadline extended: November 15, 2024 at noon)
We encourage qualified organizations to review the details below for each proposal, and if interested, email Kavita Prasad at executivecoordinator@hcom.ca to obtain the optional submission templates and other application documents as specified.
Diabetes Eye Program Evaluation & Assessment of the Retinal Screen Landscape in Alberta
The Indigenous Services Canada, Alberta Region (ISC-AB), Diabetes Eye Program (DEP), was established in 2010 and provides retinal eye screening in First Nations across Alberta. The program was paused in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and services have been slow to resume to pre-pandemic levels. The vision and diabetes eye care landscape in Alberta is vast, with various pathways available for accessing services. Taking into consideration a 2015 Subcommittee motion, in January 2024, the Prevention Programs Subcommittee identified the need for an evaluation of the ISC-AB Diabetes Eye Program (DEP) and an assessment of the retinal screening landscape in Alberta.
In February 2024, the Health Co-Management Committee approved that funding be set aside for the evaluation of the ISC-AB Diabetes Eye Program and an assessment of the retinal screening landscape in Alberta. Following an unsuccessful Request for Proposal (RFP) process completed in July 2024, the Prevention Programs Subcommittee motioned at the September 12, 2024 meeting to increase the available funding allocation to $200,000 and re-circulate the RFP (Motion 2024-09-12: #3).
Contribution Agreement Holder Roles and Responsibilities
The successful Contribution Agreement Holder will be responsible for:
Conducting a systematic and objective evaluation of the ISC-AB Diabetes Eye Program by December 2025, including:
Examination of the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, growth, and sustainability of the current program
Identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
Conducting an assessment of the current retinal screening landscape in Alberta by December 2025, including:
Engaging directly with multiple First Nations across all three Treaty areas to ensure diverse and unique needs are reflected
A summary of existing retinal screening and early detection diabetic eye care services in Alberta
Assessment of the availability of existing retinal screening resources for First Nations in Alberta living both on and off-reserve
Geographic location, proximity, and accessibility of retinal screening and early detection diabetic eye care services across each Treaty Area
Identification of best practices (regional, national, international) for retinal screening and early detection diabetic eye care services
Based on evaluation and assessment findings, provide recommendations to the Diabetes Eye Program Working Group to support evidence-based decision-making for how best to deliver screening and early detection diabetic eye care to First Nations in Alberta
Working collaboratively with the identified Diabetes Eye Program Working Group (inclusive of representation from each Treaty area) as needed to ensure the roles and responsibilities outlined above are met
Next Steps
Please submit the following items as part of the request for proposal process (optional template included in Annex A):
Organizational information
Project lead
Request for proposal outlining:
Relevant experience
Technical expertise
Knowledge and available staff and/or Indigenous third-party partner relationship
Proposed methodology and process for conducting the DEP program evaluation and retinal screening landscape assessment
Information outlining how the landscape assessment will be inclusive of all Treaty areas
Sample budget (current funds available is $200,000)
Note: If multiple proposals are received, the Diabetes Eye Program Working Group, comprised of representation from each Treaty area as well as representatives from First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), will review each proposal for clarity and completeness and recommend the successful contribution agreement holder for approval by the Prevention Programs Subcommittee.
Please email Kavita Prasad at executivecoordinator@hcom.ca to obtain the optional submission template.
Please submit your proposals to the Community Health Promotion team at ab.chp@sac-isc.gc.ca no later than Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
2. Modernization of Alberta's Primary Care System - Indigenous Innovation Fund Grant Program (deadline extended)
On October 18, 2023, the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health, released the report, “Honouring our Roots: Growing together toward a culturally safe primary health care system for Indigenous peoples”, and announced the Ministry’s commitment to establish an Indigenous Primary Health Care Innovation Fund (Innovation Fund) to address the immediate challenges facing Indigenous patients, communities, and organizations by investing in First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous health care service providers and agencies to deliver comprehensive primary health care services closer to home.
The goal of the Indigenous Primary Health Care Innovation Fund is to ensure that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit partners are equipped with the resources needed to design and deliver programs that meet the unique needs of their community. To ensure communities have sufficient time to submit their proposals, the application deadline for the third and final call has been extended to Friday November 15, 2024, at noon.
The Innovation Fund is intended to provide flexible funding to assist Indigenous communities and organizations as they pursue priorities based on their unique primary health care needs including (but not limited to) projects that:
Decrease barriers for Indigenous patients: These projects will involve accessing primary health care services in community or away from home, including health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, travel and accommodation supports, health benefit programs, or other community-led activities.
Increase access to culturally safe primary health care services through innovation: These projects include small-scale capital projects, virtual technology, mobile care, and development of new or stabilization of existing core human resources in community to deliver services.
Develop primary health care-based education: These projects include primary health care based educational projects, activities/training modules, curricula that promote Indigenous ways of knowing; language and interpretation initiatives; and workshops/events that foster community connection.
Demonstrate innovation in primary health care delivery models: These projects are designed and delivered by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and organizations address local needs and build upon strengths in the community, provide wholistic or wraparound care, that incorporate traditional culture and healing, and support partnership development and collaborative relationships.
Increase community capacity: These projects increase the capacity of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and organizations to develop primary health care models that can be sustained over time, business case development, feasibility studies, development of partnerships, demonstration projects, research and analysis projects, collaborative relationships, and community engagement activities.
Please refer to the Innovation Fund Guidebook and Application Form for additional information. Email Kavita Prasad at executivecoordinator@hcom.ca to obtain the Innovation Fund guidebook, fact sheet, and application form.
Indigenous Health Division staff are available to discuss primary health care opportunities with Indigenous community representatives. Please email Indigenoushealthgrants@gov.ab.ca and someone from the Indigenous Health Division will be happy to connect with you.
Other opportunities
EDIA Award Nominations
Nominations for the Cumming School of Medicine’s (CSM) Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) Award are now open until November 1. This award recognizes the efforts of CSM faculty members, learners, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and work units toward creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive culture at CSM, and/or within their community of practice. Details can be found here
AFMC Award Nominations are open for 2025
To learn more about AFMC and their 2025 awards, click here
Indspire Scholarships and Bursaries
Indspire offers funding for students, with November 1 being the next deadline to apply. Click here for more information.
Government of Canada supporting solutions and rapid responses to the substance use and overdose crisis
Good Day,
We wish to inform you that the Government of Canada has launched a call for proposals for urgent community support to assist municipalities as well as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced the launch of the first call for proposals for Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF).
The fund will invest $150 million to help municipalities and First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities address their urgent needs and support rapid responses to the toxic drug use and overdose crisis.
The ETF will provide short-term support to rapidly mobilize and build capacity for enhanced access to trauma-informed, evidence-based substance use treatment, harm reduction and integrated services, such as naloxone distribution and drug checking equipment. The fund will work to be responsive and adaptive to allow communities to address their urgent needs in the way that best addresses their unique needs.
Applications will be accepted until November 08, 2024.
Quick facts
The government is launching call for proposals for urgent community support to help municipalities and First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities
Budget 2024 earmarked $150 million over three years of one-time funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to provide rapid responses to emergent, critical needs related to the substance use and overdose crisis
The funding breakdown allocates $25 million in 2024-2025, $75 million in 2025-26 and $50 million in 2026-27.
Quick Links
The IPHCPR network is positioned to support and partner with organizations and agencies in supporting municipalities and Indigenous communities. We welcome collaboration on proposals for this funding on initiatives that align with community needs.
Those interested in exploring potential collaborations can reach out to us at IPHCPR@ucalgary.ca.