Re: Request for Proposal for a Research Consultant
Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (herein referred to as “PLAN”) is accepting proposals from experienced researchers to collaborate on a multi-stakeholder initiative to improve the financial security of Canadian adults with disabilities.
PLAN is a non-profit charitable organization established in 1989 to help families secure the future of their loved ones with disabilities. Working in collaboration, we build personal support networks, make plans to secure the future, and bring families together for mutual support, learning and community leadership.
To learn more about us, review our website at www.plan.ca.
We have received grant funding for “Supporting Siblings: A New Path to Financial Security”, a national initiative that explores how siblings can contribute to the long-term financial wellbeing of working-age adults with disabilities living in or near poverty. To carry out this exciting project, we are partnering closely with The Sibling Collaborative, a family support network for adults who have siblings with disabilities.
The contract outlined below is from early October 2020 to late March 2021.
The Consultant will
- Conduct a review of literature on supports, services, products, programs and frameworks aimed at improving the financial wellbeing of adults with disabilities and their families. The review will include an examination of academic literature, grey literature, program reports, unpublished evaluations and ‘in house’ documents from service providers and relevant organizations and will highlight any references to siblings.
- Conduct a review of the existing Canadian resources (e.g., online calculators, programs, websites, videos, etc.) on income supports, services and financial tools aimed at improving the financial security of working-aged Canadians with disabilities. This review is including but not limited to government disability and employment programs, trusts, tax credits and tax benefits (e.g., DTC), the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and other asset-building vehicles (e.g., TFSA, annuities), insurance products and real estate. Specify whether (and, when applicable, how) the resources reference siblings.
- Identify which and how each of these resources, supports, services and financial tools are affected by a change of the executor (usually from the death of the parent(s) of the person with the disability) and transition to next-generation caregivers (i.e., siblings). This might include who can hold, manage or restrict these services or supports.
- Compile the gift and asset limits (related to provincial benefits) for each Canadian province and territory, and their implications on financial security (particularly with a change of the executors).
- Compile a list of Canadian organizations across sectors that have the largest reach in financial products, services, disability and poverty alleviation (in particular for people with disabilities). This list must include a minimum of three organizations in each province and may include (but is not exclusive to) social service agencies, professionals, non-profits, charities and government players.
- Present the data in a synthesized format that is easy to access, navigate and understand, including an analysis of gaps in both the literature and resources.
Deliverables include
- A work plan for approval by the project team within two weeks of the project’s start date. The plan will include the major tasks, a framework for the presentation of the data collection, the methods and processes by which the required information will be gathered, the timeline for deliverables and the level of effort for each (proportion of total time spent).
- A literature review.
- A list of Canadian organizations (including description and contact information) that have the largest reach regarding financial products, services, disability and poverty alleviation.
- A draft of the report in sections. Major sections will include:
- The literature review;
- The review of the existing Canadian resources on income supports, services and financial tools;
- The review of provincial and territorial gift and asset limits;
- The list of organizations;
- A summary of the gaps in resources for next-generation (i.e., siblings) caregivers.
- The final report.
Qualified contractors will have
- Research experience in related areas (e.g., financial security, disabilities);
- Familiarity with supports and services for adult Canadians with disabilities;
- No actual or apparent conflict of interest;
- Agreement to maintain confidentiality; and
- The ability to create an open research environment and a willingness to work closely with the project team.
The proposal should be a maximum of four pages and include the following
- A brief description of how you would approach this project.
- Statement of qualifications and resumes of key staff involved in the project.
- Two examples of past work that illustrate your ability and experience with similar research projects.
- A list of current or former clients that have hired you to work on similar projects (that we may contact as references).
- Project budget including payment schedule.
- Project timeline.
To be considered, please submit your proposals by email to the attention of Rebecca Pauls at PLAN (rpauls@plan.ca) by 5:00PM PT on September 24, 2020.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Pauls
Executive Director