February16,2017Subject: RequestforProposalNo.2017-07Title: DesignationofAboriginalCommunalFishingLicense--LobsterArea32DearSir/Madam:Youare invited to submitone (1) signedcopyofaproposal to lease theSipekne’katikBand’sAboriginalCommunalFishingLicenseforLobsterArea32#110307forthespringportionSealed proposals will be accepted until 12:00 PMAtlantic Time,March 16, 2017. Proposalsmustbesigned,submittedinasealedenvelopeandaddressed:

Re:RFP2017-07NathanSackDirectorofOperationsSipekne’katikBand522ChurchStreetIndianBrook,NSB0N1W0

RFPdocumentsmaybedownloadedfromhttp://sipeknekatik.ca/category/public-tenders/Thosewhosubmitaproposalagreetobeboundbytheinstructions,clausesandconditionsofthe Request for Proposals and accept the clauses and conditions of any resulting contract.ProponentsareencouragedtoregistertheirintentiontosubmitaproposalwiththeDirectorofOperations,toensuretheyreceiveanyaddendumornotificationsregardingtheRFP.TheSipekne’katikBandwillnotnecessarilyacceptthemostprofitableoranyoftheproposalsreceivedanditreservestherighttoacceptorrejectanyorallproposalsreceived,whichshallbefinalandatthesolediscretionoftheBand.Yourstruly,NathanSackDirectorofOperations

Table of Contents PART1:GENERALINFORMATION.................................................................................................................3

1. Definitions........................................................................................................................................3

2. Introduction......................................................................................................................................3

3. BusinessObjectives..........................................................................................................................3

4. OtherCoreValues.............................................................................................................................3

5. ScopeofServicesandDeliverables..................................................................................................4

PART2:PROPONENTINSTRUCTIONS...........................................................................................................5

1. BasicInstructions..............................................................................................................................5

2. ConfidentialityofProposals..............................................................................................................5

3. AnticipatedTimeline.........................................................................................................................6

4. RevisionsorWithdrawalofProposals..............................................................................................6

5. RighttoAmendorTerminateRFPProcess.......................................................................................6

6. ProposedLeaseoffer:$..................................................................................................................7

7.PleaseidentifyifyouhaveanypotentialconflictofinterestwithSipekne’katik.................................7

ART1:GENERALINFORMATION

1. Definitions“Band”meanstheSipekne’katikoritsrepresentative.“License”means theBand’sAboriginal CommunalFishing License32 for lobster for the2017fishingseason.“Proponent”meansapersonororganization that submitsaProposal in response to thisRFP.Theterms“Proponent”and“Contractor”areusedinterchangeablyinthisRFP.

2. IntroductionSipekne’katikislocatedinIndianBrook,NovaScotia,28.8kilometerssouthwestofTruro.With2519members,theSipekne’katikBandisthesecond-largestFirstNationinNovaScotiaandthelargestontheNovaScotiamainland.InadditiontoitsreserveatIndianBrook,theBandalsohasreservelandinNewRoss,WallaceHills,GrandLakeandPennal.TheSipekne’katikBandisseekingproposalsfromqualifiedlobsterharvestertoleasetheBand’sAboriginalCommunalFishingLicense,#110307,forlobsterduringthe2017FishingSeason32.

3. BusinessObjectives

Sipekne’katik is committed to continuous economic development, of which its commercialfisheryenterpriseisacorecomponent.AstheSipekne’katikBandgrowsandexpandsthrougheconomicdevelopment,allBandmembersshareinthebenefits.ThecommercialfishinglicensesheldbytheSipekne’katikareissuedtotheFirstNationforthecollectivebenefitofallBandmembers.ThelicensesareintendedtoprovideopportunitiesformembersoftheSipekne’katikFirstNationtoconductfishingandrelatedactivities,andtobuildcapacityinthecommercialfishery.

4. OtherCoreValuesSipekne’katikholdsafundamentalbeliefthatastrongcommitmenttotheenvironmentaswellas thehealth and safetyof its employees, visitors and contractors is essential to theoptimaloperation and long-term viability of its business. In linewith this belief is the Sipekne’katikBand’scommitmenttoensuringthatitsemployeesandcontractorsknowtheirenvironmental,healthandsafetyresponsibilitiesandworkinassafeamanneraspossible.

The Sipekne’katik Band will take every opportunity to align itself with contractors that areequallycommittedtothehealthandsafetyoftheiremployeesandtheworksiteenvironment.

5. ScopeofServicesandDeliverablesTheprincipalservicesanddeliverablesareasfollows:

(i) To lease the non-quota based lobster fishery allocated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to the Sipekne’katik Band pursuant to its Aboriginal Communal Fishing License 110307 in Lobster Fishing Area 32. The competitive leasing fee must be paid in advance of the fishery.

(ii) To provide training and capacity-building to members of Sipekne’katik in the

lobster fishery. The Contractor is expected tomanage and fulfill the conditions of the Aboriginal CommunalFishingLicense,asestablishedbytheDFO,inthemostprofitablemannerpossible.Thefisheryoperator is expected to do so while at the same time ensuring the safety of workers, theintegrity of the natural environment, and the trainingand capacity-building objectives of theAboriginalCommunalFishingLicense.TheContractorisresponsibleforprovidingallvessels,equipment,trap,crewandotherhumanresourcesnecessarytofishthelobsterundertheLicense.The Contractor shall be required to employ aminimum of two (2) qualifiedmember of theSipekne’katikasdeckhandsormatesat10%ofcatchforeachSipekne’katikdeckhandsTheContractormustcomplywiththerequirementsoftheAboriginalCommunalFishingLicenseestablishedbytheDFOrelatedto,amongstotherthings:

(i) Radio and communications equipment (i) Vessel monitoring system (ii) On-board monitoring (iii) Gear, trap and tag specifications (iv) Identification requirements, including display of VRN on vessel and gear (v) Commitment to Report Incidental catch and species at risk (vi) Monitoring and reporting to DFO

PART2:PROPONENTINSTRUCTIONS

1. BasicInstructionsProponentsagreetobeboundbytheinstructions,clausesandconditionsofthisRFPandacceptthe clauses and conditions of any resulting contract. Proponents are encouraged to registertheir intention to submit a proposalwith theDirector ofOperations in order to ensure theyreceiveanyaddendumornotificationsregardingtheRFP.Proposals will be assessed in accordance with the entire requirement in this Request forProposals, including themandatoryandpoint-rated criteriadetailed inPart 3. Anevaluationteam composed of representatives of the Band and appointed by the Shubenacadie BandCouncilwillevaluatethebids.Theevaluationteammayincludethird-partyrepresentatives.ProponentsshouldincludetheinformationincludedontheproposalbidapplicationattachedasappendixA:

1. Their legal name; 2. The name and contact person (including this person’s mailing address, phone

and email address) authorized by the Proponent to enter into communications with the Shubenacadie Band with regards to:

a. Their Proposal; and b. Any contract that may result from their Proposal. 3. Name, model and other specifications, Vessel Registration Number (VRN),

Vessel Identification Number (VIN) of the vessel to be designated by the Band pursuant to the Aboriginal Communal Fishing License Regulations;

4. The name and contact information for the captain(s) to be designated by the Band pursuant to the Aboriginal Communal Fishing License Regulations.

5. References 6. Does a Conflict of interest.

TheBandwillnotnecessarilyacceptthemostprofitable,orany,oftheproposalsreceived.TheBandreservestherighttoacceptorrejectanyorallproposalsreceived,whichshallbefinalandatthesolediscretionoftheBand.

2. ConfidentialityofProposalsAllProposals,includingdocumentssubmittedtotheBandbyaProponentinconnectionwithaProposalorpursuanttotheRFP,becomethepropertyoftheBandandshallnotbereturnedtoProponents. They shall be received and held by the Band in confidence and shall not bedisclosed to third parties, except as may be necessary for the proper evaluation of theProposals.

ProponentsshallnotbeentitledtoknowthecontentofotherProponents’Proposals.

3. AnticipatedTimelineActivity TimelineRequestforProposalIssued February16,2017RequestforProposalClosed March17,2017EvaluationofProposals March18,2017LeadProponentNotified FourthWeekofMarch2016AgreementFinalizedandSigned FourthWeekofMarch2016Lobsterfishingseasonopens April17,2017

4. RevisionsorWithdrawalofProposalsProposalsmaybe revisedbywrittennotice to theDirector ofOperations by courier or handdeliveryprovidedthat revisionsare receivedbefore thedeadline forsubmissionofProposals.Any change resulting in a change in the Proposal price must be supported by a suitableadjustmenttothetendersecurity(inaccordancewithPart3(I)(1)).A Proposalmay bewithdrawn by submittingwritten notice ofwithdrawal to the Director ofOperations by courier, hand delivery or email. A Proposalwithdrawn after the Closing Timecannotberesubmitted.

5. RighttoAmendorTerminateRFPProcessTheBand isnotunderanyobligationtoawardacontractandreservestherighttoamendbyaddendumanytermoftheRFPdocumentsortoterminatethisRFPprocessatanytime.

APPENDIXA–ProposalApplication(Oncecompletepleasedeliver)1. LEGALNAME:___________________________________2. NAMEOFCONTACTPERSON/AGENT:________________________________3. MailingAddress/Phonenumber_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. FishingEquipmentInformation:

FishingVesselName VesselRegistrationNumber NameofCaptains

5.References:

NAME CONTACTINFORMATION

6. ProposedLeaseoffer:$

7.PleaseidentifyifyouhaveanypotentialconflictofinterestwithSipekne’katik.

SIGNATURE_______________________________DATE_______________________ (ONCE COMPLETED THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE SEALED AND SUBMITTED BY OR BEFORE THE DEADLINE)