Careers

Title: Treaty #3 Nation-led Energy Innovation and Project Development Study
Due: October 9th, 2026

1.0 BACKGROUND

At the direction of the leadership, for the benefit/protection of the Citizens, the administrative office of Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3) protects, preserves and enhances Treaty and Anishinaabe in Treaty #3 rights.

This is achieved by advancing the exercise of:
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Sovereignty
• Nation-building and;
• Traditional Governance
• With the aim to preserve and build the Anishinaabe Nation’s goal of self-determination.

GCT3 accomplishes these goals through Treaty/territory-wide approaches in cooperation with communities, Tribal Councils and organizations that are delivering programs to Anishinaabe citizens.

Within the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3 our technical staff:
• Employ strategic approaches to designing governing models, service delivery and Resource management options
• Develop capacity building plans to match self-government priorities
• Link political direction and service delivery through policy development and law making for a national system.
• Propose implementation options for the realization of a National Vision
• Promote new ways of doing business
• Provide policy and administrative support to the network of programs and services that operate in the Anishinaabe Nation
• Promote efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable Anishinaabe services
• Identify gaps and overlap in existing service delivery and create plans to reduce gaps and overlap
• Act as a Secretariat to the National Assembly and Grand Council
• Provide administrative support to Chiefs committees

Guided by Anishinaabe law and Manito Aki Inakonigaawin, GCT3 upholds the collective responsibility to protect the land, ensure community well-being, and advance long-term economic and energy sovereignty for the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3. These communities share diverse energy realities ranging from remote diesel dependent areas to grid-connected communities facing high energy costs, aging infrastructure, and limited control of local power generation.

Energy priorities across the territory focus on developing Anishinaabe-led, future ready energy systems that increase reliability, support affordability, and enhance self-determination. Communities are particularly focused on emerging renewable energy opportunities, smart technologies, microgrids, and models that allow for Indigenous ownership and operational decision-making.

As a result of current energy frameworks that do not fully support community-driven innovation, GCT3 is prioritizing projects that introduce new technologies, new governance structures, and new business models. The Nation seeks to develop solutions that are not only renewable but also innovative, scalable, and rooted in Anishinaabe values, ensuring that Treaty #3 communities have the tools, technologies, and authority needed to lead their own clean energy future.

The feasibility work should also assess the practical pathway from early-stage opportunity identification to investment readiness, including technical due diligence, site identification and screening, renewable energy resource assessment, legal and commercial due diligence, ownership and partnership structures, financing pathways, and implementation requirements. The work should support Treaty #3 in making informed decisions about future energy investments and project development.

2.0 OUTLINE OF SERVICES

The successful proponent will be expected to coordinate the three phases as an integrated feasibility and project-development process. The study is intended to generate decision-ready technical, commercial, financial, governance, and implementation information for GCT3.

Phase 1: Feasibility and Innovation Planning
• Baseline assessment an opportunity identification
• Technical feasibility assessment:
• Renewable energy resource assessment, including solar opportunities
• Identification and screening of potential sites across Treaty #3 territory
• GIS and site assessment
• Land, title, permitting, and Anishinaabe ownership due diligence
• Grid, interconnection, and infrastructure considerations
• Economic and market analysis:
• Environmental and regulatory review
• Risk and opportunity assessment
Deliverables: Feasibility and innovation planning report, technical options assessment, economic and market analysis, site screening and prioritization matrix, risk and opportunity assessment.

Phase 2: Partnership Structuring and Project Execution Planning
• Partnership model development:
• Anishinaabe ownership and equity participation options
• Economic and commercial model development
• Funding and financing pathway assessment
• Revenue and investment opportunities
• Governance framework design
• Stakeholder engagements
• Financial and capital structuring analysis
• Risk and commercial analysis
• Development of partnership and ownership recommendations
Deliverables: Partnership and ownership options report, Governance framework recommendations, Stakeholder engagement summary, Capital structuring and financing assessment, Project execution framework.

Phase 3: Implementation Readiness for Energy Infrastructure
• Development roadmap
• Commercial and technical readiness assessment:
• Project development sequencing and phasing
• Decision-making framework
• Identification of outstanding technical, regulatory, financial, legal, and partnership requirements
• Strategic Investment Readiness
• Identification of next-step funding and investment opportunities
• Final recommendations and implementation strategy
• Executive summary and final feasibility report
Deliverables: Energy infrastructure implementation roadmap, Project readiness assessment, Decision-making framework, Strategic investment readiness report, Executive summary and final recommendations.

3.0 FEES FOR SERVICE

Proponent shall propose hourly, daily, block and/or fixed fees as they deem appropriate, to a maximum of $250,000.

4.0 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Firms/consultants submitting bid packages should be sensitive to the potential conflicts of interest that may prevent their retention by GCT3. All potential conflicts must be disclosed in any bid package. Whether a conflict of interest is sufficient to prevent retention of a proponent is in the sole discretion of GCT3.

5.0 REQUIRED CONTENTS OF THE BID PACKAGE

A full bid package is required with the contents set out below:
• Successfully outline a proposal and solution to the above project outline, including work plan, timelines and project budget.
• The name, address and contact person for the firm/consultant, along with a brief description of firm/consultant’s main areas of business and experience.
• The name(s) of the person(s) within the firm/consultant who propose to do the work, along with their curriculum vitae and a description of relevant experience.
• The names and telephone numbers of two clients who can provide references
• Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.
• Identification of any experience working with First Nations and/or First Nation organizations. Experience in Treaty #3 is preferred but not required.
• Assessment of the proposed approach to identifying investment-ready opportunities, financing pathways, partnerships, and implementation requirements.
• Assessment of the proponent’s understanding of Indigenous ownership, economic participation, governance, data/information stewardship, and community-led energy development.

6.0 SELECTION CRITERIA

The evaluation criteria may include, but not be limited to, the following (in no order of importance):
• Assessment of the proponent’s understanding of Treaty #3.
• Assessment of the quality, completeness, and responsiveness of the proposal submitted.
• Assessment of the proposed methodology, work plan, timeline, and approach to completing the technical, financial, operational, infrastructure, risk, and implementation assessments
• Number, qualification/expertise, and past experiences of the individuals who would be conducting the work for the firm/consultant
• Knowledge/familiarity with working on behalf of a First Nation client
• Cost effectiveness of proposal
• Finalist interviews (if any) at the discretion of GCT3
• Information obtained through references
• Lack of conflicts of interest
• All packages submitted with the requirements will be reviewed and evaluated. GCT3 reserves the right to select a bid based on written material only.
• Firms responding to this RFP may be requested to provide additional information or address specific requirements not fully explored in their initial submissions.
• GCT3 reserves the right to reject any RFP submitted.

All packages submitted with the requirements will be reviewed and evaluated. GCT3 reserves the right to select a bid based on written material only.

Firms responding to this RFP may be requested to provide additional information or address specific requirements not fully explored in their initial submissions.
GCT3 reserves the right to reject any RFP submitted.

7.0 SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Firms/Consultants wishing to submit a bid package must prepare a package containing the required materials. The bid package must be received by GCT3 in electronic format (PDF or Word preferred) on or before October 9th, 2026, sent to:

Hailey Krolyk, Senior Strategy and Innovation Manager
hailey.krolyk@treaty3.ca

PDF – RFP – Treaty #3 Nation-led Energy Innovation and Project Development Study