- Issue date: February 5, 2026
- Closing date and time: February 12, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.
- Submit to: contracts-contrats@cedec.ca
- Contract period: February 23, 2026 – March 31, 2026
The Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation (CEDEC) is the federally designated economic and labour market development organization dedicated to strengthening the economic vitality and labour market participation of the Official Language Minority Community in Quebec (OLMCQ) through applied research, the creation of public, private and civil society collaborative economic development partnerships, and policy and program development.
CEDEC strengthens the contribution of English speakers and the OLMCQ to the economic development of Quebec, while addressing economic and labour market disparities within the community. Specifically, it generates tangible economic benefits and impacts for English speakers, businesses, social enterprises, and communities, all of which contribute to the vitality of the OLMCQ and the broader Quebec society.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
CEDEC manages a large and growing body of applied research, policy analysis, program documentation, administrative data, and external evidence related to workforce development, labour market participation, economic development, and Official Language Minority Community vitality. As the scale, interdependence, and strategic importance of this knowledge base have increased, CEDEC requires an integrated, intelligence-driven system that moves beyond document storage toward active knowledge mobilization.
This RFP seeks expert services to design, build, and operationalize a CEDEC AI-assisted Knowledge Base that will function as a central repository, analytical library, and intelligence engine supporting the continuous development of new research, policy, and program products.
This Request for Proposals (RFP) contains specific details and timelines and should be reviewed carefully prior to submitting a proposal. Every proposal must cover all of the service requirements outlined in the RFP. Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered.
STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE NEEDS
The purpose of this RFP is to retain a qualified proponent to deliver all service and product components required to establish the CEDEC AI-assisted Knowledge Base as a single, integrated assignment by March 31, 2026.
The objectives of the assignment are to:
- Consolidate CEDEC’s existing research, data, and knowledge assets into a structured, authoritative repository.
- Enable conversational, intent-based access to CEDEC knowledge with synthesized, decision-ready outputs.
- Automate intelligent organization, cataloging, and retrieval of research and data assets.
- Increase knowledge productivity while reducing duplication and operational costs.
- Establish a scalable platform that supports CEDEC’s applied research program over time.
STATEMENT OF WORK
The successful proponent will be responsible for completing all components described below in an integrated and coherent manner.
COMPONENT 1 – KNOWLEDGE ARCHITECTURE AND REPOSITORY DESIGN
The proponent will design the foundational knowledge architecture for the CEDEC AI-assisted Knowledge Base. This component includes:
- Design of a standardized research and knowledge framework aligned with CEDEC priorities.
- Structuring, tagging, versioning, and indexing of research reports, datasets, and related assets.
- Definition of metadata standards and taxonomies.
- Migration or ingestion of existing CEDEC knowledge assets.
Key deliverables include a knowledge architecture blueprint, taxonomy and metadata schema, and a populated core repository.
COMPONENT 2 – AI-ASSISTED QUERY, SYNTHESIS, AND ANALYTICS ENGINE
The proponent will design and implement AI capabilities that enable the Knowledge Base to function as an active analytical partner. This component includes:
- Conversational query capability that understands user intent.
- Natural language processing to interpret complex analytical questions.
- Synthesis logic that draws on multiple sources to generate direct, evidence-based answers.
- Clear distinction between evidence, assumptions, and data gaps in outputs.
Key deliverables include a functioning query and synthesis engine with explainable outputs.
COMPONENT 3 – AUTOMATED ORGANIZATION, LEARNING, AND RETRIEVAL
The proponent will implement machine learning capabilities that continuously improve the system. This component includes:
- Automated cataloging and tagging of new content.
- Intelligent linking of related research across themes and time periods.
- Identification of research gaps, overlaps, and emerging patterns.
- Recommendation of relevant prior work during new research and policy development.
Key deliverables include automated classification workflows and recommendation logic.
COMPONENT 4 – PRODUCTIVITY, AUTOMATION, AND COST REDUCTION FEATURES
The proponent will embed targeted automation to support CEDEC’s applied research operations. This component includes:
- Automation of recurring profiling, comparative analysis, and reporting tasks.
- Support for data visualization and summary generation.
- Tools that reduce duplication of effort across teams.
- Human-in-the-loop controls to ensure analytical integrity.
Key deliverables include configured automation workflows and productivity tools.
COMPONENT 5 – GOVERNANCE, SECURITY, AND EVOLUTION
The proponent will design governance and stewardship mechanisms for long-term sustainability. This component includes:
- Role-based access controls and permissions.
- Documentation of sources, assumptions, and methodological limits.
- Governance model for ownership, stewardship, and updates.
- Scalability and evolution roadmap aligned with CEDEC’s research agenda.
Key deliverables include governance documentation, access models, and an evolution roadmap.
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
The successful proponent will deliver:
- An integrated methodology and work plan.
- Knowledge architecture and taxonomy documentation.
- A fully operational AI-assisted Knowledge Base.
- Configured AI query and synthesis capabilities.
- Automation and productivity tools.
- Governance, security, and evolution documentation.
- An executive summary suitable for senior and non-technical audiences.
All deliverables must be provided in English, with clear structure, documented assumptions, and transparent analytical logic.
TIMELINE
All activities and final deliverables must be completed by March 31, 2026.
Proponents must submit a detailed work plan and timeline demonstrating feasibility within this timeframe.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
CEDEC is seeking proponents with demonstrated expertise in:
- Knowledge management systems and data architecture.
- AI, machine learning, and natural language processing.
- Applied research and policy analytics environments.
- Secure and governed data platforms.
- Public sector or nonprofit knowledge ecosystems.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals must include:
- Organizational profile and relevant experience.
- Understanding of CEDEC’s research and knowledge context.
- Proposed technical and methodological approach.
- Work plan and timeline.
- Project team composition and roles.
- Examples of comparable AI-assisted knowledge platforms.
- Budget proposal and cost breakdown.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Demonstrated understanding of objectives and scope.
- Quality and coherence of the proposed solution.
- Technical expertise and feasibility.
- Integration across all components.
- Scalability and sustainability of the platform.
- Value for money.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Proposals must be submitted electronically to CEDEC by February 12, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
CEDEC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to cancel this RFP at its discretion.
As we anticipate a high volume of responses to this Request for Proposals, we are unable to address questions prior to the submission deadline. Additional information and the opportunity to seek clarification will be provided to the firms selected to advance to the next stage of the procurement process.
NEXT STEPS
CEDEC may retain one or more proposals for consideration and conduct follow-up interviews.
Please put RFP: Expert Technical Services in AI – Design Build and Operationalize an AI Assisted Knowledge Base in the subject line of all inquiries.
This Request for Proposals (RFP) has been prepared by the Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation (CEDEC). CEDEC considers the material in this RFP to be proprietary and confidential. The contents of this RFP must be held in confidence by recipients and used only to prepare a proposal for consideration by CEDEC.