- Issue date: February 5, 2026
- Closing date and time: February 23, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.
- Submit to: contracts-contrats@cedec.ca
- Contract period: March 9, 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
This Request for Proposals is issued as part of CEDEC’s Official Languages Economic Development and Labour Market Participation Applied Research Program (EDLMPARP).
The proposed research initiative will establish a coherent, evidence-based baseline for understanding how labour markets function in Canada and Quebec, and how English-speakers and the Official Language Minority Community in Quebec (OLMCQ) participate within them. The research will also generate core analytical content to support CEDEC’s education, stakeholder outreach, and communications activities.
The initiative follows a cumulative research logic that moves from foundational definitions, to measurement, to system mapping, to gap identification, and finally to contextual and population-specific analysis.
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 an expert research firm or institution to design, undertake, and complete the research required to build a baseline labour market framework for the OLMCQ by March 31, 2026.
The objectives of the assignment are to:
- Establish standardized labour market definitions and performance indicators relevant to the OLMCQ
- Map labour market and labour market information systems across federal, Quebec, and regional levels
- Assess the performance, strengths, gaps, and frictions of existing labour market information
- Analyze Canadian and Quebec labour market performance and governance structures.
- Produce an integrated labour market portrait of the OLMCQ grounded in standardized indicators
STATEMENT OF WORK
The successful proponent will be responsible for completing the following interconnected research components.
COMPONENT 1
FOUNDATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND LABOUR MARKET PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The research will define labour markets and labour market performance, their core functions, dynamics, and indicators. It will establish standardized definitions and validate indicators used across the EDLMPARP, including those related to labour supply and demand, participation, employment status, skills, job quality, mobility, system performance, and OLMCQ visibility.
This component will also:
- Inventory key federal and Quebec labour market actors, institutions, and mandates
- Document their policy and programming roles and real-world interactions
- Provide a comprehensive inventory of labour market data and information sources
- Analyze alignment and differences between federal and Quebec definitions and indicators
COMPONENT 2
LABOUR MARKET AND SYSTEM MAPPING
Using the standardized definitions and indicators, the research will produce:
- A Labour Market Structure Map illustrating supply, demand, intermediaries, rules, incentives, and constraints
- A Matching and Placement System Map illustrating interactions among employers, workforce developers, employment assistance providers, and jobseekers
- A Labour Market Information Production and Flow Map identifying producers, products, users, and information bottlenecks
COMPONENT 3
BASELINE ANALYSIS OF CANADA’S AND QUEBEC’S LABOUR MARKET PERFORMANCE
This component will provide an overview of national and provincial labour markets, including historical trends, recent performance, forecasts, and structural interdependencies. It will identify strengths, constraints, and long-term strategies to improve labour market functioning.
COMPONENT 4
BASELINE IDENTIFICATION OF LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION STRENGTHS, GAPS, AND FRICTIONS
The research will develop an LMI Gap Taxonomy addressing issues such as coverage, timeliness, granularity, comparability, validity, accessibility, actionability, and OLMCQ disaggregation. The research will identify:
- Existing LMI Assets and Producers.
- Strengths and Limitations of Current Products.
- Specific Gaps, Affected Users, Operational Consequences, and Baseline Implications.
COMPONENT 5
OLMCQ PARTICIPATION IN CANADA / QUEBEC LABOUR MARKETS
The research will produce an initial labour market portrait of the OLMCQ grounded in the standardized indicator framework. This portrait will:
- Validate OLMCQ definitions and population boundaries
- Establish baseline participation and employment profiles
- Analyze labour demand relevant to OLMCQ workers
- Profile skills, education, and human capital
- Assess matching, placement, and employment outcomes
- Evaluate job quality and employment sustainability
- Integrate geographic and mobility dynamics
- Assess system performance and OLMCQ LMI visibility
All findings will clearly identify data gaps and limitations.
COMPONENT 6
SYNTHESIS AND INTEGRATED PORTRAIT
The final deliverable will synthesize quantitative and qualitative findings into a coherent narrative explaining how the OLMCQ participates in labour markets, where outcomes diverge from provincial norms, and why. The synthesis will distinguish between structural factors, system performance issues, and data constraints, and will articulate baseline observations to inform future strategy and policy development.
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
The successful proponent will deliver:
- A detailed research methodology and work plan
- A standardized definition and indicator framework
- System maps and analytical frameworks
- Interim technical memoranda as required
- A comprehensive final research report suitable for policy, program, and stakeholder use
- An executive summary tailored for non-technical audiences
All deliverables must be provided in English, with a clear structure, documented assumptions, and a transparent discussion of data limitations.
TIMELINE
The research must be completed no later than March 31, 2026.
Proponents must include a detailed project timeline with milestones and deliverables.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
CEDEC is seeking proponents with:
- demonstrated expertise and experience in labour market analysis and labour market information systems
- expertise and experience with Canadian and Quebec labour market institutions and data
- capacity to conduct complex, multi-component applied research
- Familiarity with official language minority communities or comparable population
- strong analytical, writing, and synthesis capabilities
Applications from academic institutions, research consortia, or multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals must include:
- Organizational profile and relevant expertise and experience
- Description of the research context
- Proposed methodology and analytical approach
- Work plan and timeline
- Project team composition, background, relevant expertise and experience, and roles, including resumes of team members.
- Examples of labour market research
- Budget proposal and cost breakdown
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Demonstrated understanding of the research objectives and required deliverables
- Relationship to Quebec labour market.
- Project team qualifications and experience.
- Methodological rigour, coherence, and feasibility
- Relevance and depth of expertise and experience
- Feasibility of timeline and work plan
- Value for money
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Proposals must be submitted electronically to CEDEC by February 23, 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 RESEARCH SERVICES – Building a Baseline Labour Market Framework for the Official Language Minority Community in Quebec 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.