Request for Proposal: Indigenous Artist

Please note that applications must be submitted to wcscanadacomms@wcs.org per guidelines outlined below

Project Background

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 2004. We envision a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and waters, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on Earth. We work at the nexus of biodiversity, climate, and wildlife health issues to better understand and address impacts on Canada's globally important wild landscapes. WCS Canada's programs help decision-makers understand the risks and consequences of piecemeal planning and short-sighted decision-making that threaten important wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems. Through our research, accumulated expertise, and understanding of socio-ecological contexts, we stand as a trusted voice on conservation and climate science. Our science and expertise are used by a wide variety of stakeholders and decision-makers, including federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments, local communities, business and industry, and civil society.

Our scientific research takes place on Indigenous lands and waters. We are committed to reconciliation through research and conservation of wildlife, lands, and waters with Indigenous Peoples. We partner directly with Indigenous Peoples, where invited, to undertake scientific research and support common conservation goals. Some of the ways in which we work with First Nations and the Inuvialuit are by co-developing research on cultural keystone species, such as lake sturgeon and bison, assessing marine mammal diets and health through community-based monitoring, and supporting the planning, establishment and management of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). Our conservation approaches and practices respect and recognize Indigenous Knowledge systems with recognition of the right of Indigenous Peoples to protect their lands, worldviews, and Knowledge systems.

To visualize this work, we hope to commission an Indigenous artist to create original illustrated artworks to be used across our digital platforms and print products.

General

The Proposer will produce a series of artworks in cooperation with WCS Canada staff. There is flexibility in the design, but the artwork should meet the following requirements:

• Follows a theme of interconnectedness, illustrating the essential relationship between humans and nature
•  Is representative of the species and landscapes that feature in WCS Canada's work, particularly the boreal, Rockies and Western Arctic.
• Enables flexible formatting – visually appealing design(s) with individual elements that can be used independently of the main design(s) across multiple channels/products (e.g. website, social media, reports)

Final submissions should be digital and submitted at 300dpi.

Ownership of final work

The Proposer who ultimately is selected shall retain all right, title and interest in the artwork developed for WCS Canada, including the copyright and all proprietary rights. In its agreement with WCS Canada, the selected Proposer will be asked to (1) warrant and represent that the artwork is original and does not infringe any copyright, personal property rights, privacy rights, or other intellectual property rights held by third parties, and (2) grant to WCS Canada a perpetual, royalty-free, exclusive license for WCS Canada to use, reproduce, display, copy, distribute, publish and prepare derivative works from the artwork for any purpose, including the right to sublicense, in any media, and in any territory. The Proposer shall waive all moral rights in the artwork. When WCS Canada uses the artwork, WCS Canada will, whenever WCS Canada deems it possible and appropriate, include an acknowledgment, credit and/or copyright notice, in a location as determined by WCS Canada, indicating that the Proposer is the owner of the artwork; provided, however, that a failure by WCS Canada to include such acknowledgment, credit or copyright notice shall not constitute a material breach of the agreement between WCS Canada and the selected Proposer.

Submission Guidelines

All applicants must submit a proposal outlining ideas for artworks that would meet the brief, as well as relevant examples of previous work. References from previous professional commissions are desirable but not required. Proposals, plus attachments, exhibits or appendices are to be submitted digitally to: wcscanadacomms@wcs.org.

WCS Canada may request an interview of any proposer. Such a request for an interview does not constitute an awarded contract.

Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 PM EST, 25th March 2025

Key Dates

• Last day to submit questions: 14th March 2025
• Proposals due: 25th March 2025
• Interviews of proposers: Week commencing 3rd April 2025
• Notice of Award: Week commencing 10th April 2025
• Draft artworks due: 16th May 2025
• Final artworks due: 20th June 2025

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to produce professional and appealing artwork
• Must identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, provide information[1] to verify their Indigenous identity, and be able to elaborate on written information if invited to an interview.
• Must be 18 years of age or older

Proposal content

In your response, please provide the following information:

Contact and business information

• Proposer name and contact information
• When established (if relevant)
• Signature of Proposer and date of the signature

Overview

Proposers are requested to provide detailed information that demonstrates the following:

• Experience providing the services requested in this RFP; 
• Proficiency with projects of comparable size and complexity; 
• Ideas and concepts for the commissioned artwork, including how many works could be produced for value of the award;
• A portfolio of previous work.

Equipment and related services

The Proposer will provide their own materials, including physical and digital art materials, computer equipment, and scanning as needed.

Value and Payment Schedule

Fees: A fixed rate of $2,000

No additional expense payments are envisaged. 

Payments

WCS Canada will reimburse the selected Proposer on the following basis:

• 50% upon approval of draft
• 50% upon delivery of completed artwork

Payments will be made electronically to the selected Proposer following provision of an Invoice.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

WCS Canada will review and evaluate all proposals. This evaluation may include a request to interview Proposers and for Proposers to virtually present their proposals for purposes of clarification. 

Proposals invited to interview should be prepared to show draft concepts for their proposed designs. No drafts submitted to WCS Canada as part of the selection process will be used by WCS Canada and will not be disclosed to others. 

WCS Canada will review and evaluate all proposals based upon the Proposer's experience providing the services requested in this RFP, proficiency with projects of comparable size and complexity, ideas and concepts for the commissioned artwork, including how many works could be produced for value of the award, and portfolio of previous work, and references (if any are provided). WCS Canada may reject any and all proposals if, in its sole opinion, no proposal satisfies its criteria.

General Conditions of Proposal Submissions

The following general conditions apply to all proposals submitted in response to any RFP issued by WCS Canada:

Non-Binding

• WCS Canada's solicitation of proposals in response to any RFP does not commit WCS Canada to award a contract, and this RFP is not an offer to enter into a contract for the services to be provided as described herein. 

Proposal Materials and Costs

• WCS Canada is not liable for any costs incurred in the preparation, submission or negotiation of a response to its RFP or incurred for any other purpose or reason in connection with the RFP. No materials submitted with this RFP will be returned.

Confidentiality 

• All information and material contained in any WCS Canada RFP or issued by WCS Canada or any of its agents as part of any WCS Canada RFP process is confidential and is the exclusive property of WCS Canada.

Modifications

• As a condition of award, WCS Canada may request any proposer to make revisions, additions, or deletions to its proposal.

Subcontractors 

• After award of contract, WCS Canada will have no obligation, financial or otherwise, to any subcontractor of the awardee. Nevertheless, any subcontract will be required to be subject to and consistent with the prime contract between WCS Canada and the awardee, and WCS Canada may require any subcontract to include specific terms and conditions.

Reserved Rights

• WCS Canada at any time in its sole discretion may, without notice and without liability to any proposer or any other party for their expenses incurred in the preparation of the responses hereto or otherwise, do any and all of the following:
• Amend or withdraw this RFP;
• Accept or reject any and all proposals received in response to this RFP;
• Award the contract to a proposer other than the Proposer offering the lowest fee;
• Split the contract award amongst multiple Proposers;
• Request additional materials and clarification or modification of any submitted proposal;
• Extend the time for submission of all proposals after notification to all prospective proposers;

- Terminate negotiations with a selected proposer and select another proposer;

• Take such action as WCS deems appropriate if negotiations fail to result in a signed agreement within a reasonable amount of time;
• Terminate or modify the solicitation and selection process at any time and re-issue the solicitation to whomever WCS deems appropriate. 

[1] Verification information could include government documentation (e.g., certified Status or Citizenship documentation) or applicant self-declaration (e.g., a statement about existing lived experiences and ongoing relationship to a legally recognizing community or Nation).