BC LEADERSHIP CENTRE

Request for Qualifications

Executive Coaching Consultants

Request for Qualification No. LC003

November 20, 2003

Closing location:

MAIL ONLY: / COURIER/BY HAND:
BC Leadership Centre
PO Box 9404 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8Z 7X9
Attention: Libby Rush / BC Leadership Centre
810 Blanshard St.
Victoria, B.C. V8W 2H2
Attention: Libby Rush

Closing date and time:

Two complete copies of each Response must be received by 2:00 pm Pacific Time on

Friday, December 5 , 2003

Contact person:

Libby Rush, Leadership Consultant, BC Leadership Centre

Fax: (250) 387-2941

2

Table of Contents

1. Overview of the Requirement 3

2. Request for Qualifications Definitions 3

3. Request for Qualifications 5

3.1 Enquiries 5

3.2 Closing Date 5

3.3 Late Responses 5

3.4 Qualifications Review Committee 5

3.5 Review and Selection 5

3.6 Signed Responses 5

3.7 Changes to Response Wording 5

3.8 Respondents’ Expenses 6

3.9 Acceptance of Responses 6

3.10 Definition of Contract 6

3.11 List of Qualified Suppliers Not Binding 6

3.12 Modification of Terms 6

3.13 Ownership of Responses 6

3.14 Confidentiality of Information 6

3.15 Receipt Confirmation Form 7

4. Services 7

4.1 List of Qualified Suppliers 7

4.2 Form of Contract 7

4.3 Services 8

5. Review Criteria 9

5.1 Mandatory Criteria 9

6. Respondent’s Response 10

1.  Overview of the Requirement

The British Columbia government is undergoing a period of transformation in the various ways it delivers programs and services to BC residents. In support of line ministries implementing these changes, a corresponding transformation has occurred in human resource management. The goal is to be more cost effective while remaining responsive to ministry and corporate needs for quality HR services.

One early-identified HR challenge was the need to strengthen leadership in the public service. As a result the BC Leadership Centre was launched April 1, 2003, to meet the demand for a “proactive and visionary leadership.” The Leadership Centre is one aspect of a larger plan, which includes a newly formulated vision and values of the Public Service; and recognition that renewal is needed to meet the challenges of the future. (For additional information on the BC Leadership Centre please see: http://www.leadershipcentre.gov.bc.ca)

The BC Leadership Centre is dedicated to the recruitment, retention and development of leaders – executive and senior managers who, when supported as a corporate resource, can lead us to “achieve excellence in the public service.” While concentrating on these leaders of today, the Centre must also look to the horizon to find tomorrow’s leaders, through proactive identification, development and retention activities.

BC Leadership Centre will be facilitating the leadership development of employees who are on an accelerated career path. As part of their career development they may be asked to secure executive coaching to enhance their portfolio of competencies.

The purpose of this (RFQ) is to identify qualified executive coach contractors to provide services, which may be utilized to support the development of the executive and senior leaders in government.

Qualified suppliers will work with BC Leadership Centre and executive managers to provide one-on-one executive coach services. Government specific initiatives such as competencies, and selection criteria may be utilized. Successful suppliers will be invited to attend a required orientation session (at their expense) and agree to follow government requirements, for example: standard rules of conduct.

2.  Request for Qualifications Definitions

Throughout this Request for Qualifications, the following definitions will be used:

a)  “Contract” means a written contract executed by the Province and the Contractor;

b)  “Contractor” means a Qualified Supplier who enters into a Contract with the Province;

c)  “List of Qualified Suppliers” means a list of names of Respondents possessing the qualifications described in this RFQ that have satisfied any conditions set by the Province for being added to and staying on that list;

d)  “must”, or “mandatory” means a requirement that must be met in order for a Response to receive consideration;

e)  “Province” means Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia and includes the Purchasing Commission and the BC Leadership Centre;

f)  “Qualified Supplier” means a Respondent possessing the qualifications described in this RFQ that has satisfied any conditions set by the Province for being added to, and staying on, the List of Qualified Suppliers;

g)  “Respondent” means an individual or a company that submits, or intends to submit, their qualifications in response to this “Request for Qualifications”;

h)  “Response” means a statement of qualifications submitted in reply to this Request for Qualifications; and

i)  “Should” or “desirable” means a requirement having a significant degree of importance to the objectives of the Request for Qualifications.

3.  Request for Qualifications

3.1  Enquiries

All enquiries related to this Request for Qualifications are to be directed, in writing, to the BC Leadership Centre at the address on the front cover. Information obtained from any other source is not official and should not be relied upon. Enquiries and answers may be recorded and may be distributed to all Respondents at the Province’s option.

3.2  Closing Date

Two complete copies of each Response must be received by 2:00 pm, Pacific Time, on December 5, 2003 at the address above. Responses must not be sent by facsimile or e-mail. Responses and their envelopes should be clearly marked with the name and address of the Respondent, the Request for Qualifications number, and the project or program title.

3.3  Late Responses

Late Responses will not be accepted and will be returned to the Respondent.

3.4  Qualifications Review Committee

Evaluation of Responses will be by a committee formed by the Province and may include employees of and contractors to the Province.

3.5  Review and Selection

The qualifications review committee will check Responses against the mandatory criteria. Responses not meeting all mandatory criteria will be rejected without further consideration. Responses that do meet all the mandatory criteria will then be assessed and scored against the desirable criteria. Responses not meeting a minimum score in a category will not be further considered. The names of successful Respondents will be added to the Province’s List of Qualified Suppliers.

3.6  Signed Responses

The Response must be signed by a person authorized to sign on behalf of the Respondent and to bind the Respondent to statements made in response to this Request for Qualifications.

3.7  Changes to Response Wording

The Respondent will not change the wording of its Response after closing and no words or comments will be added to the Response unless requested by the Province for purposes of clarification.

3.8  Respondents’ Expenses

Respondents are solely responsible for their own expenses in preparing a Response and for subsequent negotiations with the Province, if any. The Province will not be liable to any Respondent for any claims, whether for costs or damages incurred by the Respondent in preparing the Response, loss of anticipated profit in connection with any final Contract, or any other matter whatsoever.

3.9  Acceptance of Responses

This Request for Qualifications is not an agreement to purchase goods or services. The Province is not bound to enter into a Contract with any Qualified Supplier. Responses will be assessed in light of the qualification review criteria. The Province will be under no obligation to receive further information, whether written or oral, from any Respondent.

3.10  Definition of Contract

Notice in writing to a Respondent that it has been identified as a Qualified Supplier will not constitute a contract. Only if a Qualified Supplier and the Province enter into a subsequent full written Contract will a Respondent acquire any legal or equitable rights or privileges relative to the goods or services. A Qualified Supplier may be selected at random on the basis of the individual needs of the requirement at hand.

3.11  List of Qualified Suppliers Not Binding

A Qualified Supplier may withdraw its name from the List of Qualified Suppliers by notifying the Province in writing. The Province may withdraw a name of a Qualified Supplier from the List of Qualified Suppliers by notifying that Qualified Supplier of the decision in writing.

3.12  Modification of Terms

The Province reserves the right to modify the terms of this Request for Qualifications at any time in it sole discretion. This includes the right to cancel this Request for Qualifications or the List of Qualified Suppliers at any time without entering into a Contract.

3.13  Ownership of Responses

All documents, including Responses, submitted to the Province become the property of the Province. They will be received and held in confidence by the Province, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

3.14  Confidentiality of Information

Information pertaining to the Province obtained by the Respondent as a result of participation in this project is confidential and must not be disclosed without written authorization from the Province.

3.15  Receipt Confirmation Form

Respondents are advised to fill out and return the attached Receipt Confirmation Form. All subsequent information regarding this Request for Qualifications, including changes made to this document will be directed to Respondents who return the form. Subsequent information will be distributed by the method indicated on the Receipt Confirmation Form.

4.  Services

4.1  List of Qualified Suppliers

The BC Leadership Centre welcomes the opportunity to work in collaboration with qualified experts in the field of executive coaching. As such we are interested in establishing a List of Qualified Suppliers with the appropriate experience, skills and knowledge to deliver executive coaching services. A qualified Contractor will be expected to work with the BC Public Service and the BC Leadership Centre.

The List of Qualified Suppliers will remain in effect for two (2) years, starting from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005, with the option of extending the time for a third year.

The BC Leadership Centre establishes and manages the standards of service on behalf of the Deputy Minister to the Premier and the Deputy Ministers’ Council. Qualified Suppliers will be expected to work through the BC Leadership Centre unless otherwise agreed to by the BC Leadership Centre Deputy Minister.

The services may be provided on an "as, if when requested" basis. The method of selecting the appropriate Contractor may be on the basis of the skill set and experience of a particular Qualified Supplier. Due to confidentiality or expediency the Province reserves the right to contact one qualified supplier to provide the services.

Qualified Suppliers are obligated to divulge material changes during the term of the list.

4.2  Form of Contract

Any Contract with a Qualified Supplier will be substantially similar to the terms and conditions of the Province of BC’s Standard Service Contract, a copy of which is available on the Internet at http://www.pc.gov.bc.ca/psb/Service%20Contract%20General.pdf.

4.3  Services

The Qualified Suppliers who become Contractors may perform and be responsible for the following services and duties:

(a) Provide one-on-one executive coach services to executive and senior leaders of government. These services may include but are not limited to the following activities: creation of personal learning plans; career development activities; leadership competencies (e.g. service orientation, results focus).

(b) Provide advice to, and work with, the BC Leadership Centre on executive coaching matters; and

(c)  Participate, if required, on executive coaching information/orientation sessions.

2

5.  Review Criteria

5.1  Mandatory Criteria

The following are mandatory requirements. Responses not clearly demonstrating that they meet them will receive no further consideration during the evaluation process.

Criteria
a)  The Response must be received at the closing location by the specified closing date and time.
b)  The Response must be in English and must not be sent by facsimile.
c)  Two copies of the Response must be submitted.
d)  The Response must be signed by a person authorized to sign on behalf of the Respondent.
e)  Responses must identify the company official(s) responsible for Government of BC assignments.
f)  Executive coaches must have strong business acumen and provide a resume that indicates that they have a minimum of 5 years experience in executive level and senior manager coaching in large, complex organizations for example, CEO, V.P. or senior government leaders.
g)  Executive coaches must provide a list of at least 3 contact names and phone numbers for references that will be called for verification of skill sets. A completed Appendix B must be submitted as part of the Response. The Province reserves the right to not include those firms on the list who receive negative references.
h)  Executive coaches must be a certified coach with the Canadian Coaches Institute, International Coaching Federation, Royal Roads University Executive Coaching Program or another recognized institution. The BC Leadership Centre reserves the right to determine whether or not a credential is recognized.
i)  The BC Leadership Centre expects a negotiated fee structure will be considered for each assignment. Please provide examples of fee structures.
j)  The BC Leadership Centre expects that from time to time firms may be asked to work collaboratively where more general executive coaching information will be disseminated (for example, an executive dialogue session). Provide a statement indicating that you will work collaboratively with other executive coaches if required.
k)  Executive coaches must elaborate on the style, approach and philosophy of coaching that they currently practice.

6.  Respondent’s Response

Responses must meet all mandatory requirements outlined in Section 5.1 to be considered for qualifications under this RFQ. All respondents meeting the mandatory requirements will be placed on the pre-qualified list.

To be considered, each response must contain a completed Appendix B for each consultant who will work with the Province in the delivery of services.

6.1. Format of Responses

The following format and sequence should be followed in order to provide consistency in Respondent response and ensure each Response receives full consideration. All pages should be consecutively numbered.

a)  An UNALTERED, completed and signed Respondent Section (RFQ cover page)

b)  Appendix B – Individual Qualification Summary for official(s) responsible for assignments with the Province