Allied Science Trainee Forest Technologist Project Consultant

Purpose of Assignment To develop and deliver a package of material for the assessment of Allied Science Trainee Forest Technologists (ASTFTs) similar to the material the Association of British Columbia Forest Professionals (ABCFP) has recently developed for the assessment of Allied Science Foresters in Training. The assessment process must include foreigntrained applicants and graduates from non-accredited forestry programs in Canada. The deliverables will include individual manuals and instructions for applicants, assessors, and the ABCPF. The project also involves the delivery of training for credential assessors. The assessor training program will follow and be directed by the Certification Standard for the Practice of Forest Technology in BC as developed by the ABCFP. The deliverables also will include a web portal for the use of the assessors, applicants and the ABCFP registrar and the schema for the development of a database to capture data from the applications and assessments. The development of the database is not part of this project but applicants must have the ability to understand database design. The consultant will produce a training manual that documents the training program to be presented. The training program will facilitate training in person and in a web-based conference format. The training program must be delivered to the assessors in one day. The consultant will conduct training in Vancouver with volunteer assessors from the ABCFP.

Reporting Relationship The consultant will report to the registrar of the ABCFP and will receive direction from a steering committee of ABCFP members. The ABCFP is a corporation established in 1947 by the Foresters Act of British Columbia. It has approximately 4,400 registered members engaged in professional forestry practice (2,930 Registered Professional Foresters [RPFs] and 1,435 Registered Forest Technologists [RFTs]). In British Columbia, you must be an ABCFP member if you wish to engage in the practice of professional forestry.

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The ABCFP is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest of the professional forestry association in Canada and has a staff complement of 16. This includes an Chief Executive Officer, a Registrar & Director of Act Compliance, a Director of Finance and Administration, a Director of Communications, a Director of Professional Practice and Forest Stewardship, a Director of Professional Development and Member Relations, as well as support staff. The ABCFP has existed as an organization for 66 years. Duties, Functions & Responsibilities of the Consultant (i) Not to disclose to anyone other than the ABCFP and the steering committee the documents reviewed as part of the work, the results of the work and/or the contents of the reports and work products. (ii) (iii) (iv) To agree that the work and all work products shall be the property of the ABCFP whether compete or in progress. To work with a steering committee, comprised of volunteer ABCFP members and staff of the ABCFP. To attend all meetings of the steering committee as directed by the committee and to record the minutes for these meetings. Meetings may be in person or by phone. To take the views and concerns of the steering committee into consideration in the formulation of the training course. To create a project timeline that shows the important milestones and the expected completion for the various stages of the project for approval by the steering committee. To update the project timeline on a monthly basis and inform the steering committee monthly on your progress. To review and understand the current Certification Standards for Forest Technology in BC and to use this standard to guide work on the project. Review and understand the current assessment process used by the ABCFP to assess ASTFTs and to use ensure that the project work is consistent with the direction provided by the ABCFP. To develop a survey for stakeholders to comment on the Certification Standards for Forest Technology in BC, and to convene at least one meeting of stakeholders by conference call to discuss revisions to the

(v) (vi)

(vii) (viii) (ix)

(x)

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certification standard. The consultant will then work with the steering committee on updating the certification standard. (xi) To develop and document the application process for ASTFT applicants that provides clear and explicit instructions for applicants and a web portal for their applications. To develop and document the training course for assessors in a format that provides clear and explicit instructions to the assessors on how to complete the assessments following the ABCFP Certification Standards for Forest Technology in BC. To develop and deliver a version of the training course online in a webbased conference format. To have the first draft of the training course completed and then to deliver and conduct a trial training session for assessors in Vancouver in mid2013. To update and revise the training course as a result of the trial training session and produce the final version and deliver a final training session in Vancouver by late 2013. To complete all work on time and on budget.

(xii)

(xiii) (xiv)

(xv)

(xvi)

(xvii) To have all work on the project completed by December 1, 2013.

Meetings The consultant will attend meetings with the ABCFP registrar and the steering committee. The initial meeting with the registrar is expected to be in person in Vancouver, and then subsequent meetings will likely be by teleconference and/or videoconference. It is expected that the steering committee meetings will be held monthly.

Project Deliverables (i) A project timeline that describes the work to be done and the timeline for completion of all phases of the project. (ii) Minutes from all meetings of the ABCFP steering committee. (iii) Quarterly reports on the progress of the project.

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(iv) A survey that will provide input from stakeholders on updating the Certification Standards for Forest Technology in BC. (v) A manual and instructions for applicants on the application and the application process. (vi) A web portal for the applicants, assessors and the registrar to access training material on the applications and application process, and the assessment process. (vii) A manual that documents the training program for face-to-face assessor training. (viii) A documented web-based training program for assessors. (ix) A manual that documents the application and assessment process for the registrar and staff at the ABCFP. (x) A schema that describes a database for capturing relevant data from the application and assessment process.

Proposals The consultant is directed to develop and submit a proposal for this work to Randy Trerise, registrar and director of act compliance, ABCFP. If you have questions about the work please contact Randy at 604.331.2326. Proposals must be submitted by March 5, 2013 to rtrerise@abcfp.ca. The awarding of contract for the work will be based upon our assessment of the most cost-effective and practical proposal that addresses the requirements explained above, and our assessment of the consultants ability to deliver on the proposal. The proposal and budget will include the consultants use of computers software and other devices and things needed to complete the work. The proposal must include a comprehensive background of all members of an applicants team who will work on the project including experience, skills, abilities, a summary of relevant work that provides the applicant with the skills and abilities necessary to complete the contract, as well as references who can vouch for the candidate. Other than the team members listed above, no additional personnel may work on the project without the expressed written consent of the ABCFP. The proposal must include; (1) the estimated and itemized costs for the completion of the work described above; (2) the estimated travel costs of the consultant, and; (3) a detailed description of the consultants approach to the project including the important phases of the project, the proposed timelines, methodologies, deliverables, phases of
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the project, and project flow. Work on the project is expected to start by March 25, 2013 and be completed by December 1, 2013. Proposals will be assessed using the following criteria: 1. Price (40%) the estimated total cost of the project. 2. Background and familiarity with professional processes (20%) an assessment of the background and skills of the applicant with respect to professional certification standards and professional credential assessments. 3. Relevant experience (20%) an assessment of the consultants experience in doing projects related to face-to-face training, online training of professionals, web portal development, and database development. 4. Approach (20%) an assessment of the consultants approach to the project as included in the proposal including, the proposed time lines, methodologies, deliverables, phases of the project, project flow and the overall feasibility of the proposal.

Contract may not be awarded The ABCFP reserves the right not to award the contract if none of the proposals received meet the expectations of the ABCFP for this work.

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