This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued by the Meewasin Valley Authority (Meewasin) in partnership with the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE). The purpose of this RFP is to invite Proponents to prepare and submit competitive proposals to conduct a comprehensive scan of existing wildfire and prescribed fire courses, including those under development, across Canada, the United States, and other relevant wildfire management jurisdictions. This project will identify available wildfire and prescribed fire courses, for both firefighter and non-firefighting professionals and individuals in Canada and determine their accessibility and associated costs.

This review will play a pivotal role in creating a roadmap into fire certifications and training for communities, conservation groups, volunteer fire departments, land managers and other groups that were traditionally excluded from wildland fire training.

Meewasin is a leader in the active conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, native species, habitats, and ecosystems through a strong and integrated resource management program in the Saskatoon region. In 2017, Meewasin completed the Valley-wide Resource Management Plan, which outlined the key conservation initiatives to help conserve and enhance the natural assets of the Meewasin Valley, including native grasslands, wetlands, the river valley, and swale complexes, with a series of key objectives and actions to meet these conservation goals. Restoration of natural processes, including prescribed fire, is key to the success of this strategy. Meewasin is a founding member of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange and provides day-to-day operational support. 

The Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE) is an inter-agency collective focused on increasing knowledge sharing and training for prescribed fire in prairie and parkland ecosystems. The CPPFE provides learning opportunities, facilitates resource sharing, and acts as a hub for fire science and grassland fire knowledge. The CPPFE was established in January 2021. More information can be found at www.grasslandfire.ca.

Fire has been and continues to be a critical natural process in the North American Great Plains, historically maintaining biodiversity and habitat. Over-suppression of fires and land-use changes have disrupted this balance, leading to a loss of biodiversity and increased uncontrollable wildfires. The CPPFE aims to address this by promoting prescribed fire as a tool for conservation, traditional practices, and public safety.

The CPPFE offers various resources, including an online course, "Introduction to Prescribed Fire in the Grassland Environment," in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan (found at: https://www.grasslandfire.ca/intro-to-prescribed