Request for Proposal: Website Redesign & Development
June 4, 2026
Introduction
Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) is seeking proposals from qualified web designers and developers to redesign and develop our organizational website.
ICA is an Indigenous-led climate justice organization that works to build Indigenous climate leadership through community-based education, relationship building, and movement support. Our work centres Indigenous rights, sovereignty, land-based knowledge systems, and climate justice across Turtle Island.
The new website will serve as ICA’s primary digital platform for storytelling, education, campaigns, research, fundraising, and community engagement. The redesigned platform should reflect ICA’s organizational values, strengthen accessibility and usability, and support long-term growth and sustainability.
We are seeking a web development partner capable of delivering:
A redesigned and accessible organizational website
Improved site architecture and user experience
A flexible and maintainable content management system
Migration and retention of existing content and resources
Technical documentation and staff training
Ongoing maintenance and support options post-launch
Project Objectives
The objectives of this project are to:
Refresh and strengthen ICA’s digital presence
Improve accessibility, navigation, and user experience
Better communicate ICA’s mission, programs, campaigns, and impact
Support multiple audiences, including Indigenous communities, youth, partners, funders, media, and the public
Create a scalable infrastructure that can grow alongside ICA’s evolving work
Improve internal staff capacity to manage and update website content
Ensure the website aligns with accessibility, security, and performance best practices
Scope of Work
The selected vendor will be responsible for the following:
Discovery & Planning
Conduct meetings with ICA staff and key stakeholders
Review existing website structure and digital assets
Assess audience needs and user journeys
Provide recommendations for site architecture and platform improvements
Identify opportunities for improved accessibility, storytelling, and engagement
Website Design & Development
The scope of work includes:
Information architecture and sitemap development
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design
Responsive website development across desktop and mobile devices
Development using a flexible and maintainable CMS
Template creation for key page types
Integration of ICA branding and visual identity
SEO and performance optimization
Analytics integration
Accessibility compliance implementation
Security implementation and best practices
The website must be designed to:
Clearly communicate ICA’s mission, values, and programs
Support storytelling, campaigns, fundraising, reports, and educational resources
Enable internal staff to efficiently manage and update content
Support future expansion and evolving organizational needs
Content Migration & Retention
ICA currently operates on Squarespace and intends to retain and migrate select existing content into the new website.
This includes:
Existing blog content
Reports and publications
Organizational resources and archives
Selected campaign and program pages
Vendors should outline:
Their proposed approach to content migration from Squarespace
Strategies for preserving SEO and existing URLs where possible
Recommendations for organizing archived and retained content
Accessibility Requirements
Accessibility is a core priority for ICA.
The selected vendor must ensure:
Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
Accessible navigation and content structures
Screen reader compatibility
Appropriate colour contrast and typography practices
Accessibility testing across devices and browsers
Vendors should describe:
Their accessibility approach and testing process
Previous experience building accessible websites
Tools and methods used for accessibility auditing
Security & Technical Requirements
The selected vendor must implement security best practices appropriate for a public-facing organizational website.
Proposals should address:
Website hosting recommendations
Security infrastructure and protections
Backup and recovery processes
CMS and plugin maintenance considerations
Performance optimization
Long-term sustainability of the technical framework
Post-Launch Support & Maintenance
Vendors should clearly outline what ongoing technical support and maintenance would look like after launch.
This should include:
Length and scope of post-launch support
Response times for technical issues
CMS and plugin updates
Security monitoring and maintenance
Bug fixes and troubleshooting
Options for long-term maintenance retainers or support agreements
Staff training and documentation
Project Timeline (Tentative)
Discovery & Planning: July 2026
Design Phase: July to August 2026
Development Phase: August to September 2026
Testing & Revisions: September 2026
Launch: October 2026
Proposal Requirements
Proposals should include:
Overview of the vendor/team and relevant experience
Examples of similar website projects
Proposed approach and methodology
Proposed CMS and technical framework
Accessibility and security approach
Content migration strategy
Proposed timeline and milestones
Detailed budget breakdown
Post-launch support and maintenance options
Team composition and roles
Proposal Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
Alignment with ICA’s organizational values and goals
Experience working with Indigenous organizations, nonprofits, or mission-driven organizations
Quality and relevance of previous work
Accessibility and technical expertise
Scalability and sustainability of proposed solutions
Budget and overall value
Post-launch support capacity
Additional Terms
ICA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals
ICA is not obligated to award a contract
All intellectual property created specifically for this project will belong to ICA
Vendors are responsible for all proposal preparation costs
Proposals will be treated as confidential
Qualified persons of Indigenous Ancestry will be given preference in accordance with s.16(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act.
We thank all applicants for their interest in the project. We will only contact those selected for an interview.
Deadline to Submit
July 1, 2026