What a Good AI Strategy RFP Actually Looks Like: A Real Canadian Example
AI strategy has officially entered the procurement process
For a lot of organizations, “AI strategy” still sounds like a buzzword, something to think about eventually, not something with a budget line and a formal request for proposals. That’s already changing. Canadian organizations, including public-funded ones, are now issuing real RFPs specifically for AI strategy development, with defined budgets, timelines and deliverables.
One clear example: the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), the national body behind the Coaching Certification Program, working with more than 65 national sport organizations across the country, issued an RFP seeking external expertise to build a practical AI strategy for the organization.
It’s a useful, real-world template for what a serious AI strategy engagement actually looks like, for a nonprofit-adjacent, publicly funded organization, not a tech company.
What CAC actually asked for
A few things stand out about how the RFP is structured:
- It’s tied to a real operational system, not AI in the abstract. The strategy needed to align with CAC’s existing database, “The Locker,” along with its broader operations and data-driven decision-making, not a generic AI overview disconnected from how the organization actually runs.
- Public accountability is built into the requirements from the start. The RFP is explicit that CAC operates in a public funding environment requiring strong governance, privacy and accountability, meaning the strategy has to hold up to a different level of scrutiny than a private company’s internal AI rollout would.
- The scope follows a clear, staged structure, not just “give us some AI ideas”:
- Define a strategic direction for AI adoption by identifying and prioritizing high-value use cases aligned with real operational needs
- Develop business cases that demonstrate value and align with public funding requirements, to support actual investment decisions
- Support pilot and implementation planning, so priority use cases can be validated and early value demonstrated before wider rollout
- It has a real budget attached: this particular RFP’s budget range was $80,000 to $100,000, a useful data point for understanding what organizations are actually willing to invest in a properly scoped AI strategy engagement, even outside the private sector.
Why this matters beyond CAC specifically
This RFP isn’t an isolated case, it’s a signal. As Canada’s national AI for All strategy pushes AI adoption from just over 12% toward a 60% target by 2034, more organizations such as nonprofits, associations, public bodies and SMEs alike are going to need to formalize how they think about AI, not just experiment with it informally. The CAC RFP shows what that formalization looks like in practice: discovery grounded in real systems, a business case built for accountability and a path to piloting before full implementation.
That structure: discovery, business case, roadmap, implementation, isn’t unique to large public bodies. It’s the same shape a well-run AI strategy engagement should take for any organization serious about getting it right, whatever its size or sector and we at Nimblox prioritize exactly that.
FAQ
Do only large organizations issue AI strategy RFPs?
No, the Coaching Association of Canada, a national nonprofit sport organization, is a clear example of a mid-sized, publicly funded body formally procuring AI strategy expertise, not just a Fortune 500 pattern.
What should an AI strategy proposal actually include?
Based on real RFPs like CAC’s, a strong proposal covers discovery grounded in the organization’s real systems, a business case tied to funding and accountability requirements, and a pilot/implementation plan, not just high-level recommendations.
How much does an AI strategy engagement typically cost?
It varies significantly by scope and organization size, the CAC RFP’s budget range was $80,000 to $100,000, offering one real reference point for a mid-sized, publicly accountable organization.
Why are public and nonprofit organizations prioritizing AI strategy now?
Growing pressure to modernize operations, combined with national policy pushes like Canada’s AI for All strategy, are prompting organizations across sectors to formalize their approach to AI rather than adopt tools informally.
Sources
- Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) — “Request for Proposals: AI Strategy Development,” Coaching Association of Canada listing, sirc.ca
- Coaching Association of Canada — RFP document (budget range and submission details), coach.ca
- Prime Minister of Canada — “AI for All” national strategy launch, pm.gc.ca (June 4, 2026), for the adoption-rate context
