Bas-Saint-Laurent Tourism — EPRTNT 2025-2027 – Studies and Consulting Services

• Completed and signed application form submitted in Excel format
• Copy of the request for proposals describing objectives, methodology, timeline and deliverables
• Two professional service offers (consultant quotations)
• Board resolution or equivalent authorizing the signatory and supporting documents
• OQLF attestation or certification, if applicable (25+ employees over 6 months)
• Confirmation letters from financial partners, if available
• Indigenous certificate or certification, if applicable
• Proof of compliance with the Qualité-Sécurité program for nature and adventure tourism businesses, if applicable

• The applicant must be a legally constituted tourism organization under Quebec or Canadian law doing business in Quebec.
• The project must be carried out by a specialized firm or recognized organization following a service call for tenders with two bids.
• The project must align with EPRTNT objectives and regional tourism priorities.
• The project must have eligible costs of at least $15,000 and request no more than $30,000 in aid.
• The project must not have started or been completed before the application submission date.

Who is eligible?

• Tourism-related for-profit organizations
• Tourism-related non-profit organizations
• Tourism cooperatives
• Municipal entities involved in tourism
• Indigenous communities, nations and tourism organizations, and regional tourism associations with financial partners

Who is not eligible

• Crown corporations, ministries and agencies of the governments of Quebec and Canada
• Organizations listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts
• Organizations not compliant with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees of specialized firms or consultants for studies, diagnostics or advisory services related to tourism offer development and service quality
• Net taxes (non-reimbursed portion) related to direct eligible project costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Salaries, operating expenses and ongoing management costs of the promoter
• Working capital, debt service, operating losses, capital losses and share buybacks
• Costs for regulatory compliance, asset maintenance or upgrading to standards
• Recoverable portions of sales taxes and other reimbursable costs
• Asset transfers, in-kind or service contributions and usual maintenance costs
• General operating, administration and financing fees
• Lobbyist remuneration and legal fees
• Promotion, advertising and marketing expenses
• Cost overruns and expenses committed before submitting the funding request (except project preparation fees)

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations doing business in Quebec, specifically in the Bas-Saint-Laurent tourism region

• Alignment with EPRTNT objectives and regional tourism priorities.
• Structural impact and regional reach, including attractiveness, benefits, partnerships and job creation.
• Level of innovation and quality of concept, products and services.
• Sound financial structure, project relevance to tourism markets and marketing approach.
• Project feasibility and integration of sustainable development principles.

• Step 1: Check Eligibility
  • Use the self-assessment questionnaire to verify organization and project admissibility.
  • Ensure the project meets the objectives and minimum/maximum funding thresholds.
• Step 2: Prepare Project and Tender
  • Draft the call for proposals defining issues, objectives, methodology, timeline and deliverables.
  • Obtain two professional service offers from specialized firms or recognized organizations.
• Step 3: Complete Application Form
  • Fill in and sign the EPRTNT BSL – Studies and consulting services application form in Excel format.
  • Gather all required supporting documents listed in the guide.
• Step 4: Submit Application
  • Send the completed form and all mandatory documents by email to programmes@bassaintlaurent.ca.
  • Respect the call for projects deadline published for the intake period.

• Verification of project eligibility and clarification requests to the proponent by Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent.
• Detailed analysis of the project by program analysts.
• Evaluation and funding recommendation by the management committee.
• Sending of a letter to the proponent indicating approval with the granted amount or refusal.
• Signature of a financial assistance agreement for approved projects, followed by staged payments.

• The financial support provided under this program is non-repayable.
• Incomplete applications at the call deadline are postponed to the next intake period.
• Projects may be subject to public tender obligations for certain construction contracts.
• Applicants should allow at least two months after the call deadline to receive a decision.