Testing Canadian Drinking Water for Microplastics

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

Title: Testing Canadian Drinking Water for Microplastics

Solicitation Number: 1000204419

1. The Purpose and Explanation of an ACAN

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows Health Canada to post a notice for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a goods, services or construction contract will be awarded to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the minimum requirements identified in the ACAN, the Contracting Authority may then proceed to award a contract to the pre-identified contractor.

2. Rights of Suppliers

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities demonstrating how they meet the advertised requirement. This Statement of Capabilities must be provided via e-mail only to the contact person identified in Section 12 of the Notice on or before the closing date and time of the Notice. If the Bidder can clearly demonstrate they possess the required capabilities, the requirement will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.

3. Proposed Contractor

McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4

4. Definition of Requirements or Expected Results

Microplastics, small plastic particles or fibres less than five millimeters long, have been detected in the environment and exposure to humans is a topic of increasing concern. It is not known whether drinking waters in Canada contain microplastics.

The proposed tests will be used to confirm and to quantify the number of plastic particles in source water, treated water and water at a point in the distribution system in five cities across Canada. This data is expected to generate new information on possible sources of microplastics in Canadian drinking water.

5. Minimum Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements:

-Expertise in detecting microplastics in drinking water as demonstrated in peer-reviewed publications.

-Established contacts and experience in sampling for microplastics in drinking water treatment plants.

-Expertise and analytical capacity for detection of microplastics using pyrolysis GCMS.

- Expertise and analytical capacity for detection of microplastic types using FTIR.

-Expertise in identifying microplastic particles below 100 μm.

-Experience in controlling for microplastic contamination while sampling, sample handling and laboratory procedures to detect microplastics.

-Academic credentials and professional focus on microplastics as a drinking water contaminant.

6. Reason for Non-Competitive Award

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d)

 "only one person is capable of performing the work".

7. Applicable trade Agreements and Justification for Limited Tendering or the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

N/A

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property

Ownership of Intellectual Property will rest with the Contractor.

9. Period of the Proposed Contract

The contract period shall be from date of contract award until October 31, 2019.

10. Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract

The total estimated value of the proposed contract should not exceed $100,000.00, including travel and living expenses (if applicable), and all applicable taxes.

11. Closing Date and Time

The Closing Date and Time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is December 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

12. Contact Person

All enquiries and submissions of Statements of Capabilities must be addressed by e-mail to:

Name: Darlene Fisher
E-Mail: Darlene.Fisher2@canada.ca