Close Breaching Charge Initiators

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

2. Definition of the requirement
The Department of National Defence has a requirement for the supply of quantity 3,000 each Close Breaching Charge Initiators (CBCI). The product must be a waterproof, small form factor close breaching charge initiator. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense P/N D11800-01S-S-S-01 is known to meet the Minimum Essential Requirements detailed at paragraph 3.
o DND will reserve the right to exercise up to four (4) Option Years of 1,500 each CBCI.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
 
o Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product meets the following requirements:

• Shock tube with a length no longer than 12m;
• Complete unit shall be constructed to a size no greater than 17cm x 6cm x 4cm (6.69in x 2.36in x 1.57in);
• Detonator and shock tube must be waterproof to 200ft (95 psi) for two hours; 
• M6/M7 Equivalent Detonator;
• M81 Initiation;
• Operational Temperature -50f to +125f; and
• Packaging is available in 1.4S Hazard Classification.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement:
o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
 
5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense is the only manufacturer known to have an existing, proven product meeting the Minimum Essential Requirements detailed at paragraph 3.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception
 
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 contract".

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
 
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513 1(b)iii:

o due to an absence of competition for technical reasons

8. Delivery date

o The product must be delivered on 1 September 2021. Optional quantities, if exercised, must be delivered within 32 weeks of exercising the option.

9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company
640 Hopmeadow St
Simsbury CT USA 06070.

10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

11. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is January 5, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. EST).
Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Caroline Porter-Casey, DLP 8-2-5
101 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0K2
Telephone: 343-572-8086
E-mail: Caroline.Porter@forces.gc.ca