Start-up, inspection and maintenance of a retired Dionex U3000 HPLC/LTQ mass spectrometer, Lethbridge AB

ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN):

This Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada intends to award a service contract 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 this ACAN, the Contracting Officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT: 

The Dionex U3000 HPLC with a photodiode array detector and mass spectrometer (purchased in 2006) was acquired from AAFC-Summerland in 2017.The equipment is no longer supported by the manufacturer (Dionex).Thermo Fisher Scientific will inspect the system, set it up and perform preventative maintenance. The entire system will be tested with standard mixtures on an installed Liquid Chromatography–mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) column to establish separation and detection of analytes on the detectors according to manufacturers specifications.The system will also be connected to upgraded software, to be installed by contractor on an existing computer and tested for instrument control. Required maintenance will be performed on all components needing repair, parts to be supplied by the contractor. At completion, the system will be viable and require only routine maintenance, or will be deemed irreparable.

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

• Are authorized Dionex U3000 HPLC dealer who are certified to maintain, repair and calibrate Dionex equipment.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER:

Thermo-Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Ltd acquired Dionex (manufacturer of this system) in December 2010.As such, they are the only contractor that can sell and service these instruments as they have the compatible parts, updated software to run the equipment, and the expertise to do the inspection and set-up of this older LCMS that has been retired by Thermo-Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Ltd.

Should Canada receive a statement of capabilities from a supplier that contains sufficient information to indicate that it meets the requirements set forth in this ACAN, a competitive process will be triggered with a technical and financial evaluation methodology of the bids proposed by the potential bidders.

EXCEPTION TO THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS:

Section 6 (d) has been invoked for this procurement as only one supplier (person/firm) is capable of performing the work.

Where, for works of art, or for reasons connected with the protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights, or proprietary information or where there is an absence of competition for technical reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.

CONTRACT PERIOD:

From Contract Award to March 31, 2021.

ESTIMATED VALUE: $34,762.72 (including GST)

PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER:

Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc.

4 – 2845 Argentina Road

Mississauga, Ont

L5N 8G6

SUPPLIERS’ RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing, either via letter, facsimile or preferably email 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.

CLOSING DATE:

The closing date and time for a submission of a Statement of Capabilities is January 13, 2021 at 2:00 pm CST.

The Solicitation Number, Name of Contracting Authority and closing date of the ACAN must appear within your Statement of Capabilities in block letters.

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

CONTRACTING AUTHORITY:

Desta Kissack, Materiel Management Advisor

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Western Service Centre

4-303 Main Street

Winnipeg MB R3C 3G7

Phone: (204) 259-4096

Email: desta.kissack@canada.ca