Impact of Emerald Ash Borer on Ecosystem Services

ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE  (ACAN)

1	Definition
An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the competitive requirements of the government's contracting policy have been met. Following notification to suppliers not successful in demonstrating that their Statement of Capabilities meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contract may then be awarded using the Treasury Board's electronic bidding authorities.

If other potential suppliers submit Statement of Capabilities during the fifteen calendar day posting period, and meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the department or agency must proceed to a full tendering process on either the government's electronic tendering service or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

2	Definition of Requirements 

The Canadian Forest Service (CFS), Natural Resources Canada is leading a large, collaborative, field-based research project to assess the ecological impacts of an invasive forest insect, emerald ash borer, in southwestern Ontario. The project aligns with the National Forest Pest Strategy and the Canadian Alien Invasive Species Strategy to provide science-based information for an environmental risk assessment. The work requires extensive field sampling and specialized laboratory processing to assess various aspects of ecological responses, including an assessment of impacts on ecosystem services.

To meet the project’s objectives and accomplish the required work, the Contractor will provide field assessments and laboratory processing services to augment the ongoing work. These services include field assessment of riparian and stream channel forest canopy cover and structure by digital canopy analyses, assessment of ground-level light penetration by photosynthetically active radiation sensors, field deployment of leaf litter traps for measuring litter inputs to riparian forest floors and adjacent stream channels, sorting and identification of leaf litter, and the preparation of electronic data files and a final summary report.

3	Trade Agreements

There is no trade agreement impacted with this contract.

4	Title to Intellectual Property

Natural Resources Canada has determined that any intellectual property rights arising from the performance of the Work under the resulting contract will belong to Canada, on the following grounds:
Where the main purpose of the Crown Procurement Contract, of the deliverables contracted for, is to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination
5	Contract Period
The contract period will be from Contract Award date to March 31, 2014. 
6	Estimated Cost
The estimated maximum value of the contract is $45,375.00 CAD plus applicable tax.
7	Exception to the Government Contract Regulations and applicable trade agreements.

(d)	Only one person or firm is capable of performing this contract.

The University of Guelph is the only institute/firm that has the qualified personnel and laboratories, and is currently positioned to conduct this specialized research.  These are time-sensitive measures that must be completed prior to leaf senescence in this field season (2013). The university is positioned to provide these services immediately.

These are re-measurements for the scientific research project. Therefore, the work described in the definition of requirement must be done at exactly the same locations (sampling spots) as the pre-infestation samples were taken. The university knows these sites, their locations, and the exact sampling (re-measurement) spots because of previous work they conducted in the same area under an agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 

It is critical to the objectives of the research project that the re-measurements and samples are taken at exactly the correct spot. No other service provider would be familiar with the exact site and sampling spot locations.
The university has been granted access to each research site by the private land owners, a process that took many weeks of tracking down and meeting with land owners. Any other service provider would need to gain approved access by land owners before entering the sites. All sites but one, are on private land.

The university is familiar with, and has previous experience in, the specific sampling and assessment protocols for this research project, owing to their previous work supported by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It is critical to the success of this research project that all re-measurements and re-sampling are conducted under exactly the same protocols as the pre-infestation measures.  Required specialized field equipment includes a digital canopy analyzer - this is a specialized piece of equipment (digital camera with extreme wide angle lens mounted on a self-levelling tripod with remote shooting capabilities and automatic directional correction) and is calibrated to particular software that came with the analyzer. The university has previous experience with this equipment.  This specialized work requires specific skills and equipment, in which the University of Guelph laboratories are equipped to provide safe and appropriate sample handling, sample processing, microscopic work, and data preparation. 

The scientific authority for the University on this project, Dr. Paul Sibley, is a professor in riparian and aquatic ecology, teaches ecosystem sciences, and is uniquely qualified to provide oversight and to conduct quality assurance on the specialized work in riparian forest ecosystem integrity and disturbance ecology, specifically under the protocol and equipment requirements for the re-measurements and re-sampling, which are essential for the project’s objectives.

8	Name and Address of the Proposed Contractor 
University of Guelph
Office of Research
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
9	Enquiries on Submission of Statement of Capabilities 
"Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing, preferably by e-mail, to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date and time of this Notice.  The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements."
10	Closing Date
The closing date for a submission of a Statement of Capabilities is October 3, 2013 at 14:00 Eastern Standard Time.

11	  Contract Authority
Sandra Leslie
Head, Regional Procurement & Material Management Services/ 
183 Longwood Road South
Hamilton, ON L8P O5A
Telephone: 905-645-0678
Fax; 905-645-0831
Sandra.leslie@nrcan.gc.ca