Hi-Scan SQ, MiSeq & C-Bot Equipment Service Coverage & Preventative Maintenance

ACAN – Hi-Scan SQ, MiSeq & C-Bot Equipment Service Coverage & Preventative Maintenance

REQUIREMENT:
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre (SRC) in Saskatoon, SK requires service coverage and preventative maintenance for the Illumina Hi-Scan, with SQ module, MiSeq and Illumina C-bot equipment.  This includes: silver coverage with full coverage on all service parts and labour, comprehensive 5 × 24(1) email support and 5 × 18(2) telephone support (instrument, applications, bioinformatics); three business day average on-site response time, critical and non-critical updates, applications support, access to on-line training modules; and discounts on optional advanced training programs; and one Preventative Maintenance visit per year.  
	
SCOPE OF WORK:
The Illumina Hi-Scan, SQ module and MiSeq were purchased previously from Illumina in 2011, 2012 and 2013. This equipment is essential to a number of projects at SRC. In addition, SRC processes samples for researchers at other AAFC centres and for collaborators in Saskatoon. The Illumina equipment is predominantly used for molecular marker analyses, so it is used for identifying genetic variation and mapping traits of interest and thus is essential for numerous projects in both the Genomics group and the breeding section.  Some of the equipment is also used for gene discovery work, in particular for genes controlling resistance to abiotic and biotic stress.  The equipment is used by multiple labs at Saskatoon and labs in Fredericton and Winnipeg have also used the equipment for marker work.  The equipment is expensive and the most cost effective way to ensure there are no work stoppages is to maintain a service contract, which provides efficient response times for any problems arising and includes all service, parts and labour costs.

CONTRACT PERIOD:
The contract will be for the period from March 18, 2014 to March 17, 2015.
 
INITIAL CONTRACT VALUE:
Estimated Value:   $61,118.00 USD (plus taxes, if applicable) 

PROPOSED CONTRACTOR:
Illumina, Inc. 
5200 Illumina Way
San Diego, CA   92121-1975
United States

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:
Illumina Canada is the only company that can provide guaranteed equipment coverage and servicing for the Illumina Hi-Scan SQ, MiSeq and C-Bot Equipment. 
	
The equipment is proprietary to Illumina and Illumina does not provide licenses to outside contractors to service their machines. Any outside servicing of equipment (other than Illumina), will no longer allow us to purchase upgrades, trade-in’s to the equipment, etc. and Illumina will no longer guarantee that they could fix the equipment if there is a breakdown. Therefore, an Illumina Silver Service Maintenance Contract will ensure the Hi-Scan SQ, MiSeq and C-Bot equipment are operational for the maximum amount of time during the stated dates. 
	
In addition to maintaining the efficient functioning of the equipment, the service contract will also provide telephone support with skilled personnel in both operation and applications, which ensures rapid response and on-going optimization of the equipment.

ACAN NOTICE:
You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the Contracting Authority.

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 Contracting Authority may then proceed with the award.   However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the Contracting Authority will proceed to a full tendering process. 

Inquiries 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, either via letter, facsimile or 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.

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:

Melissa Smith, Procurement Officer
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Western Service Centre
300 – 2010 12th Avenue
Regina, SK   S4P 0M3
Ph: 306-523-6545
Fx: 306-780-5018
Melissa.Smith@agr.gc.ca