Administration of Proficiency Testing Programs

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
Title: 	Administration of Proficiency Testing Programs
Solicitation Number: 1000159792

1.  The Purpose and Explanation of an ACAN
An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows the Public Health Agency of 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
Oneworld Accuracy Canada
9-8980 Fraserwood Court, 
Burnaby, BC, 
CANADA 
V5J 5H7
4.  Definition of Requirements or Expected Results
The National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services (NLHRS) represents Canada’s premier reference laboratory for HIV and HTLV testing in support of testing programs conducted by provincial ministries of health and the Canadian Blood Services. Our role is to strengthen the country’s capacity to diagnose, detect and characterize HIV infection, which threatens the public health system and blood supply. Our reference diagnostic testing program and Reference Material, Proficiency testing and External Quality Control program supports national and international stakeholders. Our laboratory is also actively involved in the development and optimization of new and innovative technologies.  
The National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services (NLHRS) has a need for a Contractor to provide services related to the administration, consultation and management of proficiency testing programs to Canadian and international public health laboratories. These programs include those for HIV serology, HTLV serology and HIV viral load testing. This requirement is being requested for two years to facilitate business continuity during the transition of  the NLHRS  from Ottawa to Winnipeg.  Because of loss of staff and obligations to this relocation, we do not have the capacity to administer these programs during this time. However, these programs cannot be suspended, as participation in our proficiency testing programs is a requirement for  Canadian public health labs as part of their quality management system and accreditations.  
5.  Minimum Requirements
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements:
1.	The supplier must have demonstrable proof of experience of at least 5 years working with a large number (>10) of Canadian public health, hospital and clinical laboratories in administering proficiency testing programs in HIV serology and HTLV serology and HIV viral load testing. 

2.	Specifically the supplier must be able to provide one project where each of  the following was performed;
a)	Provide labs with unique accounts and individual user accounts.
b)	Individually notify in advance all participants of the impending start and closing date for the proficiency testing event.
c)	Collect and collate data from the participants as well as provide statistical analysis of the data.
d)	Provide participants with individual reports of the results from their testing within a week of the test even closing date.
e)	Analyze and provide aggregate data analysis in Excel sheet format for each of the test events (HIV serology, HTLV serology and HIV viral load) in a timely manner. 

3.	The data collection system must be easily accessible, easy to use and flexible, allowing the NLHRS to easily make modifications to the data collection questions.  Suppliers are to provide a minimum of one project to demonstrate. 

4.	The supplier must be able to provide demonstrable proof of client satisfaction, either in the form of a survey or high response rates defined as minimum of 80 %..

5.	The supplier must be able to demonstrate that any data, test results and client information will be securely stored, reside in and not be subject to access outside of Canada.

6.	The supplier must be able to provide technical assistance by phone and email in both official languages French and English.
6.  Reason for Non-Competitive Award
Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations contain four exceptions that permit the contracting authority to set aside the requirement to solicit bids. The one that applies to this requirement is: (d) Only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract. 
The identified Contractor has been identified as possessing all the requirements (the necessary resources, experience, abilities, knowledge and procedures) to provide the support needed by the NLHRS during this challenging time of transition from Ottawa to Winnipeg. .
This supplier has extensive knowledge and understanding, to complete the tasks identified in the contract. The proposed Contractor has the identified expertise to perform the proficiency testing and brings the experience necessary to successfully undertake the work required for PHAC within the required timeframe.
 
7.  Applicable trade Agreements and Justification for Limited Tendering or the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business
This procurement is subject to the following: 
* North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA
8.  Ownership of Intellectual Property
The Contractor shall own the Intellectual Property 
9.  Period of the Proposed Contract
The contract period shall be two years from date of contract award estimated at to July 2014.
10.  Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract
The total estimated value of the proposed contract should not exceed $110,000, including all applicable taxes.
11. Closing Date and Time 
The Closing Date and Time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is 25 June 2014, 4:00 p.m. EDT).
12. Contact Person
All enquiries must be addressed by e-mail to:
Name:  Karen Chubey
E-Mail:  karen.chubey@hc-sc.gc.ca