Measurement of priority chemicals from the University of Sherbrooke's GESTE cohort study

HEALTH CANADA ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE


TITLE:   Measurement of priority chemicals from the University of Sherbrooke's GESTE cohort study

SOLICITATION NUMBER:   1000165054

1.  The purpose and explanation of an ACAN

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows Health Canada contracting authorities to post a notice on the Government Electronic Tendering System (GETS), for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a good, service 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 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.

2.  Rights of suppliers

Suppliers who believe that they are fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities clearly 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 there is a reasonable level of evidence regarding capability, the requirements will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.

3.  Proposed Contractor

University of Sherbrooke
2500 boulevard Université
Sherbrooke, (Qc)  J1K 2R1

4.  Definition of Requirements or Expected Results

The University of Sherbrooke has initiated a birth cohort study called GESTE (Grossesse et enfant en santé: étude sur la thyroide et l’environnement), in which pregnant mothers and the babies born to these mothers are being studied to understand the impact of environmental chemicals on human health.  Through this contract, Health Canada will be gaining access to the samples collected as part of this study in order to identify levels of chemicals that are a priority under the Government of Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, in particular the measurement of environmental contaminants and thyroid hormones.
 

5.  Minimum requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements: 

a)	The supplier must have access to the biological samples connected to the maternal-infant GESTE cohort   (Grossesse et enfant en santé : étude sur la thyroide et l`environnement) 

b)	The contractor must have extensive experience in conducting environmental health research, and cohort studies in particular.

c)	The contractor must demonstrate their competence in conducting home visit, sample collection and sample analysis by means of (1) their record of completion of similar studies and (2) publication list related to the study.

d)	The contractor must demonstrate their technical and scientific capacity of the team to carry out the contract, including having a team of researchers with proven record, a nurse for blood collection and technical personnel to conduct sample analysis. 

e)	The contractor will grant access to the laboratory facilities to Health Canada employees for the inspection of lab operation.


6.  Reason for non-competitive award

Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations contains four exceptions that permit the contracting authority to set aside the requirement to solicit bids.  For the proposed procurement, the following exception applies:

(d)	Only One Person or Firm is capable of performing the contract.

The University of Sherbrooke has proprietary rights in the biological samples collected through the GESTE study (Grossesse et enfant en santé: étude sur la thyroide et l’environnement).  The purpose of the contract is to analyze the biological samples collected from the GESTE cohort for specific Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) flame retardants.    


7.  Applicable trade agreements and justification for limited tendering or the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

This requirement is subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).  
	
The requirement is being directed to the proposed supplier as permitted under the following sections of the above trade agreements:
	
•	Article 506, 12(a) of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
•	Article 1016, 2(b) of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA
	
which allows for contracts to be directed to a particular firm when the products or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.
	
This requirement is not subject to the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.


8.  Ownership of Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property shall vest with the Contractor, although the Contractor shall grant the Crown a license to exercise all Intellectual Property Rights in the Materiel for any public purpose.

9.  Period of the proposed contract

The services of the Contractor will be required for a period of approximately 24 months, commencing on or about November 1, 2014 and ending around October 31, 2016.  The contract will have an option period that could extend the contract another six months to March 31, 2017.

10.  Estimated value of the proposed contract

 
The contract will span two fiscal years (FY2014-15 and FY2015-16), with one option period (FY2016-17).  The initial contract will be worth $100,000 and the option period another $45,000, for a total potential contract value of $145,000.00, including all applicable taxes.


11. Closing date and time 

The closing date and time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is 14th of October 2014, 2 p.m. EDT).

12.  Contact Person

All inquiries with regard to this Notice must be addressed by e-mail to:

Name:   Robert Merrick
E-Mail:    Robert.Merrick@hc-sc.gc.ca