Lab Ware Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Professional Services

ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE  (ACAN)
1.0	Definition

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction 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 the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

2.0	Definition of Requirements

Health Canada has a requirement for up to five (5) Lab Ware LIMS/WebLIMS and Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) subject matter experts on an “as and when required basis” to guide the refinement of the LabWare Version 6 system. 

The resources support the refinement/enhancement of a quality Lab Ware LIMS solution and will be required to perform one or more of the following tasks:

2.1.1 	Provide specialized Lab Ware LIMS/WebLIMS and Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) subject matter expertise;
2.1.2	Assess existing LIMS configurations, reporting structures, architectures;
2.1.3	Optimize the consolidated LIMS instance and schemas to take the best possible advantage of WebLIMS; 
2.1.4	Realize the new LIMS schemas for additional business lines through LIMS design, configuration and/or guidance; 
2.1.5	Realize the quality LIMS schemas, data management and reporting through the design, development, testing and/or guidance in initial and ongoing LIMS quality assessment; 
2.1.6		Redefine and implement administrative roles and associated security models; 
2.1.7	Develop, document and establish laboratory procedures in support of the LIMS application;
2.1.8	Re-define and implement administrative roles and associated security models;
2.1.9 	Validate calculation methods for all laboratory procedures;
2.1.10	Integrate laboratory instruments;
2.1.11 	Perform /Facilitate Lab Ware LIMS/WebLIMS and ELN database configurations;
2.1.12 	Reconcile problems in LIMS/WebLIMS and ELN software coding, configurations, architecture designs, reporting models, user/role definition models, and other LIMS related areas;
2.1.13 	Develop and run implementation scripts in a Health Canada specified Information Technology (IT) Environment;
2.1.14 	Guide/Assist the business in the development and implementation of their specific schema/configuration in accordance with business needs;
2.1.15 	Guide/Assist with development and implementation of appropriate quality testing/ test plans of a new or resident Lab Ware LIMS and\or ELN and their content;
2.1.16 	Provision of LabWare LIMS and ELN training as required to support HC Business Lines using or planning to use Lab Ware LIMS and provide/produce one or more of the following deliverables:
a) Technical scripts and files (e.g. Lab Ware LIMS .exe files) to Health Canada technical staff and;
b) All appropriate implementation related documentation (e.g. configuration design) to Health Canada technical staff; and 
2.1.17 	Knowledge transfer to identified Health Canada employees through the development and delivery of training to Health Canada resources. 

2.2	Specifications and Standards:

All work must be undertaken in compliance with the following policies, guidelines and directives: 
•	Health Canada  SDLC methodology used in order to develop functional requirements and perform functional business analysis of IT systems;
•	Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Operational Security Standard - Management of Information Technology Security Standard (MITSS);
•	Communications Security Establishment (CSE) IT Security Standards; and 
•	Harmonized Threat and Risk Assessment Methodology (HTRA) for the Government of Canada. 
The Contractor’s resources will be required to follow current Health Canada procedures and standards including the Health Canada Project Management Framework.

3.0	Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities: Minimum Essential Requirements
Interested suppliers must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements:

3.1	Only resources who hold a valid certification from LabWare in Version 6 of the LIMS product and have access to the source code can undertake the work. The resources must have a minimum of two (2) years of experience working on the products in the last four (4) years in which they at a minimum performed the following work: 

•	Assess existing LIMS configurations, reporting structures, architectures;
•	Re-define and implement administrative roles and associated security models;
•	Validate calculation methods for all laboratory procedures;
•	Integrated laboratory instruments;
•	Perform/Facilitate Lab Ware LIMS/WebLIMS and ELN database configurations;
•	Reconcile problems in LIMS/WebLIMS and ELN software coding, configurations, architecture designs, reporting models, user/role definition models, and other LIMS related areas; and 
•	Develop and run implementation scripts. 
•	The bidder and its employees must hold a valid Reliability status clearance prior to contract award.

4.0	Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons 

The following exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the section of the trade agreement(s) specified
	
NAFTA Article 1016 - Limited Tendering Procedures
1016.2 (b) - 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. 

WTO-AGP Article XV: Limited Tendering
(b) when, for works of art or for reasons connected with protection of exclusive rights, such as patents or copyrights, or in the absence of competition for technical reasons, the products or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists;

AIT Article 506 – Limited Tendering (Paragraph 12)
(b) where there is an absence of competition for technical reasons and the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no alternative or substitute exists;

5.0	Contract Period

The initial contract period is May 1, 2015 (estimated) to March 31, 2016, plus two (2) additional one-year option periods.
	
6.0	Estimated Cost

The estimated value of the contract, including options and and travel and associated living expenses, is $750,000 (GST/HST extra).

7.0	Government Contracts Regulations Exceptions

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) only one firm or individual is capable of performing the contract.

LabWare LIMS software is the mandated enterprise solution for Health Canada. This requirement is linked to specialized Lab application purchased through contract no. H1021-020241/001/ET issued by PWGSC through an open bidding process.  

LabWare Inc. is the only supplier with trained certified resources that can provide the services and support required including the modifications of the source code as specified in Section 3.1. of this ACAN.

LabWare Inc. possesses the exclusive rights and/or copyright for LabWare LIMS. LabWare Inc. is the owner of LabWare LIMS proprietary software. 

The LabWare LIMS source code is written in Samlltalk and Java. LabWare Inc. is the only company that can modify the source code.

8.0	Name and Address of the Proposed Contractor

LabWare, Inc.
Three Mill Rd, Suite 102
Wilmington, DE 19806
Phone: (302) 658-8444
Fax: (302) 658-7894

9.0	Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities  

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing 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.

10.	Closing Date

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is April 30, 2015  at 2:00 PM EDT.

11. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities 
	
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 
Brian Spero
Senior Procurement and Contracting Officer
Health Canada, PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING UNIT
200 Eglantine Driveway, Tunney's Pasture 
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0K9 

Email: brian.spero@hc-sc.gc.ca 
Telephone :  613-952-5140
Fax :  613-941-2645