Manitoba Advanced selections adaptation and potato field late blight evaluation trials

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

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.

Definition of the requirement

The Department of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) requires a service contract to conduct potato selection adaptation trials and reaction to local isolates of late blight in the Province of Manitoba in order to collect data required for making decisions on potato selections to be released to industry in February 2017 (and 2018 in Option Year 2) as part of the Accelerated Release program (www.agr.gc.ca/potato-cultivars)..The Contractor shall provide two suitable sites (in Carberry and Winkler area) of approximately 24,000 square feet each with specialized equipment for potato research plots as well as technical staff to complete the small potato trials, as well as a remote site of approximately 10,000 square feet isolated from production area to conduct inoculated late blight trials. The services will include managing research plots according to recommended practices in conjunction with the procedures and traits and rating scales used by the AAFC breeding and germplasm enhancement program.

Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)

Interested suppliers must have ability to provide suitable sites in the major potato production area (Carberry and Winkler) in addition to remote site for inoculated late blight tests, with equipment for potato research plots, and technical staff with the knowledge and experience to do this work

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

• Experience and knowledge of potato field plot agronomy and late blight evaluation procedures;
• Ability to provide suitable sites (24,000 square feet each) in the major potato production area (Carberry and Winkler) in addition to remote site (10,000 square feet) for inoculated late blight tests, with equipment for potato research plots, and technical staff with the knowledge and experience to do this work;
• Team lead must have a minimum of MSc degree in plant breeding or related discipline, and at least 2 years of field research experience;

Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

Gaia Consulting has the required experience and knowledge of AAFC potato breeding procedures and traits rating system, stemming from previous collaboration with AAFC potato breeding program and is listed as a collaborator on the approved STB-project # J-000991’Integrated research-development-technology-transfer approach to enhance productivity and sustainability of potato production in Canada.

Ownership of Intellectual Property

Canada to Own Intellectual Property Rights in Foreground Information

https://buyandsell.gc.ca/policy-and-guidelines/standard-acquisition-clauses-and-conditions-manual/4/4007/3

Period of the proposed contract or delivery date (With option)

Year 1

Start date: 10th June 2016

End date: 30th November, 2016

Year 2 (optional)

Start date: 9th May 2017

End date: 30th November, 2017

Cost estimate of the proposed contract

Year 1

July 15, 2016 $12,415 (interim report- planting and early vigor notes)

November 30, 2016 $12,415 (final report- all data and quality samples collected)

Total $24,830 + Tax

Year 2 (optional)

July 15, 2017 $12,787.5 (interim report- planting and early vigor notes)

November 30, 2017 $12,787.5 (final report- all data and quality samples collected)

Total $25,575 + Tax

The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $50,405.00(GST/HST extra).

Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Gaia Consulting, Box 314, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3B5

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.

Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is June 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Time.

Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Samuel Archambault

Contractual Agent

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Telephone: 514-315-6139

Facsimile: 514-283-1918

E-Mail : samuel.archambault@agr.gc.ca

2001 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., suite 671-L

Montréal, Québec H3A 3N2