Monitoring the changing distribution of Ixodes scapularis and the risk of Lyme disease in southern, eastern and central Ontario

HEALTH CANADA ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE

TITLE:  Monitoring the changing distribution of Ixodes scapularis and the risk of Lyme disease in southern, eastern and central Ontario

SOLICITATION NUMBER:  1000184687

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 Guelph

Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Pathobiology

50 Stone Road East

Guelph, Ontario

N1G 2W1

4. Definition of Requirements or Expected Results

Active surveillance is required to monitor the changing distribution of Ixodes scapularis and the risk of Lyme disease within Ontario. The intent of the project is to conduct tick dragging at a number of sites in southern, eastern and central Ontario to reassess the baseline distribution established by field sampling conducted in 2014 and 2015. All I. scapularis collected will undergo laboratory analysis for B. burgdorferi, and other pathogens of public health significance. Spatial and statistical analyses will be completed to enhance our understanding of disease risk. 

The objective of this work is to understand the changing distribution of I. scapularis and B. burgdorferi in Ontario. Conducting active surveillance will provide up-to-date information on the current distribution of the tick and pathogen in Ontario, which is essential for informing public health messaging and targeting preventative measures to appropriate areas.

5. Minimum Requirements

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

1) From May to October 2014 and 2015, active surveillance was conducted by the University of Guelph at 154 sites across southern, central and eastern Ontario, during which hundreds of tick samples were collected. The supplier must have access to primary data.

2) The supplier’s project lead must have expertise in vector-borne disease ecology;

3) The supplier must have a team with experience in research and project management related to vector-borne diseases, and the relevant field, lab and data analytic capacity to accomplish this work.

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 Guelph is the only service provider that meets all of the minimum requirements cited above. 

7. Applicable Trade Agreements and Justification for Limited Tendering or the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

This contract is not subject to any trade agreements due to its low dollar value.It is also not subject to the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) or any Comprehensive Lands Claim Agreements (CLCA)

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property

Copyright 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 contract period shall be from the date of contract award until March 31, 2020.

10. Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract

The estimated value of the proposed contract is $80,000.00, including all applicable taxes. 

11. Closing Date and Time

The closing date and time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is the 28^th of February 2017, 2 p.m. EST.

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