Extraction and Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in fish and other arctic biota samples

The Technical Authority co-leads monitoring studies on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in arctic fish and caribou that are conducted under the Northern Contaminants Program. The datasets for the Arctic studies are large reflecting annual sampling at multiple locations and includes approximately 125 individual organohalogen compounds that are routinely analysed. Time series for various contaminants are available which span up to 40 years providing unique insights into regional and global trends in pollution. The data have been important contributions to Canadian international activities such as the development of the Stockholm Convention on POPs. Concentrations of POPs in Arctic samples are generally very low due to the remoteness of the lakes and arctic marine environments that the samples come from and therefore ultratrace techniques and low background contamination facilities are needed for the work.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) requires an outside laboratory to conduct the analyses of these samples. ECCC will provide the Contractor with samples and after the Contractor conducts extraction and analysis the Contractor would provide ECCC with the extracts for additional analyses to be performed, as needed. Bidders must demonstrate that they meet rigorous quality assurance criteria including low laboratory blank contamination, consistency of performance in the analysis of certified reference materials, and evidence of successful participation in national or international quality assurance programs.