Analysis of fungal pathogens associated with fish health and mortality

Procurement Hub – Fredericton

301 Bishop Drive

Fredericton, NB E3C 2M6

11 September 2018

F5211-180386

ADVANCED CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE

TITLE: Analysis of fungal pathogens associated with fish health and mortality

ACAN:

The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to University of Victoria, Department of Biology/Hintz Lab, PO Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2. Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the ACAN posting period.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during this ACAN posting period that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either GETS or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier.

INTRODUCTION:

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) requires a Contractor to carry out in vitro cultivation and analysis of fungal pathogens in Atlantic salmon and report on findings.

BACKGROUND:

The work involves cultivation and genomic characterization of fungal pathogens from Atlantic salmon in order to help meet the Pest and Pathogen management for Cultured Stocks priority within the Optimal Fish Health objective of DFO’s Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program. Knowledge derived from this research will assist in the mitigation of impacts from fungal pathogens in salmon, it will provide information crucial to developing management and control strategies. The key importance of this research is to promote and maintain healthy salmon populations.

OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of this work is to develop and apply tools to cultivate and conduct molecular analyses of fungal pathogens from farmed Atlantic salmon in British Columbia.

WORK REQUIREMENT:

The Contractor must complete and deliver the following items:

• Conduct in vitro cultivation and molecular characterization of fungal pathogens of Atlantic salmon;
• Develop culture media specifically suited to the growth of fungal pathogens;
• Develop PCR assays to amplify fungal pathogen-specific segments of genomic DNA
• Document the occurrence and diversity of fungal pathogens in samples obtained from farmed salmon and seawater collected near farms

In addition, the Contractor is responsible for obtaining samples directly from a third party.

The Contractor must summarize the findings from its work in detailed interim written reports to be submitted by 31 December, 2018 and a final report to be submitted by March 15, 2019, for review. The reports will itemize the methods used, summarise the findings with the use of graphs, tables and provide an interpretation of the findings in the context of relevant scientific knowledge. All reports must be submitted as Word documents.

MANDATORY CRITERIA:

• Must be able to demonstrate evidence of scientific competence (a minimum of 8 publications in peer- reviewed scientific journals is required).
• Must provide evidence of the capacity and ability to conduct research on the culture and molecular characterization of fungal pathogens.

ESTIMATED VALUE

The total value of the contract shall not exceed $34,500.00 excluding all applicable taxes for the firm period from contract award to 31 March 2019. The subsequent Option Year is estimated at $34,500.00 (excluding applicable taxes).

TRADE AGREEMENTS APPLICABILITY OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS:

No Trade Agreements apply.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION AND LIMITED TENDERING REASONS:

The following policy requirements are applicable to this ACAN process:

Applicable Exceptions to Soliciting Bids under the Government Contracting Regulations (GCRs) (Section 6):

Section 10.2.1 Section 6 (d) only one person or firm is capable of performing the work applies to this ACAN for the following reasons:

-There are no known alternative sources of supply. It is feasible and affordable to compete the requirement.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has determined that any intellectual property arising from the performance of the work under the contract will belong to the Contractor.

CONTRACT PERIOD:

The period of the contract is from contract award to 31 March 2019 inclusive. The contract will include 1 option year, to be activated at the discretion of DFO.

Firm period: contract Award to 31 March 2019

Option Year 1: 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

SUPPLIER’S RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, must submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing to the Contracting Officer identified in this Notice on or before closing date. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:

26 September 2018 at 2:00 p.m. (ADT)

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Hannah State

Senior Contracting Officer

Procurement Hub – Fredericton

Telephone: (506) 429-2622

Email: DFOtenders-soumissionsMPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca