Advanced Contract Award Notice - Larval Fish Genetic Analysis for Aquatic Invasive Species and Species at Risk

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has a requirement for Larval Fish Genetic Analysis for Aquatic Invasive Species and Species at Risk.

The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph ON. 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.

Statement of Requirement

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Asian Carp Program requires the species identification through genetic barcode sequencing of approximately 16,000 individual larval fishes.

The samples are currently stored in uniquely identified vials preserved in 95% ethanol. Samples will need to be organized and prepared into plates, followed by DNA extraction and sequencing.

The genetic facility must have suitable primers for identifying freshwater fishes, with emphasis on rare species (both species at risk and aquatic invasive species). A test-run of genetic sequencing of a small subset of samples is requested to ensure success of the primers. The results of this initial test run will be discussed with the Project Authority before the remainder of the samples are processed.

Once all samples are processed, the results of the genetic analysis will need to be stored in a database with each specimen’s unique DFO identifier, making them easily traceable for DFO scientists. Species identifications should be reported with both scientific and common names. 

Tasks:

1. Results of a trial/ test-run of tissue genetic sampling (~4 plates) to ensure proper primers
2. Tissue transfer/subsampling from storage vials onto plates for analysis
3. Results of tissue genetic sampling of ~16,000 larval fishes with PCR and sequencing
4. Full sample results in a database software available in secured-access folder

Minimum Essential Requirements:

• Capability to process large volume samples (16,000 individual larval fishes) in a short period of time (>2,000 specimens per day)
• Primers specifically for freshwater fishes enabling efficient extraction of DNA barcodes
• Established protocols for fish identification used in regulatory compliance
• Expert-validated genetic database for species identification to compare sample sequences specific to freshwater fish
• Capability of high-throughput genetic analysis and data management for high volumes of samples

Trade Agreements and Obligations

 The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), Canada-Europe Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) apply to this contract.

Government Contracts Regulations (GCRs) Exception and Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - only one person is capable of performing the work.

The CCDB (The Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding at the University of Guelph) is the only facility in North America with the technical capacity to conduct DNA barcoding on the required volume of samples; access to such a large genetic library of over 5 million records capable of validating the species identity of the samples; software and data management programs capable of analyzing the samples and storing, processing and tracking the data. Species identification for the project will be carried out by comparing sample sequences with the proprietary genetic database located at the Centre. The Centre has developed primers specifically for freshwater fishes, enabling the extraction of DNA barcodes from the samples.

Security Requirements

There is no Security Requirement for this contract.

Period of the Proposed Contract

The period of the proposed contract is from date of award to March 31, 2019.

Cost Estimate

The estimated limitation of the proposed contract is $300,000.00 plus tax.

Suppliers’ Right to Submit a Statement of Capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services and/or goods described herein, 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 Submission of a Statement of Capabilities 

Statement of Capabilities must be received no later than 2:00 PM Atlantic Standard Time, January 7, 2019. Submissions received after this date and time will not be accepted.

Inquiries and Submission of Statement of Capabilities 

Inquiries and submissions are to be submitted in writing to:

Cathi Harris

Senior Contracting Officer

301 Bishop Drive

Fredericton, NB E3C 2M6

Tel. 506-238-1317

Fax. 506-452-3676

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

Please note that the Department prefers to receive submissions electronically, however it will accept submissions in hard copy. Hard copy submissions must be received by the closing date and time. Email submissions should be less than 10MB; if the file(s) are larger please split them into more than one email. The Department is not responsible for misdirected or delayed submissions.

All submissions should note the contract file number: F5211-180642.