Portable Package Auto Sampler

June 11, 2019

1. Attachment 1 has been added. The document contains questions and answers related to the Challenge.

2.  The Essential Outcomes have been amended as follows:

REMOVE:

Essential (Mandatory) Outcomes

The proposed solutions must:

1. provide devices that can be deployable to CBSA operations across Canada
2. present negligible risk of exposure to Border Officers
3. allow for the extraction of a sample from a package, weighing less than 1 kg, containing an unknown powder in less than 10 minutes — where packaging material consists of a single layer of aluminum foil bag, a single layer of plastic bag or a combination of one layer of aluminum foil bag with one layer of plastic bag
4. be able to access and transfer the unknown sample into a sealed bottle and reseal the package
5. ensure that parts of the device which come into contact with the unknown substances are disposable
6. be able to be decontaminated easily so that they can be repaired and maintained as needed

Additional Outcome:

N/A

INSERT:

Essential (Mandatory) Outcomes

The proposed solutions must:

1. be a portable device that can be deployable to CBSA operations across Canada (portable is considered to be: not too large in size or weight so that it can easily be moved from area to area, be able to be held and used in a vehicle) (amended on June 11, 2019)
2. present negligible risk of exposure to Border Officers
3. allow for the extraction of a sample from a package, weighing less than 1 kg, containing an unknown powder in less than 10 minutes — where packaging material consists of a single layer of aluminum foil bag, a single layer of plastic bag or a combination of one layer of aluminum foil bag with one layer of plastic bag
4. be able to access and transfer the unknown sample into a sealed bottle and reseal the package
5. ensure that parts of the device which come into contact with the unknown substances are disposable
6. be able to be decontaminated easily so that they can be repaired and maintained as needed

   Additional Outcome:

   N/A

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This Challenge Notice is issued under the Innovative Solutions Canada Program Call for Proposals 002 (EN578-170003/C).

Please refer to the Solicitation Documents which contain the process for submitting a proposal.

Steps to apply:

Step 1: read this challenge

Step 2: read the Call for Proposals

Step 3: propose your solution

Challenge Title: Portable Package Auto Sampler

Sponsoring Department: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Funding Mechanism: Contract

MAXIMUM CONTRACT VALUE:

Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.

The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $150,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable, for up to 6 months.

The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $500,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable, for up to 12 months. Only eligible businesses that have completed Phase 1 could be considered for Phase 2.

This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to contract for the total approximate funding.

TRAVEL:  For Phase 1 it is anticipated that four meetings will require the successful bidder(s) to travel to the locations identified below:

Kick-off meeting

Ottawa, ON

Site Visits

Two visits to the nearest port of entry to the successful bidder(s) (one land border and one airport port of entry)

Final Review Meeting

Ottawa, ON

Problem Summary Statement

The Canada Border Services Agency is seeking a technological solution to handle and extract samples of potentially highly toxic substances safely at the border in a timely manner.

Problem Statement

CBSA Border Services Officers must sample unknown substances during the examination of packages from vehicles, cargo and people. Currently, the sampling process is done by hand which is inefficient and can potentially expose Border Services Officers to highly toxic substances. The challenge is to develop an automated solution that would enable Border Services Officers to handle and sample unknown, potentially highly toxic substances safely.

Desired outcomes and Considerations

Essential (Mandatory) Outcomes

Proposed solutions must:

1. be a portable device that can be deployable to CBSA operations across Canada (portable is considered to be: not too large in size or weight so that it can easily be moved from area to area, be able to be held and used in a vehicle) (amended on June 11, 2019)
2. present negligible risk of exposure to Border Officers
3. allow for the extraction of a sample from a package, weighing less than 1 kg, containing an unknown powder in less than 10 minutes – where packaging material consists of a single layer of aluminum foil bag, a single layer of plastic bag or a combination of one layer of aluminum foil bag with one layer of plastic bag
4. be able to access and transfer the unknown sample into a sealed bottle and reseal the package
5. ensure that parts of the device which come into contact with the unknown substances are disposable
6. be able to be decontaminated easily so that they can be repaired and maintained as needed

Additional Outcomes

N/A

Background and Context

The emergence of new, highly potent opioids like fentanyl has presented a challenge to the CBSA and other law enforcement agencies. This international opioid crisis places law enforcement staff at a higher risk of encounters with Highly Toxic Substances (HTS) such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogues including carfentanil, and precursor chemicals. The extremely toxic nature of these opioids require the CBSA, and other law enforcement agencies, to develop and implement a HTS framework to ensure officer safety while improving the ability to interdict these substances. In response, the CBSA has been working diligently with domestic and international partners to identify new tools and technologies to enhance our manual sampling process. The current process requires a Border Services Officer to open a suspicious package and extract a small sample of the unknown substance, by hand, for scientific analysis. The intent is to automate the sampling process in order to eliminate the need for Border Services Officers to handle unknown, potentially HTS and thereby reduce the risk to officer safety.

ENQUIRIES

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to TPSGC.SIC-ISC.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca no later than ten calendar days before the Challenge Notice closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered. For general ISC information, Bidders can visit the ISC website.