industrial bioprocessing ecosystem and bioproduct manufacturing sector in Nova Scotia

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 1.0 Definition of the requirement The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is undertaking a study to assess the growth potential for a world-class industrial bioprocessing ecosystem and bioproduct manufacturing sector in Nova Scotia to tap into the global demand for sustainable products and environmentally friendly ingredients. The work will involve the following: The purpose of this project is to study and identify national and global market demand, existing international, national and regional bioprocessing infrastructure, national and provincial policy landscapes, and regional innovation ecosystem gaps that must be addressed to help support biotechnology startup companies and SMEs requiring industrial bioprocessing infrastructure and expertise (non-pharma) in their efforts to commercialize existing biotechnologies in a cost-effective and timely manner. The work will also provide a comprehensive jurisdictional scan that will outline global trends and market forces and document the current state of play of various industrial biotechnology ecosystems reliant on bioprocessing infrastructure and expertise in North America and Europe. An analysis that compares competitor ecosystems to what currently exists in the Nova Scotia ecosystem is also required as part of the comprehensive jurisdictional scan. The consultant will undertake the following pieces of work: Market demand and trends 1) Identify and quantify the global market demand and global trends for bioproducts and services requiring industrial bioprocessing as they impact startups and SMEs (including but not limited to North America, UK, Europe, China and India). 2) Identify and quantify the Canadian market demand and trends for bioproducts and services requiring industrial bioprocessing. Infrastructure, Expertise and Ecosystem 3) Identify existing national and regional bioprocessing infrastructure and expertise, including the policy landscape and innovation ecosystem supports available to industrial biotechnology SMEs. This work will include taking stock of all assistance available from incubators, accelerators, and other stakeholders that provide financial and non-financial supports. 4) Identify regional innovation ecosystem gaps that exist and need addressing to help support startup companies and SMEs in their efforts to develop and commercialize biotechnologies in a cost-effective and timely manner. 5) Identify the factors and assets necessary for competitive advantage in industrial biotechnologies from an ecosystem and SME perspective. State of Play 6) Conduct a jurisdictional scan that provides the Canadian, North American, UK, European and global (including but not limited to: China and India) state of play for industrial biotechnology ecosystems requiring bioprocessing infrastructure and expertise and compare them to the Verschuren Centre, its future plans and the ecosystem more broadly in Nova Scotia. 7) Assess the feasibility and likelihood of firms establishing their manufacturing operations and/or deploying their research and development piloting or precommercial teams in Atlantic Canada in the medium term (5-10 years) related to the bioprocessing and bioengineering of bioproducts. Also, examine the potential for the development of production facilities in Atlantic Canada in the long term. 8) Describe the necessary assets and factors required for a growing, competitive, and self-sustaining industrial biotechnology sector from a long-term (10+ years) perspective. 9) Provide an analysis of the attributes needed in the ecosystem to sustain a talent pipeline and identify opportunities and challenges that the local ecosystem may face in sourcing, retaining HQPs (scientists, engineers, and researchers) once the SMEs successfully move to the next stage of commercialization. 1.5 Project Deliverables: PHASE 1: Key Activities: • Prepare for and conduct project launch meeting to discuss project initiation document expectations (e.g., status reporting practices, final report), methodology, timelines, and project work plan • Update and finalize project initiation document • Plan jurisdictional scan • Plan for current state research, including engagement opportunities\ • Develop report outline Deliverables: Project Initiation Document, Report Outline PHASE 2: Key Activities: • Validate current state plan, including jurisdictional scan and understanding of Nova Scotia context • Complete jurisdictional scan to understand international and national trends and demand • Review Nova Scotia context and identify opportunities and gaps • Identify and validate key areas of interest to engage SMEs • Engage with relevant organizations and SMEs (e.g., current cohort within Verschuren Centre) • Submit internal draft report for feedback Deliverables: Draft Report Phase 3: Key Activities: • Review information gathered throughout current state • Conduct feasibility assessment and opportunities for growth on five to ten and ten+ year timeline • Identify attributes needed to sustain growth • Collate into final report and recommendations • Present report and recommendations for feedback • Update and submit final report and recommendations based on feedback received • Conduct debrief Deliverables: Final Report & Recommendations, Final PowerPoint, Presentation of Final Report & PowerPoint 2.0 Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements) Experience: • A minimum of 10 years of experience of project management using a multi-disciplinary team that include a strong mix of technical, economic, strategy and consulting skills, to deliver complex projects that focus on providing innovative solutions to support economic/social development in Atlantic Canada. • A minimum of 10 years experience providing customized reports that provide complex analysis and recommendations to government to inform strategic planning in emerging fields. • A minimum of 10 years experience gathering and interpreting data through both targeted primary data collection, as well as secondary level analysis of existing research and datasets. Knowledge and Understanding: • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of economic research methods (including data collection and analysis) to assess competitive positioning and opportunities (including global and national demand, ecosystem gaps as well as relevant trends) that directly impact a specific economic ecosystem in Atlantic Canada. • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the unique policy landscape (federal, provincial, private sector) for an emerging sector. • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of working with multiple stakeholders (both private and public) on collaborative projects. Academic Qualifications: • The bidder (or a dedicated resource to the project) must possess a graduate level degree in a field relevant to project (e.g., business administration, public policy, economics). • The bidder (or a dedicated resource to the project) must possess an undergraduate level degree related to bioprocessing (e.g., chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, bioprocessing engineering). 3.0 Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier The content of the study, is the only content that contains the depth of analysis and regional expertise to meet our operational requirements. Furthermore, the content provided by the Contractor is the only content that can be obtained within the required timeframe to support decision making directly connected to ACOA’s mandatory operational requirements. The firm’s knowledge of Nova Scotia industry; internal experts experienced at conducting primary data collection in Nova Scotia; interdisciplinary team capable of providing dynamic policy analysis and options; and existing networks will allow the project to be completed more quickly and at a lower cost than engaging a different consultant Another consultant would be unable to provide the depth of analysis relevant to opportunities for remote working in Nova Scotia without conducting extensive, costly and time-consuming research and analysis. The available consultant has a unique combination of knowledge, specialized analytical capacity and a well-developed network that would be very difficult to duplicate within a reasonable timeframe and for a reasonable cost. 4.0 Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s) The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) where only one person is capable of performing the contract. 5.0 Period of the proposed contract or delivery date The proposed contract is for a period of approximately 3 months, from December 27, 2022 to March 31,2023 6.0 Cost estimate of the proposed contract The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $86,800.00 (GST/HST extra). 7.0 Name and address of the pre-identified supplier Davis Pier Consulting 1496 Lower Water Street, Suite 430 Halifax, NS B3J 1R9 8.0 Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN 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. 9.0 Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is December 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. AST. 10.0 Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: Gary LeBlanc, Contracting for Services Officer Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency tenders-soumissions@acoa-apeca.gc.ca Telephone: 902-497-0850