Avian GPS Tags

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
Lotek Wireless Inc.
115 Pony Drive
Newmarket Ontario
Canada
L3Y7B5
Nature of Requirements: 

Avian GPS Tags

K4E21-171302/A
Hemy, Andrew
Telephone No. - (403) 292-4716 
Fax No. - (403) 292-5786 
Email: andrew.hemy@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca


Line 1, GSIN: N5820330, Avian GPS Tags, Quantity: 1, Unit of Issue: Each, Delivery Date: See Herein

1. 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. 

2. Requirement

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), has a requirement for the supply and delivery of Argos pinpoint GPS tags. The Argos pinpoint GPS tags are required to track the movements of Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis; required by CWS, Atlantic Region, Dartmouth, NS) and Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor; required by CWS, Prairie Region, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) in isolated areas.The GPS tags must have a long lasting functionality when exposed to harsh environments conditions and continue to record and transmit wildlife locations over extended periods of time and be capable of transmitting data via the Argos satellite system. 

ECCC requires Argos GPS tags to track movements and migration of both species where they occur in remote locations that preclude the use of other technologies not capable of transmitting locations via satellite.  ECCC is seeking satellite-linked GPS tags to further our understanding of Great Shearwater movement ecology and Common Nighthawk migration. Both species spend the majority of their time in extremely remote locations and there is no realistic likelihood of a significant number of recaptures; thus precluding the use of any related technologies that require recaptures to download logged data or technologies dependent on cell or other networks. In addition, tags must meet stringent criteria to allow ECCC to meet animal care guidelines (see below).

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of its client, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) , intends to enter into a Contract with Lotek Wireless Inc.  for the supply and delivery of avian GPS tacking tags meetingthespecifications below. 
Quantity, make and model required:

Ten (10) PinPoint GPS ArgosW120 (for use on Great Shearwater);
Twenty-five (25) PinPoint GPS Argos 75 (for use on Common Nighthawk);
One (1)  1x PinPoint Reader/Programmer/Charger 

3.Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services, or construction services described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writingtothe 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.

Minimum Essential Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its equipment meets the following requirements:

The GPS tags for Great Shearwater must:

a) Weigh less than 1.5% of Great Shearwater body mass (850-1000g), i.e. the tag must be  less than 12.75 grams; 
b) Have a robust antenna capable of preventing damage to the tag by this species;
c) Be waterproof and capable of operation in a marine environment to depths of at least 20m and must be pressure tested to withstand depths of at least50m;
d) Be capable of recording 2 GPS positions per day for at least 60 days;
e) Be capable of automated data retrieval of GPS locations via satellite;
f)  Be attachable to the bird using only tape.

The GPS tags for Common Nighthawk must:

a) Weigh less than 5% of Common Nighthawk body mass (~79g) , i.e. the tag must weigh less than 3.95 grams;
b) Be waterproof;
c) Be capable of recording 30 or more GPS positions spread over a whole migration (at least 1 year); 
d) Be programmable for customdata acquisition and transmittal schedules;
e) Be capable of automated data retrieval of GPS locations via satellite;

ECCC requests that all tags be delivered by March 31, 2017.

4. Applicability of the Trade Agreement(s) to the procurement 
 This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s):

 Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

To our knowledge, there are no alternative sources of supply for the same or equivalent goods for our needs for one study species (Common Nighthawk). Moreover, we must meet specific animal care guidelines and related legal requirements for animal welfare for both species; specifically, tags for Common Nighthawk (Threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act) must be <5% of body mass and Shearwater tags can only be attached with tape to feathers, thus requiring smaller tags than have previously been used (elsewhere) on Great Shearwaters (using sub-cutaneous sutures).   Battery powered satellite tags currently available weigh between 25-30g, which will not remain attached with tape.   Therefore we have identified the PinPoint-Argos W120 and the PinPoint GPS Argos 75 as the only tags suitable for the Great Shearwater and Common Nighthawk projects respectively based on: a) ability to transmit data through satellites, b) appropriate weights to meet animal care concerns, c) waterproof and durable for species of interest.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

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".

7. Exclusions and/ or Limited Tendering Reasons  

The following exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the: 
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT): 506.12 (b) 

8. Deliverables

Ten (10) PinPoint GPS ArgosW120;
Twenty-five (25) PinPoint GPS Argos 75;
One (1)  1x PinPoint Reader/Programmer/Charger 
  
All the deliverables are requested on or before March 31, 2017.

Estimated Value:   $ 74,205.00

9. Pre-identified Supplier:

Lotek Wireless Inc.
115 Pony Drive
Newmarket, Ontario  L3Y 7B5



Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award.  However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/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.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.