Development of plant-produced enzymes and antibodies

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited
to bid
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives
Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
University of Guelph
Prof. JC Hall
Rm 2225 EC Bovey Bldg
Dept. of Environmental Biology
University of Guelph
Guelph Ontario
Canada
N1G2W1
Nature of Requirements: 
Title:  Development of plant-produced enzymes and antibodies.   

1. Advance Contract Award Notice
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. Definition of Requirement
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) - Suffield,
Medicine Hat, Alberta has a requirement for a Contractor to
develop a tobacco expression platform that produces proteins
with humanized glycolsylation patterns; produce plant-derived
recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase (and/or additional
enzymes) in this improved tobacco expression system; provide
technical expertise on the design of conjugates for development
of specific antibody response to small molecules in immunized
animals and to generate, express, purify and produce small
molecule specific antibodies.

Due to the nature of this work it is expected that there may be
follow-on contracts.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

a) a PhD in a natural science. 
b) experience with hapten conjugate design.
c) experience developing high affinity hapten-specific
antibodies.
d) experience in recombinant antibody technology, generating
recombinant antibody libraries and developing anti-hapten
antibodies using recombinant antibody techniques.
e) experience producing recombinant proteins, antibodies and
antibody fragments in tobacco plants.
f) experience producing anti-hapten antibodies or anti-hapten
antibody fragments in tobacco.

4. Applicability of Trade Agreements
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

5.  Justification for Pre-Identified Supplier
The proposed sole source contract focuses on the investigation
linked to a previous procurement and strategy for pursuing
protein production in tobacco, and development of small molecule
specific antibodies in a collaboration of DRDC Suffield and
University of Guelph. The previous procurement was tendered 
recently openly and competitvely and awarded to Dr J.
Christopher Hall of University of Guelph (W7702-115040/001/EDM
issued 2010-08-31). 

For this open-competitive contract, Dr J. Christopher Hall of
University of Guelph was the only bidder due to the extensive
experience in both of the required fields (protein production in
tobacco, and development of small molecule specific antibodies)
This contractor also has rights to a line of genetically
engineered tobacco for the production of therapeutic proteins
for improved human tolerability over other plant expression
systems available.  These techniques and expertise will be used
in the current contract and the information is crucial for
correlating features of the subject of matter.  The current
procurement will seek to build on previous R&D work and improve
the production efficiency and human tolerability characteristics
of the plant-made proteins developed in the previous contract
W7702-115040/001/EDM.  Additionally, this current procurement is
associated with a DRDC Technology Investment Fund (TIF) award in
which the external collaborator was identified and rational for
participation is required.  Their previous work under
W7702-115040/001/EDM  will be the basis for continuing R&D
efforts in this new contract funded by DRDC's TIF.


6.  Government Contracts Regulations Exception
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 section of the trade agreement specified:

Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Limited Tendering under
Article 506, #12 b and h.

8.  Ownership of Intellectual Property
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) has determined
that any intellectual property arising from this contract will
vest in Canada. DRDC is exempted from the Treasury Board "Policy
on Title to Intellectual Property Arising Under Crown
Procurement Contracts" approved 1 June 2000.

9.  The Period of the Proposed Contract
The proposed contract is from date of award to March 31, 2015
inclusive.

10.  The Estimated Cost of the Proposed Contract
The estimated value of the contract, is $530,000.00 (GST
included).

11.  Name and Address of the Pre-Identified Supplier:
University of Guelph
School of Environmental Science
Guelph ON 
Attention:  Dr J. Christopher Hall

12.  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 requirement.

13.  The Closing Date and Time for Accepting Statements of
Capabilities
2:00 MDST October 24, 2012

14.  Inquiries and Submission of Statement of Capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Jasmine Scott, Supply Specialist
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Telus Plaza North
5th Floor 10025 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB   T1J 1S5

Telephone:780-497-3578
Facsimile: 780-497-3510
E-mail: jasmine.scott@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

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.