Droplet Digital PCR System

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited
to bid
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
RainDance Technologies Inc
749 Middlesex Turnpike
Billerica Massachusetts
United States
01821
Nature of Requirements: 
Droplet Digital PCR System

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf
of National Research Council (NRC), intends to negotiate with.
for the provision of a Droplet Digital PCR System.

DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT

The National Research Council (NRC) requires the supply,
installation and training for a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)
system for analysis of genomic DNA, fresh frozen or FFPE DNA,
cDNA and various biomolecules found in clinical samples. This
system is required for discovery and/or validation of genetic
cancer markers in biological /clinical samples. This capability
is a component of the NRC program in Biologics and Subsequent
Entry Biologics.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES/SPECIFICATIONS

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

a ddPCR instrument that can produce at least 10 million droplets
from a single reaction volume of 50 microliter so that the
uncertainty associated with the assay is reduced to 0.53 -
0.17%. Table 1 provides the uncertainties associated with
various numbers of droplets in a ddPCR assay.  

Table 1. Uncertainty associated with assays using increasing
numbers of reactions (droplets), from the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, USA
# reactions /droplets	100	1,000	104	105	106	107	108
%Uncertainty		53.75	16.67	5.26	1.66	0.53	0.17	0.05


A ddPCR instrument that provides a dynamic range of at least 6
logs that can detect signals between 10 and 100,000 events, such
as those arising from various biomolecules that are found in
clinical samples, in a single reaction tube.

A ddPCR system that requires only one pipetting step while
loading a sample onto the instrument, reducing hands-on
technician time to reduce possible contamination, sample loss,
human error, and technician cost. Droplet generation (10
million) from a single reaction (50 ul) and PCR amplification in
the same reaction tube is required to eliminate technical
variables associated with multi-tube reaction.

A ddPCR system with a lower limit of detection of 1 in more than
1,000,000.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER

RainDance Technologies Inc. is the only known supplier that can
provide a ddPCR that meets all of the mandatory performance
specifications.

TRADE AGREEMENTS

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 following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are
invoked under the section of the trade agreement(s) specified:

Government on Internal Trade (AIT), Article 506-12(b) where
there is an absence of competition for technical reasons and the
goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier
and no alternative or substitute exists;

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1016.2(b) where,
for works of art, or for reasons connected with the protection
of patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights, or proprietary
information or where there is an absence of competition for
technical reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by
a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or
substitute exists;

DELIVERY DATE

The product/system/equipment (as appropriate) must be delivered
on March 31, 2014. FOB destination, to the National Research
Council, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada.

PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER

RainDance Technologies Inc.
749 Middlesex Turnpike
Billerica, MA 01821 

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 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.

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.

CONTRACTING OFFICER
Tanya Allen
tanya.allen@tpsgc-pwgsc.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.