Underwater Video Plankton Recorder

Trade Agreement: NAFTA / CFTA / FTAs with Peru / Colombia / Panama / Korea
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
SEASCAN INC.
348 Gifford Street
UNIT E
Falmouth Massachusetts
United States
Nature of Requirements: 



1.  Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) for an Underwater Video Plankton Recorder.



2.  Definition of the requirement
 
Foraging habitats of the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale are characterized by high concentrations of Calanus copepods (i.e., an abundant type of zooplankton) in near-surface and deep water. To characterize and understand the formation of these high-concentration areas requires an instrument that can measure fine-scale spatial distributions of copepods in-situ and characterize their environmental context. Such an instrument must provide both adequate image resolution to differentiate Calanus (large, dominant copepods) at the genus level and adequate volume sampled to detect copepods at moderate concentrations. Plankton imagers, which are essentially underwater microscopes, trade off image resolution with volume sampled (i.e., taxonomic resolution vs. detection limit), resulting in a limited range of suitable designs. To understand the influence of the ocean environment on copepod distributions, depth-specific measurements of water properties such as temperature, salinity, fluorescence (a proxy for phytoplankton biomass) and turbidity must be made simultaneous with the plankton observations. To facilitate analysis of small-scale plankton-environment relationships and reduce the risk of misaligning the two data streams during post-hoc integration, plankton imager design should integrate both plankton and environmental observations, either in a common data stream or by associating them with a common metadata stream. 
To support a broad range of sampling opportunities, the plankton imager should be easy to use on a variety of different sampling platforms, including small platforms without a dedicated winch and conducting cable for the plankton imager. In practice, this means that the imager should be designed for autonomous use: equipped with battery power and an on-board processor and digital storage designed to log data for later download. Plankton imagers are generally developed by academic research groups. Although designs and research results have been published for several plankton imagers, few are developed to a commercial level for purchase and “off-the-shelf” use. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Maritimes Region, does not have such an instrument in its inventory and is seeking a Digital Autonomous Video Plankton Recorder (DAVPR) instrument. 

 
Mandatory Specifications for a Digital Autonomous Video Plankton Recorder

1. Instrument must be fully functional and ready for use upon delivery.  
2. Images are to be taken in undisturbed water using strobe illumination and area scan camera.
3. Images require resolution of 30 µm per pixel or higher resolution, and system must have a detection limit of 0.5 individuals per litre or less. The stated combination of image resolution and detection limit is suitable for imaging Calanus copepod (size ca. 2-5 mm) aggregations. 
4. Variable magnification is required to provide the flexibility to qualify taxa of different sizes.
5. Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) and fluorescence and turbidity sensors integrated into instrument operation.
6. Autonomous operation on battery power. Battery life of at least 4 hours is required.
7. Hard drive capacity to store image and associated data collected continuously for at least 4 hours. 
8. Data stream managed by on-board processer integrating image data with date, time, and oceanographic data. 
9. Instrument frame design suitable for both underway profiling (tow-yo) and stationary profiling deployment modes.
10. Depth rated to 1000 m.
11. Temperature rating -10 to 45 degrees C.
12. Weight of DAVPR and frame less than 150 kg in air.
13. The equipment must be new.


3.  Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities 
(Minimum Essential Requirements)
 
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its system meets the following requirements: 


1. Instrument must be fully functional and ready for use upon delivery. 
2. Images are to be taken in -
a. undisturbed water using strobe illumination and area scan camera.
3. Images require resolution of -
a. 30 µm per pixel or higher resolution, and 
b. system must have a detection limit of 0.5 individuals per litre or less. 
c. The stated combination of image resolution and detection limit is suitable for imaging Calanus copepod (size ca. 2-5 mm) aggregations. 
4. Variable magnification is required to provide the flexibility to qualify taxa of different sizes.
5. Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) and fluorescence and turbidity sensors integrated into instrument operation.
6. Autonomous operation on battery power, and
a. Battery life of at least 4 hours is required.
7. Hard drive capacity to store image and associated data collected continuously for at least 4 hours. 
8. Data stream managed by on-board processer integrating image data with date, time, and oceanographic data. 
9. Instrument frame design suitable for both underway profiling (tow-yo) and stationary profiling deployment modes.
10. Depth rated to 1000 m.
11. Temperature rating -10 to 45 degrees C.
12. Weight of DAVPR and frame less than 150 kg in air.
13. The equipment must be new.


4.  Applicability of the trade agreements to the procurement 

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements: 
-Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
-North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)


5.  Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

Seascan Inc. is the only known supplier as identified by the client that can supply the item identified above and that this company specializes in oceanographic imaging equipment.
   

6.  Government Contracts Regulations Exceptions 

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under Part 1, Conditions of Contract Entry, Bids, Section 6, Subsection (d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".


7.  Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
 
As stated in the PWGSC Supply Manual, Chapter 3, and Annex 3.2 -   Limited Tendering reasons contained in the trade agreements

The following exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the 
-Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513.1(b) (iii)
-North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016.2(b)

According to Article 513 CFTA - Limited Tendering Paragraph 2 (b) (iii)
if the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute goods or services exist for any of the following reasons: 
1.1.1. due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;

According to Article 1016 of NAFTA:  Limited tendering, sub para 2(b) -
Where, for works of art, or for reasons connected with 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 a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.


8.  Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The system must be delivered on or before 20 weeks after Contract award.
 
 
9.  Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Seascan Inc.
348 Gifford Street 
Unit E, Falmouth, MA 02540.

10.  Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

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


11.  Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is July 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. AST.


12.  Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Valerie Matheson, Supply Officer
Public Services and Procurement Canada, Acquisitions 
Government of Canada
1713 Bedford Row
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1T3
E-mail: valerie.matheson@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
Tel:  (902) 403-6236

13.  Delivery location

Fisheries and Oceans
Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
1 Challenger Drive
Dartmouth, NS   B2Y 4A2

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.



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.