Automated vial labeller/printer

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama
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: 
Scinomix Inc
4069 Wedgeway Court
Earth City Missouri
United States
63045-1213
Nature of Requirements: 

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. Definition of the requirement 

The National Research Council (NRC) wishes, as part of its research projects in the fields of Human Health Therapeutics (HHT), to automate the labeling and filling of different types of tubes to support its biologics program. This project will help NRC satisfy increasing demands for sample management of proteins, clonal cells, bacteria and viruses. The project consists of implementing a newautomated Sci-PrintVX2 printer/labeler, capper/decapper and bulk dispenser from the company Scinomix Inc. that is compatible with different sizes of tubes. This will result in an increase in productivity, efficiency and decrease manual labor. The work consists of supply, delivery, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of the system and installation at the NRC address and training on equipment use; all equipment must be delivered by March 31, 2017.

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: 

I. Must have a capacity for at least 6 x 96 Matrix tube racks, 96 x 15mL Corning tubes and 48 x 50mL Corning tubes and cherry pick tubes from these racks and place them in a different destination rack

II. Must have a camera based optical scanner to read 2D barcodes on Matrix and Micronic tubes before printing text and 1D/2D barcodes with a thermal 600 dpi printer and apply labels on tubes

III. Must have the ability to uncap, non-contact bulk dispense volume between 0.1 to 50mL, recap (using same cap), print and apply labels on all of the following tubes in unattended mode:

a. 0.5, 1.0 and 5mL Matrix 2D barcoded tubes
b. 1.5mL and 2.0mL Sarstedt tubes
c. 2.0mL cryovials
d. 15mL Corning, Falcon or Sarstedt tubes
e. 50mL Corning, Falcon or Sarstedt tubes

IV. Must have a safety enclosure with a locking system when in run mode, an Emergency stop and HEPA filtration system.

V. Must have its own software to configure labware (rack and tubes) and labels with a real-time user interface and an Application Programmable Interface (API)

4. Applicability of the trade agreements to the procurement 

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements: 
- Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

The Sci-Print VX2, from the company Scinomix Inc. has the following unique technical features not available through other vendors which are required for automating the labeling and filling of tubes. 

I. Must have a capacity for at least 6 x 96 Matrix tube racks, 96 x 15mL Corning tubes and 48 x 50mL Corning tubes and cherry pick tubes from these racks and place them in a different destination rack

Proteins, cells or other biological samples are produced in different quantities up to 5L and must be aliquoted at different volumes in different tube type. For this reason, we require that the unit has a capacity for large amount of different tube types such that we can aliquot them continuously in different volume in unattended mode. In addition, tubes must be picked randomly based on a worklist and rearranged in a specific order in a different rack to be distributed to other teams.

II. Must have a camera based optical scanner to read 2D barcodes on Matrix and Micronic tubes before printing and applying labels containingtext and 1D/2D barcodes from information found in a database using a thermal 600 dpi printer

Our samples are stored at -80°C or in liquid nitrogen in Matrix or Micronic 2D barcoded tubes. It is important to associate the container barcode with its content in our database. In addition, these tubes must have a 1D barcode printed on them corresponding to the sample name. For these reasons, we require a 2D optical scanner in order to read container barcodes and a thermal printer with good resolution forlabels that can resist low temperature with precise and readable barcodes.

III. Must have the ability to uncap, non-contact bulk dispense volume between 0.1 to 50mL, recap (using same cap), print and apply labels on all of the following tubes in unattended mode:

a. 0.5, 1.0 and 5mL Matrix or Micronic 2D barcoded tubes
b. 1.5mL and 2.0mL Sarstedt tubes
c. 2.0mL cryovials
d. 15mL Corning, Falcon or Sarstedt tubes
e. 50mL Corning, Falcon or Sarstedt tubes

As mentioned in (I.), samples are aliquoted in different tube format. The most common tubes used at our facility are:

a. 0.5, 1.0 and 5mL Matrix or Micronic 2D barcoded tubes
b. 1.5mL and 2.0mL Sarstedt tubes
c. 2.0mL cryovials
d. 15mL Corning, Falcon or Sarstedt tubes
e. 50mL Corning, Falcon or Sarstedt tubes

Since we are interested in automating and replicating the manual procedure, then we require the instrument to uncap one of these tubes, add reagent up to 50mL with increment of 0.1mL, recap the tubes with its original cap to decrease waste and cost and then print and apply a label on all tube types described above in a continuous fashion without human intervention.

IV. Must have a safety enclosure with a locking system when in run mode, an Emergency stop and HEPA filtration system.

Most of our samples must be kept sterile. In addition, safety of our employees is critical. For these reason, the unit must be enclosed in a safety enclosure with a HEPA filtration unit to maintain samples sterile and avoid anyone from placing their hands within a moving part. In case of an incident, an E-stop must be in vicinity of the instrument to shut down the unit immediately.

V. Must have its own software to configure labware (rack and tubes) and labels with a real-timeuser interface and an Application Programmable Interface (API).

Other groups are using different type of tubes yet determined. To expand the service to other teams, it is important that the unit has an easy approach to configure new racks and tubes. For this reason, we require that the unit has its own software with a user interface enabling us to configure new labware or make adjustments to current labware. In addition, while the system is running, the user must be able to know what is happening inreal time such that he can intervene if the operation is not adequate. Finally, we wish to integrate the labeler into our LIMS and/or our current robotic platform such that we can streamline our process and decrease transcription errors by obtaining information directly from our database.


6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - only one firm is capable of performing the contract. 

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons 

The following exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the: 
- Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506.12(a)
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) -Article 1016.2(b)

8. Delivery Date

- The system must be delivered by March 31, 2017.

9. Cost estimate of the proposed contract 

The estimated value of the contract is $70,975.33 USD. 

10. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

Scinomix
4069 Wedgeway Ct.
Earth City, MO 63045
USA

11. 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 maysubmit 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.

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

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is October 27, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. (EST).

13. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities 

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Cassandra Shannahan
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Acquisitions Branch
Commercial and Consumer Products Directorate
11 Laurier Street, 6A2, Phase III
Place du Portage, Gatineau, Québec, K1A 0S5

Telephone: (819) 420-1068
Facsimile:  (819) 956-3814
E-mail address: cassandra.shannahan@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.