Automated Lab Reactor (ALR) system

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/CFTA/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Lowest/Lower Bid
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

Automated Lab Reactor (ALR) system
23240-180380/A

The Natural Resources Canada has a requirement for the supply of one (1) Automated Laboratory Reactor (ALR) System including the reactor, dosing unit(s), which must meet all of the mandatory technical requirements as specified below and the mandatory evaluation criteria in accordance with the mandatory specifications detailed in Annex A for a delivery to Ottawa, Ontario. 

General:

The ALR system, including the reactor, dosing unit(s), control devices and data acquisition and control software must be manufactured, supplied and serviced by a single, ISO 9001 certified vendor; 

Technical Specifications: 

The ALR system must be capable of remote operation using a dedicated control module or a networked computer equipped with system control and data acquisition software; 

The ALR system, excluding the control module and networked computer, must be portable and sized to adequately fit within a 122-cm wide fume hood with internal hood dimensions of 87 cm (h) X 100 cm (w) X 55 cm (d); 

The ALR system must operate on a 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz power supply. The ALR system must be approved by an accredited certification or evaluation agency for electrical safety according to the requirements of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. 

The ALR system must be capable of operating over a minimum temperature range of -40 °C to +180 °C and must be able to control the reactor jacket temperature with an accuracy of at least ± 0.1 °C.  

The ALR system must allow multiple modes of temperature control, i.e., via jacket temperature, reaction mass temperature or by distillation control mode. The ALR system must also allow temperature ramping by rate, duration or by exponential

The ALR system must allow for the continuous monitoring of the temperature difference between the jacket and the reaction mass. 

The ALR system must be capable of accepting reactors with volumes ranging from at least 250 mL to 500 mL. The vendor must provide 250 mL and 500 mL, two-piece reactors composed primarily of borosilicate glass with the ALR system. 

The ALR housing must allow an illuminated and unobstructed view of the reactor contents and stirring during experiments.  

The ALR system must include a chemically resistant temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the reaction mass over a temperature range of -40 °C to +200 °C. 

The ALR system must include a pH electrode and cable for measuring the pH of the reaction mass.  The ALR system must allow for the use of pH as a means of controlling the addition of reagent from a dosing unit. 

The ALR system must be capable of controlling optional, in-situ spectroscopy and particle-size analysis accessories. 

The ALR system must include at least one programmable, syringe-based dosing unit, which is fully controllable by the dedicated control module or the system data station. The ALR system should be capable of controlling a minimum of four syringe-based dosing units. 

The ALR system must be equipped with appropriate connections to enable the purging of the reactor headspace with an inert gas.  Purging of the system with dry air or nitrogen to eliminate icing of the internal components must also be possible. 

The ALR system must include an overhead stirring unit. The speed of stirring must be adjustable over the minimum range of 30 rpm to 1,200 rpm with a minimum accuracy of ± 5 rpm. The overhead stirrer must be able to accommodate a variety of stirrer types.  The ALR system must continuously monitor and display qualitative stirrer torque indicators on the dedicated control module or the system data station. The vendor must provide chemically resistant stirring shafts and blades that are compatible with 250 mL and 500 mL reactors. 

The ALR system must enable fully independent control of the reaction parameters, such as heating, cooling, stirring, dosing of reagent(s) and pH, via the dedicated control module or the system data station. The ALR system must also continuously monitor and save reaction data, which must be downloadable via a USB stick or via an Ethernet connection to a computer. 

The control module must be capable of the following:

-Control of all reaction parameters;
-Configuration and control of system devices and sub devices;
-Pre-programming of reaction steps and safety control limits to enable unattended operation of the ALR system; 
-Graphically display of monitored reaction parameters;
-Connection to a data station (PC) with bi-directional communication between control module and the PC control software;

The vendor must provide a MS Windows 7 compatible (32-bit and 64-bit) software package which has the following minimum features 

-Bi-directional communication between the PC and the ALR system control module;
-Interactive user interface for control of ALR system components;
-Ability to pre-program and save multi-step reaction methods;
-Graphical display of monitored reaction parameters;
-Ability to export acquired experimental data to office productivity software packages, such as MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;

The vendor must also provide a software maintenance package, which includes the provision of software updates to the latest version, for a minimum of two years. 

The vendor must provide on-site installation of the ALR system according to factory procedures and must include a verification of ALR system operational performance and basic training on the use of ALR system. 

The vendor must provide a minimum of two years of preventative maintenance service for the ALR system.


Gauthier, Martin
Telephone No. - (613) 404-8642
Fax No. - (819) 956-3814
Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.