High performance ion mobility spectrometer

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: 
Excellims Corporation
20 Main Street
Acton Massachusetts
United States
01720
Nature of Requirements: 
High performance ion mobility spectrometer

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 Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has a requirement for
the supply of one (1) bench top standalone high performance ion
mobility spectrometer (IMS) capable of detecting trace
quantities (sensitive to nanogram quantities or better) of
narcotics and explosives with changeable ionization sources
(electrospray ionization and corona discharge ionization with
thermal desorber).

3.	Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities
(Minimum Essential Requirements) 
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities equipment meets the following requirements:
At a minimum, all of the following mandatory requirements must
be met:

1. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Item #	MANDATORY SPECIFICATION - DESCRIPTION
1.1	The instrument offered must be based on a proven drift tube
IMS technology, operating at atmospheric pressure and linear
electric field
1.2	The instrument must be capable of detecting narcotics and
explosives. The detector must be capable of operating in
positive polarity and in negative polarity. The user must be
able to change the polarity of the instrument.


2. SAMPLE INLET REQUIREMENTS
Item #	MANDATORY SPECIFICATION - DESCRIPTION
2.1	In order to broaden the number and types of materials to be
detected, including thermally sensitive and non-volatile
compounds, the sample inlet must be changeable between  a.	an
inlet for the introduction of liquid samples via a syringe
directly, with electrospray ionization source. The syringe must
be connected to the sample inlet in a simple lock mechanism,
without the need for tools such as wrenches.  b.	an inlet for
the introduction of swab samples via a thermal desorber, with
corona discharge ionization source. c.	an inlet for the
introduction of vapour samples via a gas port, with corona
discharge ionization source.
2.2	The connectors between the changeable sample inlets and the
ion mobility spectrometer must be included. 


3. INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENTS
Item #	MANDATORY SPECIFICATION - DESCRIPTION
3.1	The ion mobility spectrometer must have a minimum resolving
power of 60 for the analysis of explosives and drugs. The
resolving power is defined as the quotient of the drift time of
the analyte peak (explosives and drugs) over the peak width at
half height of the same analyte peak. 
3.2	The linear electric field must be established through a
series of conducting electrodes of decreasing electric
potential, in order to minimize troubleshooting and maintenance
time. Drift tube comprised of conductive glass tube with surface
resistance is not acceptable.    
3.3	The user must be able to vary the settings of the following
operating parameters: a.	Operating temperatures of the ion
mobility drift tube and of the thermal desorber b.	Voltages and
polarities of the ion mobility drift tube and of the
electrospray ionization source c.	The pulse width of the ion
gate d.	The scan time of each ion mobility spectrum
3.4	The instrument must operate on ambient air, with no
requirement for bottled gases.
3.5	The instrument shall be used as a pre-screening tool. As
such, a one-stage separation by IMS. No secondary separation or
pre-separation. 
3.6	Universal ion detector, such as Faraday plate. Bidder must
provide information on the type of detector employed in the
equipment. 
3.7	The user must be able to program the instrument to detect
and correctly identify a minimum of twenty (20) additional
substances in positive polarity and in negative polarity.  


4. PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Item #	MANDATORY SPECIFICATION - DESCRIPTION
4.1	The instrument must operate effectively within a temperature
range of 0°C to 40°C.
4.2	The instrument must operate at the power supply of 110 volt
AC, 50-60 Hz.  
4.3	The detector must weigh less than 25 kg.
4.4	Because of the restriction in bench space on the mobile
laboratory, the size of the instrument must not exceed 50 cm ´
50 cm ´ 50 cm.
4.5	The instrument must come with a carrying case suitable for
damage-free shipping of the unit and with a reasonable amount of
space to store consumables and maintenance items.


5. COMPUTER SYSTEM
Item #	MANDATORY SPECIFICATION - DESCRIPTION
5.1	The operating parameters of the instrument must be
accessible through the instrument software, without requiring
the use of an external computer.  
5.2	The computer system must employ a hard drive with a capacity
sufficient to store all data for a minimum of 10,000 samples.
5.3	When the maximum capacity of the file storage area is
approached, the instrument must display a corresponding
informative status message, and remain functional. The
administrator must have the option to overwrite existing data
files, or to save and delete existing data files.
5.4	The saved data files must include individual data points of
drift time versus signal intensity. 
5.5	The data must be saved in a format that is compatible with
data plotting software such as Microsoft Excel, Sigma Plot, or
Igor. 
5.6	Data transfer must be possible through high speed USB port
or serial port, without the need of special computer
configuration.  


4.	Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement 

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

5.	Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

We have identified the GA2100 Electrospray Ionization High
Performance Ion Mobility Spectrometer manufactured by Excellims
Corporation as the only viable instrument that can meet all the
required technical specifications.

6.	Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s) 

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

7.	Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons 

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are
invoked under the
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506 - 12b. 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016 - 2b.

8.	Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The equipment must be delivered by March 31, 2014.

9.	Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

Excellims Corporation
20 Main Street
Acton, MA, 01720, USA

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 September 25, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

12.	Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities 

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Anne Caron
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Acquisitions Branch
Commercial Consumer Products Directorate
11 Laurier Street, 6A2, Phase III
Place du Portage, Hull, Quebec, K1A 0S5

Telephone: 	(819)  956-3874
Facsimile: 	(819)  956-3814
E-mail address:  anne.caron@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.