Mouse cage racks

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: 
Animal Care Systems
7086 S Revere Parkway
Centennial Colorado
United States
80112
Nature of Requirements: 

Mouse Cage Racks

39903-170659/A
Quinn, Laurie
Telephone No. - (873) 469-3184
Fax No. - (819) 956-3814

1.Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) 

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intendsto 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 thatmeets 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 Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Ottawa Laboratory, Fallowfield (OLF) has a requirement for the supply of two mouse cage rack assemblies (MCRAs).

3.Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements) 

Any interested supplier mustdemonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its MCRAs meet the following requirements: 
-Must provide complete bio-containment and isolation housing for mice and are able to prevent cage to cage and rack to rack cross-contamination;
-Must operate under negative pressure with no motors or blowers attached to MCRAs for ventilation of mouse cages and minimizing noise and vibration;
-Must contain at least 80 mouse cages per rack and fit in 1.1 m by 1.1 m footprint;
-Cage must be individuallyequipped with an external water bottle. 

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

The MCRAs have the following unique technical features not available through other vendors which are required for the CFAI, OLF 

- Must provide complete bio-containment and isolation housing for mice and are able to prevent cage to cage and rack to rack cross-contamination;

The MCRAs will be used for housing mice for a gut microbiome study. Complete bio-containment and no cage to cage and rack to rack cross-contamination is essential for the CFIA study, which mice in each cage will be subjected to various microbial challenges.  

- Must operate under negative pressure with no motors or blowers attached to MCRAs for ventilation of mouse cages and minimizing noise and vibration;

CFIA requires the MCRAs to be vented under negative pressure by the building HVAC system without the usage of blowers or fans to minimize noise and vibration, which could have negative impacts on mice in their study. 

- Must contain at least 80 mouse cages perrack and fit in 1.1 m by 1.1 m footprint; 

CFIA requires high density MCRAs (at least 80 cages per rack) that can fit in small areas (1.1 m by 1.1 m each) in their animal colony.

- Cages must be individually equipped with an external water bottle.

CFIA requires that each cage be equipped with an external water bottle so that they have control over feeding the mice in each cage with various microorganisms and drugs through drinking water without opening the cage.

6.Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s) 

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under 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 section of the trade agreement(s) specified:

Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article(s) 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) - Article(s) 1016 2.(b) where for works of art, or for reasons connected with the protectionof 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.

8.Ownership of Intellectual Property

Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.

9.Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The equipment is requestedto be delivered by December 2, 2016.

10.Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract, including options is $29,898.69US (GST/HST extra). 

11.Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

Name: Animal Care Systems
Address: 7086 S. Revere Parkway, Centennial, CO 80112

12.Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities 

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services describedin 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 advertisedrequirements.

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

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is October 13, 2016 

14.Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities 

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Laurie Quinn, Supply Specialist 
Scientific, Medical and Photographic Division
Commercial and Consumer Products Directorate
6A2 (36) Place du Portage, Phase III
11 rue Laurier, Gatineau Quebec K1A 0S5
Telephone: 873-469-3184
Facsimile: 819-956-3824


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.