SS Vectra 2.0 automated microscope

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/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: 
Perkinelmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc.
501 Rowntree Dairy Road
Unit #6
Woodbridge Ontario
Canada
L4L8H1
Nature of Requirements: 

SS Vectra 2.0 automated microscope

H4074-151832/A
Hooper, Marlyn
Telephone No. - (613) 219-8478 
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 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 Immunohistochemistry Lab in Regulatory Toxicology Research Division (RTRD) in the Food Directorate (FD), HPFB has a requirement for the supply and installation of one (1) SS Vectra 2.0 automated microscope system with multispectral imaging capability, with on-site training for up to four (4) users.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities  

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product/equipment/system (as appropriate) meets the following requirements:

(a) Specifications:
• Tissue formats: Tissue microarrays (TMAs) and tissue sections
• Spectral Range: 420 - 720 nm (tunable)
• Throughput for Tissue Sections: Whole slide at 4x: 90 sec per 1.5 x 1.5 cm area, Survey-and-drill: 4 to 10 min per slide
• Throughput for TMAs: 5 cores per min
• Modality: Brightfield and Fluorescence (multispectral or color) Automation. The current requirement is for a single-slide version with the capacity to run six slides per run, but with an option for a future upgrade to a fully automated walk-away acquisition and analysis of up to 200 slides per run.
• Multiplexing Capability: Separates up to 8 markers (including autofluorescence) even if overlapping
• Image Analysis Software (inForm): Intuitive learn-by-example interface to automatically segment and quantitate tissue structures, cells and sub-cellular signatures
• Magnification: 4x and 20x (40x optional)
• File Format: Monochrome or color images (JPEG, single-layer TIFF, BMP, PNG), PerkinElmer Multispectral Images (.im3, .im4)
• Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 7 64-bit
• Computer: Dual Quad-Core processors with 1 Terabyte for data storage

(b) This system accurately measures protein expressions and morphometric characteristics in distinct tissue regions of interest in tissue sections or on whole slides. Sections labeled with either immunofluorescent (IF) or immunohistochemical (IHC) stains, or with conventional stains such as H&E and trichrome can be analysed. With IF or IHC, single or multiple proteins can be measured on a per-tissue, per-cell, and per-cell-compartment (eg. nuclear, cytoplasmic) basis, even if those signals are spectrally similar, are in the same cell compartment or are obscured by autofluorescence. Per-cellmultiparameter data from one or more cell compartments can be extracted to generate tissue-based cytometric analysis similar to that generated with flow cytometry.

(c) This system has the capacity to be programmed to suit our requirments with a choice of flexible array of scanning options, including pattern-recognition guided field selection and/or whole slide analysis. It can analyze every spot in a Tissue Micro Array (TMA). The system is well-suited to conventional dyes such as H&E or Masson’s Trichrome, or IHC stains such as DAB.

(d) The software can be trained through a simple learn-by example interface, teaching the system to locate tissue regions automatically. Often only a handful of representative images are required for training. Automated acquisition from multiple slides in a batch run involves 4x whole slide scans followed by high-magnification 20x imaging of only regions-of-interest. This approach greatly reduces acquisition and analysis time and makes the most efficient use of harddisk storage space. 

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)
World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The only known supplier of SS Vectra 2.0 automated microscope system with multispectral imaging capability meeting all the above required technical specifications is Perkin Elmer Health Sciences Canada Inc.  For this reason, it is proposed to negotiate this requirement with Perkin Elmer Health Sciences Canada Inc.

6. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s)and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:

World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) - Article XV (b)
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506 12(b)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016.2(b) 

7. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The final delivery of the equipment must be on March 31, 2016.

8. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

PerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc.
501 Rowntree Dairy Road
Unit #6
Woodbridge, Ontario
L4L8H1
Canada

9. 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 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.

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

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is January 18, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

11. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Marlyn Hooper
Supply Specialist
Public Works and Government Services Canada 
Scientific, Medical and Photographic Division - PV 
Portage III - Floor: 6A2 - Room: 81  
11 Laurier Street  
Gatineau, Quebec 
Canada
K1A 0S5
 
Telephone:    613-219-8478
Facsimile:     819-956-3814
E-mail:  marlyn.hooper@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.