Sample manager (automation) for hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) research

Trade Agreement: NAFTA / CFTA / FTAs with Peru / Colombia / Panama / Korea
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: 
LEAP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PO BOX 969
CARRBORO North Carolina
United States
27510
Nature of Requirements: 

Sample manager (automation) for hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) research

31184-193707/A
O’Gorman, Cindy
Telephone No. - (819) 712-1748

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’s Mass Spectrometry (MS) facility requires the supply and delivery of one (1) stand-alone, custom sample manager (automation) for hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) research.
The workstation must manage conventional <> HDX-MS experimental workflows and to integrate with NRC’s existing infrastructure of chromatographic pumps and mass spectrometers.  A LEAP HDx-3 PAL system (sold as a stand-alone workstation without other equipment) from Trajan Scientific Americas, Inc otherwise known as LEAP Technologies that includes the following features is identified to meet all mandatory requirements.

- Temperature controlled valve and column chamber with independent solvent preconditioning (0°C to ambient)
- Two high performance temperature controlled chambers for label experiments and for quenching
- Capacity for up to 100 time points and up to 10 reagent reservoirs, both in temperature controlled chambers (0°C to ambient)
- Three ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) valves for efficient column switching and flushing protocols at pressures up to 15,000 psi.
- Two exchangeable syringe tools in the range of 10µL up to 100µL
- Cooled Syringe Option to control the temperature of the quenching syringe to within ±2°C of setpoint.
- Pepsin column chamber to provide independent temperature control of the pepsin column for optimal digestion efficiency (0°C to ambient and maintaining ± 2°C of the setpoint temperature).
- Syringe washing station with 2 solvent reservoirs 
- Chronos HDX control software with built-in integration to several HPLC and Mass Spectrometry control systems, including, but not limited to those from Waters, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent.
- The functionality to run concurrent exchange samples.
- Generate accurate time-stamped log files showing when exchange reactions were started and stopped.
- Mobile cart with locking wheels to facilitate movement of the HDX workstation between mass spectrometry platforms.
- HD Examiner, minimum version 2.0 - dedicated HDX-MS data analysis software, including 1 year of support and upgrades.

 
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: 

The workstation must be sold as a stand-alone system without other equipment.

The workstation must:

- Deliver, enable and support the functionality to automate all sample labelling and processing steps in a HDX-MS experiment and to do so in a customizable and time-efficient manner (i.e., scheduling all labelling and processing steps to minimize the length of the HDX-MS experiment by overlapping and randomization of samples). 
- Include control software that is compatible with HPLCs and mass spectrometers from most instrument manufacturers including, but not limited to Waters, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent.
- Generate real time experimental log files for accurate record keeping.
- Support user selectable exchange times from 30 seconds up to 4 hours.
- Provide capacity to house 100 time point samples in a temperature controlled cooler.
- Have separate temperature controlled chambers for HDX labeling experiments and for quenching.
- Have two exchangeable syringe tools in the range of 10 µL up to 100 µL.
- Have a separate chamber for pepsin column with temperature controlled environment to within ± 2°C of the setpoint temperature.
- Have a fluidics pathway built with UHPLC valves, rated to 15,000 psi and column hardware with flow paths designed to minimize dead volume.
- Have a temperature controlled quenching syringe (±2°C of setpoint temperature) to improve experimental reproducibility.
- Have a syringe washing station with a minimum of two solvent reservoirs.
- Have dedicated HDX-MS data analysis software, including 1 year of support and upgrades. 


4. Applicability of the trade agreements to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
- Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)


5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

Trajan Scientific Americas, Inc. is the only supplier that can supply a system meeting all the technical requirements and has the ability to sell a stand-alone HDx-3 PAL autosampler (sold without any other equipment).  


6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is 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 agreements specified:
- Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513.1(b)(iii)
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016.2(b)


8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The equipment must be delivered on or before March 29, 2019


9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

Trajan Scientific Americas Inc
1015 Aviation Pkwy, Ste 1000
Morrisville, NC 27560, USA


10. 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.


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

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is February 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. EST. 


12. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities 

Cindy O’Gorman
Supply Specialist
Scientific, Medical and Photographic Division - PV
Public Services and Procurement Canada, Acquisitions Program
Government of Canada
L’Esplanade Laurier, East Tower, 7th floor
140 O'Connor St., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5

E-mail: Cindy.O’Gorman@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
Telephone : (819) 712-1748
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.