Microbial Cell Counter

Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
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: 
Rose Scientific Ltd.
4207 - 97 Street
Edmonton Alberta
Canada
T6E5Y5
Nature of Requirements: 

Microbial Cell Counter

39903-210700/A
Lajoie, Alexandra
Telephone No. - (416) 434-3879 

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 Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a requirement for the supply of a Microbial Cell Counter System (herein after referred to as the system) including all hardware and software, accessories and peripherals, cabling and components, and 1-year warranty including maintenance and support services. The system will be used by CFIA to automatically count individual stained microbial cells and measure viability. The system does not require culturing. 

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 all of the following requirements: 

1. Microbial Cell Counter System:

- The system must be an image-based microbial cell counter.
- The system must automatically count the total microbial cells and differentiate live and dead microbial cells particularly including bacteria with staining kits.
- The system must measure bacterial counts by counting all cells individually.
- The system by have a centifuge that evenly distributes the microbial cells throughout the counting chamber onto a counting slide. 
- The system must count each slide in less than 30 seconds.
- The system must show the shape, size and staining for the microbial cells. 
- The system must have fluorescence stains for microbial cell detection. 
- The system must permeate both gram positive and gram negative bacteria to stain both live and dead cells.
- The system must label viable bacteria. 
- The system must capture up to 10 high resolution images and count the cells in each image. 
- The system staining kits must include staining dye, staining enhancer cell dilution buffer, and cell loading buffers. 
- The system must have calibration beads. 

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

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement:

- Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) 

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

The QUANTOM Tx Microbial Cell Counter is the only known system that meets all of the minimum essential requirements listed in Section 3 above. Logos Biosystems is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the system, owner of all related Intellectual Property and has designated Rose Scientific Ltd. as the exclusive authorized distributer to supply the system. 

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:

- Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513.1(iii)

8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The system should be delivered on or before March 31, 2021. 

9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

Rose Scientific Ltd.
97 Street, Unit 4027
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6E 5Y5

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 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. EST. 

12. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities 

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Alexandra Lajoie
Supply Specialist 
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Telephone: 416-434-3879
E-mail: Alexandra.Lajoie@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.