Real-Time PCR System

Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Canada) Ltd.
1329 Meyerside Drive
Mississauga Ontario
Canada
L5T1C9
Nature of Requirements: 

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
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of its client, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Saint-Hyacinthe Laboratory, Quebec, Canada, wishes to purchase a real-time PCR system to continue its method development activities in the field of food microbiology. Projects requiring this equipment are for the detection and quantification of foodborne pathogens.

The Bio-Rad Laboratories’ CFX96 Deep Well Real-Time PCR system is the only system that has been shown to be capable of detecting E. coli O157 in raw spiced meat. Furthermore, it is the specific system that is able to perform Health Canada’s Compendium of Analytical Methods MFLP-38, MFLP-39 and MFLP-54.

3. CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES (MINIMUM ESSENTIEL REQUIREMENTS)
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product meets the following requirements:

a) The real-time PCR system must have a minimum of 4 filters/detection channels, including the filters needed to detect FAM and HEX fluorophores. 

b) The real-time PCR system must be compatible with the use of 96-well plates and 8-tube strips.

c) The time required for the real-time PCR system to perform 40 cycles of amplification must be less than or equal to 40 minutes.

d) The software included in the device must make it possible to perform at least the following analyses: relative and absolute quantification, melting curve, multiplex analysis.

e) Control of the real-time PCR system commands must be done through touch screen.

f) The equipment must be CSA approved or equivalent for use in Canada.

g) The user manual and the maintenance manual must be provided in hard copy or electronic format in French or English.

h) The real-time PCR system must come with certification of compliance from the manufacturer.

i) All accessories, consumables and standard spare parts (and others if applicable) to ensure the proper operation must be included.

j) The real-time PCR system must be capable of detecting E. coli O157 in raw spiced meat.

k) The real-time PCR system must be compatible with the following detection methods approved by Health Canada: MFLP-38, MFLP-39 and MFLP-54.

l) The entire assemblage by the supplier, installation of the equipment (if required for the warranty) and a training in its use (for 2 people in French or in English with preference for French) must be included.


4. APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENTS TO THE PROCUREMENT
 This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
.1 Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)


5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Company "Bio-Rad Laboratories" is the only authorized distributor of Bio-Rad products in Canada.  Thus, according to the purchasing policies of Government Contracts, CFIA proposes to award the contract to "Bio-Rad Laboratories", that is, to our knowledge, the only company able to provide the required goods. 


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 or firm 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:

.1 Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Chapter Five - Government Procurement
Article 513: Limited Tendering
1. Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3, and provided that it does not use this provision for the purpose of avoiding competition among suppliers or in a manner that discriminates against suppliers of any other Party or protects its own suppliers, a procuring entity may use limited tendering in the following circumstances:
(b) if the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute goods or services exist for any of the following reasons:
(iii) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons.


8. PROPOSED DELIVERY DATE
The goods must be delivered no later than March 28, 2018.


9. COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT
The estimated value of the contract is 26 000$.


10. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Canada) Ltd.
Life Science Group
1329, Meyerside Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C9


11. SUPPLIER ' 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.


12. CLOSING DATE FOR A SUBMISSION OF A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES
The closing date and time for acceptation statements of capabilities is on January 24, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. eastern standard time (EST).


13. INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS OF CAPABILITIES
Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to: 
Nom : Sonia Beauchesne 
Titre : Agent interne 

Adresse : Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada
601-1550, avenue D’Estimauville
Québec, Québec, G1J 0C7

Téléphone : (418) 649-2702 
Courriel : sonia.beauchesne@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.


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.