Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) Instrument - Natural Resources Canada, Quebec City

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: 
Life Technologies Inc.
5250 Main Way
Burlington Ontario
Canada
L7L5Z1
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
The Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, has a requirement for the supply of a (1) real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) instrument, with interchangeable block capability that can accommodate three different block options: 96-well (0.1mL), 96-well (0.2mL) and 384-well plates. The instrument must have the ability to maintain conformity and support of in-house- (or partner-) validated protocols on Applied BioSystem (ABI) platforms; the software of the new instrument must also be able to support viewing and analyzing most of the SDS/EDS files from the following qPCR instruments: 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System, StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR System and ViiA7 Real-Time PCR Instrument. The system must be capable of monitoring up to of 5 gene targets (5 different target dyes simultaneously) per sample. The system must have the ability to quantify small changes in gene expression and quantification, and must achieve precise detection that is accurate down to 1.5-fold range.

The instrument will be used full time by the genomic detection team for analyses focused on the detection and identification of forest insect pests, their natural enemies (parasites) and diseases. Large numbers of field samples will be submitted to TaqMan analyses, which enable the detection and identification of diverse organisms via a molecular sorting strategy. The results generated by this work will inform forest pest management decisions made by our partners. 


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 product/equipment/system (as appropriate) meets the following requirements:

3.1 The instrument must have the ability to maintain conformity and support of in-house- (or partner-) validated protocols on other Applied BioSystem (ABI) platforms; the software of the new instrument must also be able to support viewing and analyzing most of the SDS/EDS files from the following qPCR instruments: 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System, StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR System and ViiA7 Real-Time PCR Instrument.

3.2. The software must have built-in analysis modules including: 
                 3.2.1 Standard Curve
                 3.2.2 Relative Quantification
                 3.2.3 Presence and Absence
                 3.2.4 Genotyping

3.3 Since our throughput needs can change easily in the day, the instrument must allow quick, motorized and simple tool-free block changes with on-screen walkthrough, without having to recalibrate. 

3.4 The instrument must have interchangeable block capability that can accommodate three different block options: 96-well (0.1mL), 96-well (0.2mL) and 384-well blocks.  

3.5 The instrument must be designed to support reaction volumes of 10-30 µL on the 0.1 mL 96-well block, 10-100 µL on the 0.2 mL 96-well block and 5-20 µL on the 384-well block. 

3.6 To enable a personalized experience, improve the efficiency of the lab and help streamline our workflow, the instrument must have smart features, including facial authentication (to allow easy individual user access to system and profile preferences without the need to enter a PIN manually).

3.7 To free-up bench space, the instrument must be able to run in standalone mode, without a computer attached and the following functions must be accessible from the touch screen without the need of a computer: start runs, enable editing of plate layout and thermal cycling protocol before and during a run, enable viewing of amplification plots and filtering by sample, target and task. The touchscreen must allow uploading of protocols or downloading of run files via USB interface, local area network and online ecosystem.

3.8 The system must be capable of monitoring up to of 5 gene targets (5 different target dyes simultaneously) per sample.

3.9 To reduce potential loss of data by accident, the instrument must collect information from both TaqMan and SYBR chemistries in the same run by collecting different filter colors for PCR versus melt curve stages. 

3.10 Considering the importance of the data produced and the ability to quantify small changes in gene expression, the system must achieve precise detection that is accurate down to 1.5-fold range.

3.11 Due to the importance and value of the data produced by the qPCR System (from a time, sample and monetary perspective), the qPCR system MUST automatically back up the data post run, to the instrument itself AND to another pre-selected location of our choice (cloud or computer). The instrument must offer a memory capacity of 10GB or more to store between 1000-5000 standard absolute quantification run files to ensure there is no loss of data. 

3.12 The system must be low maintenance and thus must utilize LED for excitation (the LEDs for excitation must also be capable of optimally exciting all of the dyes used in real-time PCR and therefore must span the spectral range of 450-730 nm) supporting dyes FAM/SYBR Green, VIC/JOE/HEX/TET, ABY/NED/TAMRA/Cy3, JUN, ROX/Texas Red, MUSTANG PURPLE, Cy5/LIZ, Cy5.5.
 

4.  APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENTS 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 instrument "QuantStudio 6 Pro Real-Time PCR System", brand name "Applied BioSystems" of "Thermo Fisher Scientific" (catalog No. A43167), along with the QuantStudio Pro Block Upgrade for 384-well plates (catalog No. A45954) constitute, together, the only known product that meets all of the technical specifications described in this ACAN.

The company "Life Technologies Inc." is the only distributor of "Applied BioSystems" products in Canada. Thus, in accordance with the purchasing policies of Government Contracts, the "Laurentian Forestry Centre-CFS-NRCan" proposes to award the contract to "Life Technologies Inc.", which is, to our knowledge, the only company that is able to fulfill our needs and whose product meets all of the evaluation criteria.


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:

7.1 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:
(v) to ensure compatibility with existing goods, or to maintain specialized goods that must be maintained by the manufacturer of those goods or its representative.


8.      PROPOSED DELIVERY DATE
All the deliverables must be received within a period of forty (40) calendar days after the contract is awarded.


9.  COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT
The estimated value of the contract is between $25,000 anbd $100,000 CDN, taxes included.


10.      NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc.
5250 Mainway
Burlington, Ontario L7L 5Z1


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 18, 2021 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: 
Name: Marial Tremblay 
Title: Supply Specialist 

Telephone: 581-309-8387
E-mail:  Marial.Tremblay@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.