Axio Zoom Microscope - Saskatchewan

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/AIT/Canada-Peru FTA/Canada-Colombia FTA
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited
to bid
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
Carl Zeiss Canada Ltd
45 Valleybrook Drive
Toronto Ontario
Canada
M3B2S6
Nature of Requirements: 
Axio Zoom Microscope - Saskatchewan

31029-124240/A
Gerstmar, Denise
Telephone No. - (306) 975-8912 
Fax No. - (306) 975-5397

Requirement:
To supply a Carl Zeiss Axio Zoom V16 fluorescence microscope,
fitted with the Zeiss Axiocam HRm camera for the National
Research Council Canada, Saskatoon, SK.  Delivery should be as
soon as possible.


Mandatory Specifications:
The National Research Council has initiated a Wheat Flagship
focusing on upstream wheat research in genomics, abiotic/abiotic
stresses, cell technologies, plant development, and beneficial
wheat-microbe interactions.As part of the Wheat Improvement
through Cell Technologies (WICT) program within this flagship,
plant cell culture methodologies will be developed in order to
provide breeders with doubled haploidy technology.  In addition,
methodologies for gene editing will be developed using
nanocarriers.  For this latter purpose, a dedicated, high
quality fluorescent stereo microscope with macroscopic
visualization and a camera with high sensitivity to fluorescent
signals are required.  Because the samples it is to be used for
must remain under sterile conditions, this microscope must be
able to fit and function within the confines and exposed to the
airflow of a laminar flow hood.  For these purposes, it must
have the following features:
Zoom-microscope for both transmitted (visible) and (primarily)
fluorescent light.  Must also be capable of stereo vision for
scanning plates and parallax free imaging.
Because of housing in a laminar flow hood, overall height is
required to be 29" or less, including base and camera.   The
eyepieces must be no more than 19 inches high.  Also due to
location in laminar flow hood, a low-rise anti-vibration base
must be included.
Continuous Zoom capabilities to 16:1 (motorized or electronic)
or better.
Apochromatically corrected optics (both zoom and objective lens)
Magnification range up to 112x, with Planar APO objective of
1.0x, retaining a working distance >57 mm. Numerical aperture
with 1x objective shall be 0.25 or better
Capable of resolution of 700 lines per mm or better
Motorized iris diaphragm with automated settings for: highest
brightness, best resolution to camera and best depth of field
Beamsplitter must automatically switch from eyes to camera
position when images are being taken.
Transmitted LED light base with a homogenous brightfield,
oblique and darkfield illumination
Adjustable ocular phototube to accommodate users of different
heights
Motorized focus drive (with manual fine focus)
Lamp change must be simple such that the user can make the change
Reflected light with adjustable (articulated) arms and LED cold
light source controlled by remote control station and by imaging
software 
Mixed gas fluorescence light source with at least a 2000 hour
lamp life span, liquid light guide, motorized shutter with a
remote control
Fluorescent filters for GFP/FDA, YFP, dsRed, and DAPI staining
on one motorized turret for ease of change without damage (and
for safety), motorized shutter
Include a computer workstation that has an LCD monitor (> 30")
for images in real time 
All associated cables-with consideration that the microscope
will be housed in a laminar flow hood but the computer will not
for reasons of space.
All associated software for image acquisition, processing and
analysis, with capability for at least 3 users to work offline
on processing/analysis.  Motorized control of microscope,
illumination and the camera systems integrated through the
software program.  Motorized control through a touch screen and
also a joystick to accommodate comfort and preferences of
different users.
Software revisions, updates and new versions during warranty
period.
Any necessary installation/ on-site training.
Equipped with monochrome camera suitable for the high
sensitivity requirements of fluorescent photography (publication
quality photographs).  At least 13 megapixel scanning
resolution.   Camera should be 14 bit or better and offer
several binning options (up to 5 x 5 preferred) for best
flexibility in imaging low intensity  fluorescence signals as
fast as possible
Camera should be cooled

	
		
Sole Source Justification:
Axio Zoom V16 has capabilities  for both transmitted (visible)
and (primarily) fluorescent light.  In addition to its use for
photography, it is also capable of stereo vision for scanning
plates and has parallax free imaging.  It has continuous,
motorized zoom capabilities to 16:1. Including the camera and
low-rise vibration base to be included, it has an overall height
less than the maximum (29")  that would be functional in a
laminar flow hood.   

The apochromatically corrected optics (both zoom and objective
lens) have a magnification range up to 112x, with Planar APO
objective of 1.0x, while retaining a working distance >57 mm. 
This working distance is imperative for manipulation of
specimens. The 1x objective has numerical aperture of 0.25 for
superior resolution

The cooled monochrome camera is suitable for the high
sensitivity requirements of fluorescent photography (publication
quality photographs) with 13 megapixels of scanning resolution. 
 The camera is 14 bit or with several binning options (up to 5 x
5) for best flexibility in imaging low intensity fluorescence
signals as fast as possible. For photography, the beamsplitter
switches from the ocular (eyes) to the camera position.  The
mixed gas fluorescence light source has a 2000 hour lamp life
span, with a liquid light guide, and a motorized shutter with a
remote control.

The transmitted LED light base has homogenous brightfield,
oblique and darkfield illumination.  Also, the reflected light
has adjustable (articulated) arms and LED cold light source
controlled by remote control station and by imaging software.

The Axio Zoom 16 has several important features designed to
accommodate users of different heights and experience levels. 
This include: an adjustable ocular phototube to a range of
angles and below 19", the upper limit for comfortable use in a
laminar flow hood; a motorized iris diaphragm with automated
settings for highest brightness, best resolution to camera and
best depth of field; a simple lamp change; motorized focus drive
with options for manual, joystick and touch screen focussing;
fluorescent filters for GFP/FDA, YFP, dsRed, and DAPI staining
on one motorized turret for ease of change without damage (and
for safety), motorized shutter; motorized control of the
microscope, illumination and the camera systems is integrated
through the software program.

The computer workstation that has a 30" LCD monitor for images
in real time. With consideration that the microscope will be
housed in a laminar flow hood but the computer will not for
reasons of space, all associated cables are of sufficient length
to bridge the gap.  The associated 'Zen Lite' software for image
acquisition, processing and analysis, has the capability for an
unlimited number of users to work offline on
processing/analysis.   Also, to remain current, any software
revisions, updates or new versions will be provided during the
warranty period.  Also, because of the complexity of the set up,
installation and on-site training are provided.

While other microscopy systems may have subsets of the required
components, only the Carl Zeiss Axio Zoom V16 fitted with the
Zeiss Axiocam HRm camera  has the total package of features
required for high quality visualization and photography of
(perhaps weakly) fluorescent microspores and small embryos under
the height restrictions and airflow conditions of a laminar flow
hood, by researchers of different height and experience as well
as dexterity preferences (manual, joystick or touch screen
focussing).

Only Known Source of Supply:
Carl Zeiss Canada
45 Valley Brook Drive
Toronto  ON  M3B 2S6


Trade Agreements:
The requirement is applicable to the Agreement on International
Trade (AIT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Government Contracts Regulations Exception and Limited Tendering
Reason:
3.15 Non-competitive Contracting Process
b)	The GCRs require the competitive soliciting of bids before
any contract is entered into. 			However, contracts may be
entered into without soliciting bids when:
	iv) only one person is capable of performing the contract (GCRs
6.(d)).

AIT
Article 506: Procedures for Procurement
12. Where only one supplier is able to meet the requirements of
a procurement, an entity may use                     procurement
procedures that are different from those described in paragraphs
1 through 10 in the              following circumstances:
	b)	where there is an absence of competition for technical
reasons and the goods or 				services can be supplied only by a
particular supplier and no alternative or 				substitute exists;
NAFTA
Article 1016: Limited Tendering Procedures
2. An entity may use limited tendering procedures in the
following circumstances and subject to the 	     following
conditions, as applicable:
	b) 	where, for works of art, or for reasons connected with the
protection of patents, 				copyrights or other exclusive rights,
or proprietary information or where there is an 			absence of
competition for technical reasons, the goods or services can be
supplied only 			by a particular supplier and no reasonable
alternative or substitute exists;

Contract Value:
The estimated value of this procurement is $94,151.40 CAD.


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.

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calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it
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ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full
tendering process.

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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
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procurement.

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