Snow Sensors

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama
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: 
Campbell Scientific (Canada) Corp.
14532 - 131 Avenue NW
Edmonton Alberta
Canada
T5L4X4
Nature of Requirements: 

5P315-150622- Snow Water Equivalent Sensor

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. 

Parks Canada has a requirement for the supply of quantity 5 Snow Sensors which measures water content of a snowpack over a large surface area mounted above ground. The equipment must measure a surface area of approximately 50-100 square metres when mounted 3 metres above the ground. The performance of the equipment must not be affected by adverse weather conditions or bridging while measuring instantly and accurately. The sensors should be able to be left in the field maintenance-free for at least 7 years.

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its equipment meets the following requirements: 

Compatible Dataloggers-CR800/CR850, CR1000, CR3000, Sutron 
Power Requirements- 11 to 15 Vdc
Measurement Time- Continuous; 24 hours/day
Accuracy  ±15 mm from 0 to 300 mm
                            ±15% from 300 to 600 mm
Resolution 1 mm
Coverage Beam Angle- 60°
Operating Temperature- -40° to +40°C
Maximum Cable Legnth- 30 m
Cable Type-four conductor, two-twisted pair, 22 AWG, Santoprene jacket
Dimensions w/o Collimator-  Length: 62 cm (24.4 in.) , Diameter: 12.7 cm (5 in.)
Weight- Main Body Weight: 9 kg (20 lb), Collimator Weight: 25 kg (55 lb),  Total Weight: 34 kg (75 lb)

The design characteristics of the new SWE sensor developed by Hydro Québec in collaboration with Campbell Scientific (Canada) Corp are as follows :

The CS725 sensor measures Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) in a snow pack. SWE is measured by passively monitoring the attenuation of naturally existing electromagnetic radiation emitted from the soil or bedrock below the sensor. This radiation is due to the presence of Potassium-40 (40K) and Thallium-208 (208Tl). As snow accumulates, the CS725 measures a decrease in the naturally-occuring radiation. The higher the water content of the snow pack, the higher the attenuation of the radiation. A collimator (available option) is used when there are sources of 40K and 208Tl at the site that will not be covered by snow (ex: trees). The collimator acts to reduce this radiation from affecting the measurement. Proper operation of the CS725 is dependent on suitable amounts of 40K and 208Tl being present in the ground. Since the radiation levels will vary from site to site, CS725 performance is site dependant.

The essential functional characteristics of the sensor are :
1) Performance is not effected by adverse weather conditions
2) Non-contact
3) Effective with any type of ice or snow
4) Can cover large surface area (50-100 m2 when mounted 3 m above the ground)
5) Can be post-calibrated if installed after the onset of snow
       6) Not effected by measurement errors due to bridging or wind
       7)The CS725 only monitors existing naturally occurring Gamma radiation (No Special licenses or precautions are required to install or operate the CS725)

 The sensor is compatible with all the dataloggers with RS 232 port and communicates via the terminal program Hyperterminal or Procomm. 

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements: 
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 

Campbell Scientific Canada is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the CS725, Snow Water Equivalent Sensor The CS725 is an extremely unique sensor as it measures Snow Water Equivalency (SWE) using a non-contact method which does not disturb the environment in which it is intended to measure. The CS725 sensor by Campbell Scientific (Canada) Corp measures the water content of snowpack over a large surface area (50-100m2 when mounted 3m above the ground).

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". 
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the section of the trade agreement(s) specified: 
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506.12b
NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016b 

The equipment must be delivered on prior to February 8, 2016.

The estimated value of the contract is $ 113,210.20 (GST/HST extra). 

Campbell Scientific (Canada) Corp.
11564-149 Street, Edmonton AB T5M 1W7

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.

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is December 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Maria T. Lopez 
33 City Centre Dr., Suite 480-C, Mississauga, ON L5B 2N5
Telephone: 905-615-2071
Facsimile: 905-615-2060
E-mail: maria.lopez@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.