Portable Photosynthesis System

Trade Agreement: NAFTA / CFTA / FTAs with Peru / Colombia / Panama / Korea
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: 
LI-COR, Inc.
PO Box 4425
Lincoln Nebraska
United States
68504
Nature of Requirements: 

PORTABLE PHOTOSYSTHESIS SYSTEM

01550-180496/A
Lee, Hilda
Telephone No. - (604) 764-6053
Email:  Hilda.Lee@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

The PWGSC office provides procurement services to the public in English.

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.

1.  Definition of the Requirement

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has a requirement for the supply, delivery and training of one LI-680F Portable Photosynthesis System with Fluorometer.  Delivery is to 4200 Hwy 97 South, Summerland, BC.

This system is an essential equipment for plant stress physiology research in Agriculture and Agri-Food newly established Tree Fruit Physiology program at Summerland Research and Development Centre (SuRDC).

This system will be used to measure CO2 and H2O exchange, as well as chlorophyll fluorescence of plant leaves and young fruits, for calculation of photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance, and for evaluation of plant stress level under various environmental conditions.

2.  Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities

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

- CO2 and H2O infrared gas analyzers must be located in the sensor head so gas concentrations are measured within the leaf cuvette mixing volume.  Gas samples must not be pumped from the leaf cuvette through hoses and filters before analysis so there are no time delays to confound correlations between gas exchange and changes in environmental driving variables.
- H2O must be measured by the infrared gas analyzer, instead of a capacitance relative humidity sensor.
- The gas analyzer CO2 signal noise must be <= 0.1 umol mol-1 RMS at 1Hz with 4 second averaging at 400 umol mol-1.
- The optical bench must be user cleanable to avoid having to return the system to the factory for cleaning.
- The system must be expandable to measure gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements over the same leaf area with full control of environmental variables.
- The fluorometer and software must support the Multiphase Flash protocol of sub-saturating light intensity to more accurately determine maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fm').
- The system must supports Induction Kinetics with frequencies of 1Hz to 250KHz actinic light Output 0-3000 umol m-2 total at 25 degree Celsius and have saturation light intensity of 0 to 1600 umol m-2s-1 at 25 degree Celsius.
- The system Red/Blue light source must have the uniformity +/- 10% over 90% of the aperture.
- The system flow rates must be able to range up to 1700 umol s-1 at standard ambient temperature (25 degree Celsius) and pressure (100kPa).
- Instrument configuration and data acquisition must have the ability to be remotely controlled through Ethernet connection.
- The system must be portable and robust in various environments.
- The system software must be able to export data in both text and Microsoft Excel (.txt and .xls) formats, and facilitate bar- code reader support in the software.

3.  This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements

• Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement

4.  Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

LI-COR, Inc. is the designer and manufacturer of LI-6800F Photosynthesis System and also sole distributor in North America.  Therefore, the system can only be purchased through LI-COR, Inc.

5.  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".

6.  Limited Tendering Reasons

The following limited tendering reasons are invoked under the (section of the trade agreement(s) specified):

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

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016 Item 2b.  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 and the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.

7.  Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract for initial quantity is $67,500.00 (Applicable taxes included).  There is an option to purchase for additional one (1) unit with an estimated cost of $67,500.00 (Applicable taxes included).

8.  Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

LI-COR, Inc.
4421 Superior St.
Lincoln, NE 68504 
USA

9.  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.

10.  Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is on or before October 19 at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time.


11.  Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Hilda Lee
Supply Specialist
Public Works and Government Services Canada
#219 - 800 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC  V6Z 0B9
Telephone No.: (604) 764-6053
Email: Hilda.Lee@pwgsc-tpsgc.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.