Nutrient Analyzer

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: 
Folio Instruments Inc.
1645 St Patrick
montreal Quebec
Canada
H3K1R3
Nature of Requirements: 

Nutrient Analyzer

F2402-180144/A
Hall, Marlene
Telephone No. - (204) 230-0147 (    )
Fax No. - (204) 983-7796 (    )

Line 1, Nutrient Analyzer

Definition of the Requirement
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute (FWI) wish to acquire one (1) high throughput continuous segmented flow nutrient analyzer for the analysis of high numbers of nutrient samples in marine waters collected during arctic oceanographic studies. The nutrient analyzer will be operated at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in Winnipeg for marine ecosystem studies.

The nutrient analyzer will be used to determine nutrient concentrations in seawater and sea ice samples from costal and offshore Arctic marine ecosystems. The instrument will provide concentration values of four nutrients: phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite.

High precision, high sample throughput, and very low detection of nutrient concentrations are critical analytical requirements for our laboratory since we analyze high numbers of samples, often collected from very low nutrient seawater environments. Nutrient concentrations in our studies also encompass a wide range of values within the same region, as well as between regions. We require a nutrient analyzer providing high-precision replicable results at very low concentrations for four nutrient analyses (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and silicate), as well as through a wide range of values. Continuous segmented flow nutrient analyzers meet the requirements for seawater analysis of nutrient samples at very low nutrient concentrations for our laboratory, and in other oceanographic institutions across Canada. Similar performance of this type of instrumentation with other DFO and Canadian Laboratories is essential for the integration and comparison of our results with long-term data sets in our study regions and with different marine ecosystems. 


Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
The nutrient analyzer must meet the following specifications and operational requirements stated below:

- The analyzer must simultaneously measure the concentrations of the following nutrients: phosphate (PO4), silicate (SiOH4), nitrate (NO3) and nitrite (NO2);
- The instrument must feature a separate channel for each type of analysis (4 channel analyzer);
- The analyzer must meet the following detection limits (all in µmol/L) for low nutrient seawater analysis purposes without matrix effects: 0.01 for phosphate, 0.006 for nitrite, 0.006 for nitrate, 0.02 for silicate;
- The analyzer must be capable of processing throughput speeds of 60 tests per hour per channel;
- The chemistries must be designed and proved for seawater matrices and follow standard oceanographic methods for seawater used worldwide;
- The analyzer must analyse nutrient concentrations according to the continuous segmented flow method of analysis (designed for a large number of samples, a limited number of parameters and high reproducibility);
- The analyzer must be equipped with 2 mm diameter flow tubing to minimize waste and maintenance;
- The analyzer must feature LED light sources to minimize baseline noise caused by vibrations, to ensure long durability and to facilitate use onboard ships;  
- The analyzer must be equipped with bubble through technology in the flow cell to prevent particles or bubbles from getting trapped in the tubing;
- The analyzer must be equipped with a data logging system to automatically store data in electronic format;
- Manuals for operation and maintenance of the equipment must be provided in the English language;
- Analyzer must be compatible with current model SEAL AA3 the oceanographic studies in DFO and other oceanographic institutions in Canada and abroad use to ensure compatibility of marine datasets.


Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement:
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement:
- Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
- North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)


Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
Folio Instruments is the Canadian Distributor of the SEAL AA3 nutrient analyzer. 
They are the only supplier known to DFO who is capable of meeting the requirement, who has the product which meets all the listed mandatory specification criteria.


Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
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".


Quantity of the proposed contact
The proposed contract is for one (1) SEAL AA3 nutrient analyzer.


Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
Folio Instruments 
4148A St. Catherine St. West
Montreal (QC) Canada H3Z 0A2

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.