ABI 3730 Sequencer

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with
Peru/Colombia/Panama
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: 
Life Technologies Inc.
5250 Main Way
Burlington Ontario
Canada
L7L5Z1
Nature of Requirements: 
Marlene Hall
Supply Specialist
Telephone:  204 984-6423
E-mail:  marlene.hall@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

File No.: 6D063-132305/A



TITLE:	ABI 3730 Sequencer

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf
of Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC), intends to negotiate with
Life Technologies Inc. for the provision of a ABI 3730 Sequencer.


DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT
The Public Health Agency of Canada has a requirement for the
supply and delivery of one (1) ABI 3730 Sequencer.  The National
Laboratory for HIV Genetics (NLHG) contributes to the global
effort against the HIV/AIDS pandemic by performing genetic
analysis of HIV for a number of activities including the
Canadian HIV/AIDS Strain and Drug Resistance Surveillance
Program. The NLHG monitors and evaluates trends in HIV drug
resistance and HIV subtype distribution, ensures the quality of
HIV diagnostic testing, informs vaccine development, guides
antiretroviral selection and facilitates our understanding of
HIV transmission patterns.

The Life Technologies 3730 sequencer will facilitate the
fulfillment of our HIV DR surveillance obligations both in
Canada and internationally. The NLHG currently uses the Life
Technologies sequencers in HIV genotyping as this equipment
provides the greatest flexibility for both genotyping and
research. Sequence used by this machine is analyzed using
software that we currently use (SeqScape and ReCall), and is
therefore compatible with existing equipment, SOPS and current
workflows in our program. Representing a higher throughput
version of the 3130XL sequencer we are currently using, this
instrument will allow us to test more samples allowing us to
meet the demands of stakeholders more efficiently.

This requirement includes a trade-in, Model 3130XL, Serial
number 1594-005 as part of the purchase.


SECURITY REQUIREMENT
There is a security requirement associated with this requirement.


PERFORMANCE/ CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES/SPECIFICATIONS
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities that its product meets the following mandatory
requirements:

The instrument must use at least 48-capillary arrays to speed up
work processes.
The capillary array must be constructed using internally
uncoated capillaries and perform 300 sample runs, enabling us to
save on the costs involved in changing the capillary array.

The instrument must be designed to process successive runs
without requiring a capillary array washing or conditioning step
to speed up runs.

The instrument must have the ability to simultaneously inject 48
sequencing or genotyping samples.

The instrument must be able to detect and analyze 5 fluorescent
dyes simultaneously (6-FAM, VIC, NED, PET and LIZ) which are
part of a dye set that reduces potential crosstalk while
providing a higher dynamic range.

The instrument must use a POP-7™ Performance Optimized Polymer
separation matrix, on which all our SOPs have been based and
optimized.

The instrument must be compatible with current reagents used and
optimized in our laboratory's SOPs (ex: BigDye Terminator, etc).

The instrument must provide automated filling of capillary
arrays with a separation matrix (polymer) for every run without
the need for user intervention. This allows to us run samples
overnight, therefore increasing workflow speed.

The instrument must have an internal barcode reader to allow for
automatic and unattended processing of sample plates.

The instrument's laser must be fixed in place and illuminate all
48-capillaries in the array simultaneously. A dual-side
illumination and in-capillary excitation must be used for more
uniform simultaneous excitation of all 48-capillaries in an
array.

The instrument must be able to simultaneously capture the
emitted fluorescence from all capillaries in an array.

The instrument's analysis software for use with sequencing
applications must be compatible with our current workflow and
SOPs (ex: SeqScape).

Purchase of the system must include local service of engineers,
regional technical support/applications training in English
and/or French, on-site, in-lab customer training in English
and/or French, technical support via phone and Internet and 1
year parts and labour warranty.

These specifications, taken as a whole, show that no other
instrument system in the current market can achieve the results
we are expecting from it, or that no other genetic analyzer
manufacturer can offer.


JUSTIFICATION FOR PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc. is the only known supplier that can
provide an ABI 3730 Sequencer that meets all of the mandatory
performance specifications.


TRADE AGREEMENTS
The following limited tendering reasons pertain to this
requirement:

Government Contract Regulations, Part 1, Section 6(d) only one
person is capable of performing the contract.

Government on Internal Trade (AIT), Article 506-12(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;

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1016.2(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;

World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement
(WTO-AGP), Article XV(b) when, for works of art or for reasons
connected with protection of exclusive rights, such as patents
or copyrights, or in the absence of competition for technical
reasons, the products or services can be supplied only by a
particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute
exists;


DELIVERY DATE
The equipment must be delivered on or before March 31, 2014, FOB
destination.


PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc.
5250 Mainway
Burlington, Ontario
L7K 5Z1
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.