Quant Studio OpenArray PCR

Trade Agreement: 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.: 6D063-132306/A



TITLE:	Quant Studio Open Array PCR

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 Quant Studio Open
Array PCR.


DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT
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 Stain 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 QuantStudio 12KFlex (Open array) will provide us with
greater flexibility for research into drug resistance mutation
analysis. Due to the multi-format capability, the instrument
will replace multiple other real-time and HRM instruments that
are nearing the end of their life cycle. In addition, the
QuantStudio 12KFlex is the only instrument that is compatible
with the proprietary Open Array technology that we are using to
develop new HIV drug resistance assays in our laboratory. We
will be able to integrate the QuantStudio with existing
equipment, SOPs, and reagents, without wasting any time on extra
validation involved with any other instrument.

This requirement includes trade-ins, Model ABI 7000, Serial
number 270002001 and BioTrove Open Array NT Cycler, Serial
number NT 0215, as part of the purchase.

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


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

PERFORMANCE/ CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES/SPECIFICATIONS
Instrument must feature:

Sample capacity: 4 plates (to allow for higher sample throughput)

Fluorescence excitation: 470 nm, 520 nm, 550 nm, 640 nm, 662 nm

Fluorescence emission: 520 nm, 558 nm, 623 nm, 682 nm, 711 nm
(this it to enable collection of up to 21 unique combinations of
wavelengths during a single run for multiplexing)

Uniformity: [  0.5°C

Temperature Range: 4°C to 99.9°C

Heating: 3°C/sec

Cooling: 3°C/sec

The instrument must come with user-interchangeable blocks to
accommodate 96-well, Fast 96-well low volume, 384-well plates,
TaqMan Array Cards, or OpenArray plates. These features allows
us to run many samples as well as just a few for an individual
test.

The instrument must include a long-lasting light source that has
a median lifetime of at least 5 years (to lower the costs for
replacement).

The instrument must have a user friendly touch screen, allowing
for quick run start as well as protocols and data storage.
However, it must also be run with a software that can control
the instrument and analyze date from a remote computer within
the same network.

The instrument must demonstrate sensitivity down to 1 copy for
all block types to allow for more accurate results, as this is
the level of sensitivity required by our laboratory.

The instrument software must be compatible with our current SOPs
and workflow with minimal adaptation required. (ex: be able to
manage Open Array data). The instrument must support current
kits and reagents used in our laboratory and optimized in our
SOPs.

The instrument could also be used for SNP genotyping, miRNA
profiling, digital PCR and gene expression profiling.

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.


JUSTIFICATION FOR PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc. is the only known supplier that can
provide an Quant Studio Open Array PCR 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;


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.