7500 Fast DX Instrument

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.: 6D063-144491/A


TITLE:	7500 FAST DX Instrument
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 7500 FAST DX
Instruments.


DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT
The Public Health Agency of Canada has a requirement for the
supply and delivery of seven (7) 7500 FAST DX Instruments, with
the option to purchase two (2) additional 7500 FAST DX
Instruments.  

The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) of the Infectious
Disease Prevention and Control Branch of PHAC maintains and
directs the Canadian Laboratory Response Network in
collaboration with the United States of America's Center for
Diseases Control Laboratory Response Network. Within this
network validated reagents for the detection of bioterrorism
agents are distributed to partner laboratories. There are
limited assay plaforms that have been approved for in vitro
diagnostic use of the assays by the LRN. Furthermore, the NML
also leads state-of-the-art mobile laboratory options that can
be deployed to fill a variety of needs; to respond to emergency
outbreak situations anywhere in the world, to assist with site
security at high profile events when required and to respond to
possible bioterrorism incidents if one were to occur.   
Indeed, in addition to responding to infectious disease
outbreaks, PHAC's Microbiological Emergency Response Team (MERT)
provides training to national and international partners
involving mobile laboratory operations, in-field identification
of biological agents, sampling procedures and
coordination/execution of response exercises in their role
within Canada's National CBRNE team.  MERT also supports
national security operations, through mobile laboratory
deployment and the development of site security and laboratory
response plans. The NML has supported deployments for site
security and bio-threat response exercises such as the Summit of
Americas in Trinidad and Tobago (2008 and 2009), Beijing (2008),
Francophonie Summit (2008), CAPEX (2008 and 2010), Mexico/H1N1
(2009), Vancouver 2010 Olympics, G8/G20 Summits (2010) and the
annual Canadian National CBRNE team exercise, FireDrake.
The capacity is constantly evolving to evaluate, validate and
incorporate newer, faster testing platforms, equipment and
procedures. Real-time (RT)-PCR platforms with features that make
it ideal for use in limited space on mobile laboratories are
being sought after, one instrument that is currently being
utilized is the the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR
System that fulfills these specifications. The AB7500 Fast  has
proven robust in the aforementioned settings, and this is
instrument of choice used by our international partners whom we
share validated assays with. Furthermore, complicance to our
membership with the CDC LRN only the Applied Biosystems 7500
Fast Dx Instrument meets the requirement for membership network
for testing clinical diagnostic material. 

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
Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR System (including:
instrument instructions, 1 year instrument warranty - with the
additional warranty options, system software and instructions,
and all contact information for future service and support) must
meet the following specifications:
1)  	This is the instrument that is used by our USA
collaborators (ie FBI, DHS, CDC-LRN).  
	The assays are all validated on Applied Biosystem platforms in
which information is 
	available through Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CDC
portals for partner 
	access.  All assays that we collaborate on must be
validated/verified on the same 
	instrument. The ABI 7500 Fast Dx is the only instrument that
has been approved for 
	use in the testing of clinical material. 

2) 	 Instrument must be capable of analyzing 96 samples
simultaneously in 96-well plates or 
	strip tubes.  In order to maximize the number of samples that
can be run per plate and to
	minimize consumable waste, the instrument must be able to
detect a variety of targets on 
	 single 96-well plate.  For example, if multiplex assays are
used, a different multiplex 
	assay can be run in each well of the 96-well plate. 

3)  	Capable of supporting thermal cycler Fast and standard modes

4)  	Five-color filter set with a wavelength detection range of
500 to 680nm supporting dyes 
	FAM, SYBR Green, VIC, JOE, NED, TAMRA, ROX, Cy3, Texas Red, and
Cy5, with the 
	option to calibrate additional dyes without the addition of new
filter sets.  Instrument must 
	be capable of detecting both singleplex reactions and multiplex
reactions containing 4 
	gene targets and one passive reference dye for normalization
(ROX or alternates). 

5)  	The sample block is contained within the body of the
instrument and is not exposed when 
	loading the plate, thus minimizing contamination risk resulting
from exposure to the 
	laboratory environment.

6)  	Specialized application specific software that collects and
analyzes fluorescent data for 
	Absolute Quantitation, Relative Quantitation, Relative Standard
Curve, and software must 
	also allow for end point analysis for multiple dyes. 

7)  	Other software features must include:
	a.	Intuitive and easy to use 
	b.	Ability to generate Audit trails.  
	c.	Ability to save template files and run assays that require
set protocols.  
	d.	Real-time monitoring of amplification growth curves enabling
user to view run 
		progress
	e.	Specialized multicomponent algorithm designed to eliminate
dye signal cross-talk
	f.	Ability to run multiple standard curves for different assays
on the same plate.
	g.	Recognition of replicates and subsequent calculation of
standard deviation and r
		emoval of outliers for each set of replicates.
	h.	Auto-baseline and auto-threshold for simplified data
analysis.

8)  	Installation and repair at user site by a service engineer,
performance verified and 
	calibrated onsite instead of in the factory before shipping.

9)  	Instrument must be manufactured according to ISO 9001
standards.

10) 	Small footprint, less than 15x20x20" for deployability. 
Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast 
	Real-Time PCR System is the smallest instrument that can
perform all of the above 
	listed specifications. 


JUSTIFICATION FOR PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc. is the only known supplier that can
provide a 7500 FAST DX Instrument 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(a) to ensure
compatibility with existing products, to recognize exclusive
rights, such as exclusive licenses, copyright and patent rights,
or to maintain specialized products that must be maintained by
the manufacturer or its representative;

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; 

Chile TA, Article Kbis-09 (b) where, for the 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 reason, the
goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier
and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists;

Peru TA, Article 1409,1(b) where the goods or services can be
supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable
alternative or substitute goods or services exist for any of the
following reasons: (i) the requirement is for a work of art,
(ii) the protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive
rights, or (iii) due to an absence of competition for technical
reasons;

Columbia TA, Article 1409,1(b) where the goods or services can
be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable
alternative or substitute goods or services exist for any of the
following reasons: (i) the requirement is for a work of art,
(ii) the protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive
rights, or (iii) due to an absence of competition for technical
reasons;

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
While delivery is requested by December 31, 2014, all
deliverables must be on or before March 31, 2015, FOB
destination, Public Health Agency Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba.


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.