RainDrop Digital PCR System

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
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: 
RainDance Technologies
44 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington Massachusetts
United States
02421
Nature of Requirements: 
Leanne Barenz	
Supply Specialist
Telephone:  204 983-0506
E-mail:  leanne.barenz@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
File No.:5K003-131416/A


TITLE:	RAINDROP DIGITAL PCR SYSTEM

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf
of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), intends to negotiate
with RainDance Technologies for the provision of the following:


RainDrop Digital PCR System

The Microbiology Laboratory of the Canadian Grain Commission
(CGC) has a requirement for the supply of one (1) RainDrop
Digital PCR System to be delivered, FOB destination, to
Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).

The microbiology program of the Grain Research Laboratory (GRL)
monitors the presence of pathogenic fungi and bacteria on
Canadian grains, as well as conducts tests to determine the
impact of these organisms on the quality and safety of the
grain.  In support of the official statements of assurance and
phytosanitary certificates for export shipments of Canadian
grains issued by the CGC and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA), our monitoring of wheat and other small cereal grains
includes tests for quarantine microorganisms such as Tilletia
indica (Karnal bunt), Tilletia controversa (Dwarf bunt) and
Urocystis agropyri (Flag smut).  This directly relates to CGC's
mandate of ensuring the quality and safety of Canadian grains.

For bio-molecular detection of microbial pathogens on grain,
mainly quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays are
used in our laboratory.  On a routine basis, quantification of
genomic DNA of microbial pathogens is done on a large number of
samples in a high-throughput manner using real time-PCR assays. 
In principle, by carrying out one reaction per single sample,
results of traditional qPCR methods are generated as relative
measures and are difficult to compare with data from other
laboratories.  In contrast, in digital PCR the sample is
separated into a large number of partitions and the reaction is
carried out in each partition individually.  This separation
allows a more reliable, statistically sound collection and
sensitive measurement of absolute amounts of nucleic acid (DNA).
 Therefore, the microbiology lab of the GRL intends to use
digital PCR for the standardization of single- and multiplex
qPCR assays in-house.  In addition, digital PCR has been
demonstrated as useful for the detection and quantification of
microbial pathogens that could be present at very low levels.  

The microbiology lab of the GRL has a requirement for the
provision of RainDance Technologies' digital PCR (Polymerase
Chain Reaction) system 'RainDrop' that can conduct up to 10
bio-molecular tests on the same sample simultaneously using a
closed-tube design - eliminating contamination or carryover of
sample material that could lead to false positive results.  With
zero-tolerance quarantine regulations for small cereals
contaminated with Tilletia controversa in China, Urocystis
agropyri in Brazil, and Tilletia indica in at least 17 importing
countries plus the entire European Union, traditional real
time-PCR techniques are not suited for the level of sensitivity
and reproducibility required.

In addition, a number of research projects also require DNA
quantification capabilities that are both highly sensitive and
absolute in nature (rather than relative).  For example, studies
on the microbial biomass using genomic DNA as a proxy are
expected to be more accurate based on absolute amounts of target
DNA.  Also, risk estimation of microbial contaminants like
bio-active secondary metabolites (mycotoxins) has the potential
to be more rapid and less expensive using droplet-based digital
PCR.

Required Functional Specifications: 

System must include a droplet generator that creates and
collects droplets (in-oil emulsion) and a droplet reader that
identifies and counts droplets following PCR amplification;

Detection channels for 2 colours: pre-calibrated for FAM
(6-carboxyfluorescein) & VIC (proprietary fluorophore of Applied
Biosystems) fluorophores;

Droplet generator and reader must each have a capacity to
process at least eight (8) samples per run simultaneously;

Droplet-based digital PCR system must have a closed-tube design
to avoid contamination and carryover of sample;

Multiplexing must be able to detect a minimum of eight (8)
targets in one (1) reaction simultaneously;

PCR reactions in droplet-based digital PCR system must be able
to utilize non-proprietary PCR reagents (master mix) to allow
for changes/optimization in assay protocols;

Number of droplets/partitions must be at least 1,000,000, each
with a volume of less than 10pl per droplet/partition;

Droplet-based digital PCR system must have a linear dynamic
range of at least 5 orders of magnitude (with r²>0.99) for
detection of input samples;

Droplet-based digital PCR system is compatible with TaqMan probe
chemistry

Maximum throughput of droplet reader must be a minimum of eight
(8) samples per hour with 25µl sample volume;

Maximum throughput of droplet generator must be at least 16
samples per hour;

Consumable costs per data point must be not more than $0.00005;

The equipment must be approved by the Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) or an acceptable equivalent (UL) before
shipping to the Canadian Grain Commission.  CSA approval may be
obtained by the CGC after acceptance as long as equivalent
standard has been met and is appropriately labelled as certified
on equipment.

Must be delivered on or before January 31, 2013.

The only digital droplet-based polymerase chain reaction
technology system we are aware of that possess all of these
abilities and meets these mandatory requirements is the RainDrop
Digital PCR System from RainDance Technologies, 44 Hartwell
Avenue, Lexington, MA., USA.

The following limited tendering reasons pertain to this
requirement:

Government Contract Regulations, Part 1, Section 6(d) only one
supplier (person or firm) 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;

Estimated Cost:		$105,000.00 - $110,000.00 (GST not included)
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.