Automated Tissue Processor

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: 
Leica Microsystems (Canada) Inc.
71 Four Valley Drive
Concord Ontario
Canada
L4K4V8
Nature of Requirements: 

Automated Tissue Processor

6D063-173630/A
Omerzo, Zeljka
Telephone No. - (204) 510-2597 (    )
Fax No. - (204) 983-7796 (    )


1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 

2. Definition of the requirement 

The Prion Diseases Section, within the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML), performs histological activities for their own research, and provides a collaborative core pathology service to other NML researchers as well as external collaborators on government-funded initiatives. Histopathology is an essential part of establishing and studying animal models of infection, which are core components of the Prion Diseases section and the Special Pathogens program areas and are in support of Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) mandate to provide leadership on health promotion and disease prevention.

An essential component of being able to deliver histopathological services at the NML is the capability of being able to process a large number of samples quickly and in a safe manner.  NML currently has all of their histology lab equipment set up in an area that is shared with another section in their Division. Therefore space is very limited and fumes generated from historical processing need to be mitigated to ensure air quality safety for employees in close proximity to the instrument. 

National Microbiology Laboratory has a requirement for a new model of tissue processor which has a smaller footprint, is more proficient and incorporates substantial safety features over the existing processor. 

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

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)

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

1. Must be a free standing floor unit model that is compact in size, being no larger than 24" wide and no more than 28" deep and 55" high to fit into the extremely limited space available in the laboratory;

2. The processor must contain reagent bottles that are compact, being no larger than 4L in size such that they can be easily filled and lifted by the user;

3. The reagent bottles must be located in the front of the instrument only, so that they can be easily accessed without having to move the instrument (as in the case of accessing bottles in the rear of a machine). This is for the safety of handling of toxic chemicals, to prevent accidental spill of toxic chemicals due to the lifting of heavy and cumbersome bottles, and also to prevent physical injury to the user as a result of having to lift heavy bottles or by having to move the heavy instrument to access the back of the machine when reagents need to be replenished;

4. The equipment must be on castors and weigh no more than 200 kg when the unit is full of reagents and cassettes, to be able to accommodate changes in lab configuration when space restraints require re-configuration of equipment;

5. The unit must be completely self-enclosed with an exhaust carbon filter and multi-chemical fume extraction at the retort lid to isolate the toxic fumes generated from formaldehyde, xylene and alcohols for safety reasons as this limits employee exposure to harmful chemicals;

6. Must have a minimum 150 slide capacity;

7. Must  have an advanced reagents management system that monitors all reagents including formalin, alcohol, xylene and paraffin wax for optimizing experimental conditions, improving specimen quality, and optimizing laboratory economy;

8. Must have a chemical resistant, colour LED touchscreen.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s) 

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

Leica PEARL Automated Tissue Processor is the only known instrument meeting all specifications essential to the requirement as listed above.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - only one person is capable of performing the contract.

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) 
Article 506 - 12 (a) to ensure compatibility with existing products, to recognize exclusive rights, such as exclusive licences, copyright and patent rights, or to maintain specialized products that must be maintained by the manufacturer or its representative;
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 exist.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 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.

8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The equipment must be delivered on or before March 31, 2018.

9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Leica Microsystems Canada
71 Four Valley Drive
Concord, Ontario L4K 4V8

10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN 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.

11. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is December 18, 2017 at 14:00 Central Standard Time (CST).

12. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Zeljka Omerzo
Procurement Officer
Procurement Branch 
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Suite 100-167 Lombard Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 0T6

Telephone:  (204) 510-2597
Facsimile:  (204) 983-7796
E-mail address: Zeljka.Omerzo@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

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.