Analyseur de Texture

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama
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:
TEXTURE TECHNOLOGIES CORP
6 PATTON DRIVE
HAMILTON Massachusetts
United States
01982
Nature of Requirements:

Texture Analyzer

01550-160811/B
Huchzermyer, Chris
Telephone No. - (604) 775-6690 ( )

Line 1, GSIN: N6695, Texture Analyzer, TX.XTPLUS OR EQUIVALENT, Quantity: 1, Unit of Issue: lot, Delivery Date: See Herein

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 withthe award to the pre-identified supplier.
2. Definition of the requirement
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has a requirement for the supply and delivery of one (1) Texture Analyzer (TA.XT plus), Acoustic Envelope Detector and accessories (Probe andCompression Attachments) to the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre (PARC) Summerland, BC to enable it to meet its operational mandate.
The Texture Analyzer (TA.XT plus) measures the textural characteristics (hardness, brittleness, adhesiveness, etc.) of food products. Apple texture is the single most important characteristics of determining the quality of apples. While ?traditional’ measurements can determine fruit firmness satisfactorily, they do not successfully evaluate other characteristics whichare very relevant to consumers, such as crispness or juiciness. The Texture Analyzer (TA.XT plus) operated in compression mode and with an Acoustic Detector, is capable of other determinations (crispness, juiciness) that correlate with human perception.As such, the acquisition of this instrument would improve the screening of new fruit selections from the breeding program, provide relevant measurements for optimizing postharvest conditions, and assist with basic understanding of fruit maturity.
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 product meets the following requirements:
A. Stable Micro Systems Texture Analyzer TA.XT plus, Acoustic Envelope Detector, and Accessories (Probe and Compression Attachments)

i. Must have ability to use interchangeable load cells (5, 30 and 50 Kilogram).
ii. Must be supplied with a 30 gram load cell with initial purchase.
iii. Force Measurement Sensitivity must be 1 gram.
iv. Must have ability to auto detect load cells when load cells are attached to the head of the Texture Analyzer.
v. Range of Speeds: must be able to run tests at 0.01 to 40 mm per second.
vi. Speed Accuracy: Must be better than 1%.
vii. Range Resolution: must be better than 0.001mm.
viii. Operational modes: must have capability to operate in tension and compression modes.
ix. Data Acquisition Rate: must have up to 500 points per second (pps) for each data channel.
x. Must have multichannel data capability for capturing other multichannel data signals (eg. Acoustic) that are synchronized with force, distance and time readings.
xi. Connection Options: (External Instrumentation Channels) mustbe four channels of RS485 using an industry standard MOBUS protocol. Each channel logs at one sample per ten seconds at 16 bit and is suitable for external sensing of temperature, humidity etc.
xii. Must have an auxiliary port to connect accessories such as the Acoustic Envelope Detector.
xiii. Must be equipped with texture analysis software (32 bit) (such as Texture Exponent 32) for the operation of the equipment and accessories/attachments and for electronic records and signature.
xiv. Must be able to interface to personal computer (PC) through a standard RS232 serial port at 115200 baud.
xv. Must operate on a Windows 7 operating system.

B. Acoustic Envelope Detector (AED) (must work with the texture analyser proposed)
i. Must connect to Texture Analyzer (TA.XT plus).
ii. The acoustic input frequency range must be between 1 kilohertz to 12 kilohertz.
iii. The Low frequency range must be between 1 kilohertz and 10 kilohertz.
iv. The Output signal voltage range must be between 0 volts to 4.5 volts.
v. The Output signal frequency range must be DC up to 250 hertz.
vi. Must include a Sound pressure level calibrator that confirms to IEC942 (1988) Class 1 & ANSI S1.40-1984(R1997).
vii. The measurement microphone must be a ½ inch prepolarized condenser transducer microphone.
viii. Must be powered by the Texture Analyzer (TA.XT plus).
ix. The data sample must be 500 point per second (pps).

C. Accessories (Probe and Compression Attachments) (must work with texture analyser proposed)

i. Probe Attachments must be Magness-Taylor fruit punch set 5/16 and 7/16.
ii. Compression Attachment must be a 3 inch compression plate.
4. Applicability of the trade agreements to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
A) Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT);
B) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
C) Canada Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
D) Canada Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
E) Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement
5. Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business
N/A
6. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)
N/A
7. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
The TA.XT plus instrument consists of proprietary hardware and software (Exponent Software). This equipment (TA.XT plus), with an Acoustic Envelope Detector (AED), has the capacity to collect auditory recordings, simultaneously with textural measurements. There is no other instrument in the marketplace that has the capability to collect such data, other than Stable Micro Systems TA.XT plus with AED accessory and proprietary software. At (PARC) Summerland, the acoustic data will be correlated with sensory data; however, the textural data collected at Summerland must also be compatible and comparable with past and present data collected at other sites (AAFC Kentville, NS; VRIC Vineland).
The pre-identified supplier, Texture Technologies, is the only known distributor of the product.
8. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) only one person is capable of performing the contract.
9. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
3.2. Annex: Limited Tendering Reasons contained in the Trade Agreements.
The following exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:
o Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

Article 506.12: Where only one supplier is able to meet the requirements of a procurement, an entity may use procurement procedures that are different from those described in paragraphs 1 through 10 in the following circumstances:
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
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; (CAP code 71); c) or the procurement of goods or services the supply of which is controlled by a supplier that is a statutory monopoly (CAP code 86).

o North American Free Trade Agreement
Article 1016. 2: An entity may use limited tendering procedures in the following circumstances and subject to the following conditions, as applicable:
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 (CAP Code 71).
o Canada Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
Article Kbis-09.1 - Entities may award contracts by means other than open tendering procedures, provided that the tendering procedure is not used to avoid competition or to protect domestic suppliers in the following circumstances, where applicable:
(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;
o Canada Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
Article 1409.1 - Provided that a procuring entity does not use this provision to avoid competition among suppliers, to protect domestic suppliers, or in a manner that discriminates against suppliers of the other Party, the procuring entity may contact a supplier or suppliers of its choice and may choose not to apply Articles 1405, 1406, 1407, 1408 and 1410 in any of the following circumstances:
(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;
o Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement
Article 1409.1 - Provided that a procuring entity does not use this provision to avoid competition among suppliers, to protect domestic suppliers, or in a manner that discriminates against suppliers of the other Party, the procuring entity may contact a supplier or suppliers of its choice and may choose not to apply Articles 1405, 1406, 1407, 1408 and 1410 in any of the following circumstances:
(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;
10. Ownership of Intellectual Property
No
11. Period ofthe proposed contract or delivery date
The product must be delivered on March 31st, 2016.
12. Cost estimate of the proposed contract
the estimated value of the contract is $45,097.00 - $50,097.00 CDN (GST/HST extra).
13. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
Texture Technologies Corp.
25133 Hereford Dr.
Ramona CA
92065

14. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods 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.

15. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Chris Huchzermyer, A/Supply Officer
219- 800 Burrard St.
Vancouver, BC
V6Z 2E7

Telephone: (604) 775-6690
E-mail: c••••••••@•••••.••.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.