AUTOGENPREP 965

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:
AUTOGEN INC
84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD
HOLLISTON Massachusetts
United States
01746
Nature of Requirements:
AUTOGENPREP 965

31029-137224/A
Tammy Kozak
Telephone No. - (204) 984-8825
Fax No. - (204) 983-7796

1. INTRODUCTION
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf
of the National Research Council (NRC) in Saskatoon, SK intends
to solicit a proposal and negotiate a contract with Autogen in
Hollinston, MA, USA for the for the supply, installation, and
training of a AutoGenprep 965.

2. BACKGROUND
NRC-Saskatoon is a centre of excellence for the development and
improvement of molecular tools for crop breeding. NRC-Saskatoon
has made a major commitment to establishing advanced molecular
biology, genetics and genomics technologies in the DNA
Technologies Laboratory, to further the rapid development of
improved crop germplasm.
An important project supported at NRC-Saskatoon is the NRC Wheat
Flagship incorporating the Genomics Assisted Breeding (GAB)
project and aligned to the Genome Canada "Canadian Triticum
Advancement through Genomics (CTAG)" project. Both of these
projects are carrying out large-scale sequencing and genotyping
in the major Canadian wheat crop species and varieties. A key
aspect of this work is the screening of large numbers of Single
Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) from multiple wheat varieties
and large segregating populations (1,000's plants) derived from
crosses of these varieties. This will require the extraction of
large amounts of very high quality genomic DNA from these plants
so that; 1) multiplex and low-plex SNP genotyping can be
undertaken in the samples as robustly as possible; and 2)
significant (microgram) amounts of very high quality DNA are
available for complete digestion with a large variety of
restriction enzyme, including methylation sensitive enzymes, to
enable next generation sequencing (NGS) sequencing library
construction. The requirement for genomic DNA of these amounts
and quality requires the utilization of an organic solvent based
centrifugation methodology to ensure optimal preparations are
produced. The platform will also be used to extract the DNA from
1000's of bacterial clone cultures each carrying Bacterial
Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) carrying segments of a wheat
chromosome as part of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing
Consortium (IWGSC). A very high quality DNA is required for the
construction of NGS libraries to enable the sequencing of the
BACs and ultimately the entire chromosome. Due to the large
number of wheat plants and BAC samples being processed for DNA
extraction, the system has to be fully automated, free of cross
contamination issues and be capable of operating overnight
unattended with minimum downtime. An automated DNA extraction
platform that will be able to accommodate all of the above needs
and listed specifications is required for the wheat projects.

3. MANDATORY PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Mandatory capabilities of the DNA extraction platform must
include but are not limited to the following performance
requirements:

SPECIFICATIONS:
1. Ability to produce microgram amounts of a minimum 5ug of very
high quality DNA with a OD260/OD280 reading between 1.8 and 2,
for direct use in DNA sequencing, PCR, restriction digests, and
transformations.
2. Flexibility to extract DNA from plant tissue, plasmid and BAC
bacterial cultures, blood and animal tissue.
3. Ability to extract DNA using a single-phase organic
extraction without the requirement of filters, columns, magnetic
beads, or vacuums.
4. Equipped with air filtration for biohazard reduction.
5. Capability to process, unattended, up to 384 samples in 4 to
6 hours (four 96 deep well plates) simultaneously, allowing
multiple runs per day.
6. Capability of operating overnight unattended.
7. Automated Liquid transfer so that cross contamination between
samples is eliminated.
8. Liquid handling capabilities such as transferring eluted and
resuspended DNA from 96 deep well plates to shallow well plates
for PCR set up.
9. Ability to upgrade to new extraction protocols as they are
developed.

4. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

The AutoGen AutoGenprep 965 platform is the only dedicated DNA
extraction platform that can accommodate the stated requirements.
AutoGen is in a unique position to fulfill this requirement as
they are the manufacturer and sole authorized distributor of the
AutoGen AutoGenprep 965. Based on the above, the Crown intends
to negotiate a contract with AutoGen on a sole source basis.

5. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT REGULATIONS
Government Contract Regulations: 6.(d) only one person or firm
is capable of performing the contract.

6. TRADE AGREEMENTS
The requirement is subject to the provisions of the World Trade
Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP),
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

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: (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;

NAFTA Article 1016: Limited Tendering Procedures. 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;

WTO - ARTICLE XV: The provisions of Articles VII through XIV
governing open and selective tendering procedures need not apply
in the following conditions, provided that limited tendering is
not used with a view to avoiding maximum possible competition or
in a manner which would constitute a means of discrimination
among suppliers of other Parties or protection to domestic
producers or suppliers:
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.

7. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR

AutoGen
84 October Hill Road
Holliston, MA 01746

8. DELIVERY DATE
While delivery is requested by January 31, 2014, or earlier,
delivery must be made complete by March 31, 2014.

9. ESTIMATED COST
Estimated value of the requirement is between $230,000.00 and
$550,000.00 CND (GST not included). The Crown retains the right
to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. The Crown will
also include the option to purchase additional units within the
terms of the contract.

10. SUPPLIERS RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES
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.

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.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.

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.