TITLE: Abundance analysis of bacteria and phytoplankton in marine samples by flow cytometry
ACAN:
The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1. Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the ACAN posting period.
If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during this ACAN posting period that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either GETS or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.
If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier.
INTRODUCTION:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) requires the services of specialized analysis to measure Arctic samples.
BACKGROUND:
Samples were collected as part of Arctic ecosystem studies for regulatory and co-management processes. The data from the samples have been identified as key food web and environmental parameters for assessing ecosystem processes
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives are to analyze sea-ice and/or water column samples for cell abundances using automated flow cytometry methodology. The analyses will provide total cell counts as well as cell counts for key functional groups (based on ecology, cellular contents and cell size).
WORK REQUIREMENT:
Contractor shall analyze samples. DFO will provide frozen samples in 5 ml vials, each with distinct sample label. The samples will be analyzed for total abundance of heterotrophic bacteria, cyanobacteria, and phytoplankton cells <20 µm in size.
Samples will be shipped from the Marine Productivity Laboratory, Freshwater Institute Winnipeg, to the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). All analyses will be completed at the flow cytometry laboratory at UQAR under the direction of Dr. Claude Belzile. Samples will not be returned, they are destroyed during analyses. Marine Productivity laboratory will provide a list detailing which samples are to be analyzed. UQAR will provide final data corresponding to the same sample names
TASKS AND DELIVERABLES:
Contractor shall process and analyze samples according to established protocols for flow cytometry analyses of Arctic sea-ice and water samples.
Contractor shall provide raw and final data for:
-total heterotrophic bacterial abundance
-percentage of high and low nucleic acid bacteria
-FL1 and SSC cell parameters for bacteria
-total cyanobacteria and phytoplankton abundance (<20 µm sized cells)
-total abundance of nanoeukaryotes, picoeukaryotes, nanocyanobacteria and picocyanobacteria
MANDATORY CRITERIA:
- The contractor must have more than 120 months experience carrying out flow cytometry analyses of Arctic marine and sea-ice samples.
- The contractor must have 84 months experience with bacteria and autotroph enumeration in sea-ice samples.
- The contractor must be able to provide the following parameters for both marine and sea-ice Arctic samples by flow cytometry:
total heterotrophic bacterial abundance
percentage of high and low nucleic acid bacteria
FL1 and SSC cell parameters for bacteria
total cyanobacteria and phytoplankton abundance (<20 µm sized cells)
phycoerythrin-containing cyanobacteria and phycocyanin-containing cyanobacteria.
total abundance of nanoeukaryotes, picoeukaryotes, nanocyanobacteria and picocyanobacteria
- The contractor must be legally registered in Canada.
ESTIMATED VALUE
The total value of the contract shall not exceed $22,400 excluding all applicable taxes for the firm period from contract award to 31 March 2020. Each subsequent Optional Year is estimated at $22,400 (each).
SECURITY REQUIREMENT
No Security Requirement
TRADE AGREEMENTS APPLICABILITY OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS:
No Trade Agreements apply.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION AND LIMITED TENDERING REASONS:
The following policy requirements are applicable to this ACAN process:
Applicable Exceptions to Soliciting Bids under the Government Contracting Regulations (GCRs) (Section 6):
Section 10.2.1 Section 6 (d) only one person or firm is capable of performing the work applies to this ACAN for the following reasons:
There are no known alternative sources of supply. It is feasible and affordable to compete the requirement.
CONTRACT PERIOD:
The period of the contract is from contract award to 31 March 2020 inclusive. The contract will include 2 optional years each of 1 year duration, to be activated at the discretion of DFO.
Firm period: contract Award to 31 March 2020
Option Year 1: 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Option Year 2: 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
SUPPLIER’S RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, must submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing to the Contracting Officer identified in this Notice on or before closing date. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:
6 December 2019 at 2:00 p.m. (AST)
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
Michael Peters
Senior Contracting Officer – Contracting Services
Procurement Hub – Fredericton
Telephone: (506) 429-2359
Email: D••••••••@•••••••.••.ca
