L'appareil de mesure de la conductivité de surface

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:
Geonics Limited
1745 Meyerside Drive Unit 8
Mississauga Ontario
Canada
L5T1C6
Nature of Requirements:

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 Climate Research Division (CRD) of Environment and Climate Change Canada has a requirement for the supply of an automated, portable, ground-based electromagnetic induction (EM) device for accurately measuring ice thickness to generate new knowledge on cold climate processes and cryosphere/climate interactions. Accurate ice thickness information is to be used for developing and validating techniques to remotely estimate sea and lake ice parameters (ice thickness/type), from both active and passive microwave satellite, airborne, and ground-based instruments. Ice thickness information is used as both data inputs and validation for radiative transfer models, global climate models and land surface data assimilation schemes.

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:
General

This specification outlines the operational performance and technical requirements for the Ground Conductivity Monitor (GCM) with EM sensor, data logger and integrated GPS.

Operational Requirements:
The GCM must:
Be designed to be portable; lightweight and durable. Include a data logger and integrated GPS system and internal power source up to 16 hours of continuous operation in extreme weather conditions.

Technical Requirements
Analysis and Identification
The GCM must:
Map subsurface features (i.e. lake and sea ice) associated with changed in ground conductivity. Using a patented electromagnetic inductive technique that allows measurement without electrodes or ground contact. Ground conductivity (quad-phase) and magnetic susceptibility (in-phase) measurements are read directly from an integrated DL600 data logger (which can be easily removed from the console for data transfer). Real Time graphical presentation of the data during collection is possible by connecting a computer directly to the RS232 output port on the front panel with an optional RS232 interconnect cable.
Specifications:
EM Sensor (2.35 m x 0.06 m, with a 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.2m3 control unit in the center; 15 kg), a 12 V battery, and a data logger with integrated GPS.
Measured Quantities:
1) Apparent conductivity in millisiemens per meter (mS/m); and
2) In-phase ratio of the secondary to primary magnetic field in parts per thousand (ppt).
Measuring Range: Conductivity: 10,100, 1 K mS/m; In-phase: + / - 20 ppt

Performance
1) Ice thickness sensor must measure apparent conductivity in millisiemens per meter (mS/m), at a minimum of three ranges (10, 100, 1000 mS/m), with a minimum noise level of 0.1 mS/m.
2) Ice thickness sensor must measure In-phase ratio of the secondary to primary magnetic fields within +/- 20 parts per thousand (ppt), with a minimum noise level of 0.03 ppt.
3) Measurement resolution must be +/- 0.1% of full scale.
4) Measurement accuracy must be +/- 5% at 20 mS/m.

Physical
The GMC must:
1) Ice thickness sensor must each weigh a maximum of 15 kg.
2) Ice thickness sensor must have a dimension of less than 450 cm long x 20 cm wide x 25 cm high.

Temperature
The GMC must:
Perform analyses in temperatures ranging (as a minimum) from -40o C to +50o C
Be storable in temperatures ranging (as a minimum) from -40o C to +50o C
In-addition to low temperatures, there are other conditions in cold weather regions such as low humidity, wind, and snow and ice formation that can also have an effect on electrical equipment, thus the ice thickness sensor must have a record successful operation in real-world Arctic conditions.

Data and Diagnostics

The GMC must;

1) Have a means of communicating with a PC to export data.

Power

The GMC must;

1) Be powered by rechargeable batteries;
2) Run continuously for up to 16 hours on a single charge
3) Include a battery and battery charger.

Carrying Case

The GMC must come equipped with a rigid-plastic, foam-lined carrying case, with the following:

1) Adequate space for;

a. Instrument;
b. Batteries, charger, DC and AC adapters;
c. Cables and connectors;
d. Consumables;
e. Operating manual; and,
f. Any other items required for the operation of the ice thickness sensor

2) Pre-cut holes and slots for the items list in (a)
3) A carrying handle
4) Water and dust resistant in compliance with IP67

Operational Manual

The units must come with a user manual outlining the steps for routine operation and provide adequate information to perform basic trouble-shooting.
4. Applicability of the trade agreements to the procurement
The procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Canada - US

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
The ice thickness sensors will be deployed on snowmobile-based platforms for ground-based data collection of ice thickness measurements, at unprotected research sites in cold, harsh weather environments typical of the Canadian Arctic. The Geonics EM31-MK2 ice thickness sensors are lightweight and compact units that can be quickly installed/de-installed on snowmobile or hand-held platforms. It is essential that the ice thickness sensor be easily handled, positioned and operated by a single person wearing full winter-weather protection (such as gloves, goggles, bulky winter outerwear). Geonics is a Canadian-owned company who is a world leader in electromagnetic geophysical instrumentation. Their EM31 device has been used throughout the Arctic to measure ice thickness for over 20 years, and thus they have a proven track-record of operations in extreme Arctic conditions with reliable service and maintenance capabilities.
Company "Geonics Limited" is the only authorized distributor of EM31-MK21 & SH GCM with Archer 2 PC with Built-in GPS & Bluetooth Instruments in Canada. Thus, according to the purchasing policies of Government Contracts, PSPC proposes to award the contract to "Geonics Limited", that is, to our knowledge, the only company able to provide the required goods.

6. Government Contracting Regulations Exception

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) - ?only one person or firm is capable of performing the work.?

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the Section of the trade agreement(s) specified:
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

Chapter Five - Government Procurement
Article 513: Limited Tendering
1. Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3, and provided that it does not use this provision for the purpose of avoiding competition among suppliers or in a manner that discriminates against suppliers of any other Party or protects its own suppliers, a procuring entity may use limited tendering in the following circumstances:

(b) If 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:

(iii) Due to an absence of competition for technical reasons.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Exempt under NAFTA Annex 1001.1b-1, Section B
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016 (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 system must be delivered on or before December 30, 2018.

9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Geonics Limited
1745 Meyerside Dr., Unit 8
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L5T 1C6

Tel: 1 (905) 670 9580
Fax: 1 (905) 670 9204
E-mail: g••••••@•••••••.com

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. Inquiries and submissions of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Pauline Cook
Supply Specialist
Public Service and Procurement Canada, Ontario Region/Kingston Procurement
86 Clarence St. 2nd Floor
Kingston, ON K7L 1X3

Telephone: 613-536-4602
Facsimile: 613-545-4602
E-mail: P••••••••@•••••.••.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.