Trade Agreement: 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:
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Flüelastrasse 11, CH-7260
Switzerland
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 Department of the Environment has a requirement for the
supply, delivery and training of one (1), SnowMicroPen 4 (SMP)
and associated software manufactured by the WSL Institute for
Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF). The snow micropenetrometer
(SMP) will be used as part of field experiments in support of
Environment Canada's research on deriving information on snow
cover from satellite measurements. Enviroment Canada use
satellite passive microwave and radar measurements which are
sensitive to the physical properties of the snowpack, including
the microstructure such as snow grain size and snow layering.
The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF),
SnowMicroPen 4 (SMP) has the ability to objectively measure the
resistance of snow over a maximum depth of 1.25 metres and a
vertical resolution of 0.5 mm (resistance is measured every 0.5
mm of depth through a maximum 1.25 m deep snowpack). Objective
measurements of snow texture are produced at a minimal layer
thickness 2 mm. The SMP is capable of rapid measurements of
many profiles. The SMP is optimized for cold weather deployment
and can provide immediate measurement visualization on a
LCD-display.
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 system meets the following requirements:
3.1 Must have a measurable snow depth of between 1.0 to 1.25
metres
3.2 Must have a vertical sampling resolution of less than 4µm
(micrometer) (250 measurements/mm);
3.3 Must have a vertical layer resolution less than 0.5 mm;
3.4 Must have a force range from 0 to 50 N (Newtons);
3.5 Must have a force resolution of less than 0.02 N;
3.6 Must have an operating temperature between +5 and -30 C;
3.7 Must have a battery life of greater than 6 hours;
3.8 Must have a total weight for field use of less than 10 kg
for transportation;
3.9 Must have a data visualization of export software;
3.10 Must have a source code for reading and further processing
of binary files.
4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
o Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
o North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
There is only one known supplier that can provide a Snow
Micropenetrometer (SMP) system that can meet the requirements
identified in Sections 2 and 3 of the Advance Contract Award
Notice. The SMP makes precision measurements of the physical
resistance which results in a vertical profile of resistance
(the bonds between individual snow grains) from the top of the
snowpack to the bottom. The SMP is the only known instrument
that can make the physical resistance measurements to the
specifications listed in Section 3 of the ACAN. These are the
required measurement specifications to ensure conversion of the
the resistance measurements to physical variables such as snow
grain size and snow density.
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
work."Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons.
7. Limited Tendering Reasons
The following limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:
- Agreement on Internal trade (AIT) - Articles 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 exists."
- 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 prior to 31 March 2014.
9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Flüestrasse 11
CH-7260 Davos Dorf
Switzerland
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 4 November 2013.
12. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
Jeff Schmidt
Supply Officer
Public Works and Government Services Canada
33 City Centre Dr, Suite 480C
Mississauga, ON L5B 2N5
Telephone: 905-615-2058
Facsimile: 905-615-2060
E-mail: j••••••••@•••••.••.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.
