HEALTH CANADA ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE
TITLE: Expert technical advice related to review and interpretation of measurements of airborne chemicals and particulates for population exposures
SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1000152441
1. The purpose and explanation of an ACAN
An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows Health Canada contracting authorities to post a notice on the Buy and Sell website, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a good, service or construction contract will be awarded 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.
2. Rights of suppliers
Suppliers who believe that they are fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities clearly demonstrating how they meet the advertised requirement. This Statement of Capabilities must be provided via e-mail only to the contact person identified in Section 12 of the Notice on or before the closing date and time of the Notice. If there is a reasonable level of evidence regarding capability, the requirements will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.
3. Proposed Contractor
Lance A. Wallace
428 Woodley Way
SANTA ROSA, CA
95409
4. Definition of Requirements or Expected Results
The research accomplished under the Clean Air Agenda (CARA) to date has successfully supported the regulatory needs of the Health Canada Air Program in its aim to strengthen risk assessment and risk management activities. Knowledge of the types of air contaminants (indoor, ambient & in-vehicle), their sources and the risks they pose to health has greatly improved. Efforts will continue to focus on reducing population health risks associated with indoor and outdoor pollutants , through improved population exposure assessment, and the development of guidelines, guidance documents, product standards and communications products/risk management advice. These outputs will provide tools to regulatory agencies, industry, public health professionals, and the public to reduce exposure to air contaminants. Three principal activity areas of the program will support the development of these tools: (i) risk assessment, (ii) intervention research, (iii) and knowledge transfer. This specific contract is in support of activities under these 3 areas.
Activity area (i) – Risk assessment: A number of projects have been undertaken to better understand human exposure to air pollutants in ambient, indoor and in-vehicle environments. This work supports a better understanding of routes of exposure, levels of exposure to ambient-generated versus indoor-generated pollution and the health risk associated with exposure to air pollution. The contractor will review and provide input to study protocols and scientific manuscripts, including quality assurance of continuous pollutant measurements, and interpretation of results including infiltration estimates, source apportionment estimates and predictive models.
Activity area (ii) - Intervention research: The specific objective of the intervention research activity area is to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted interventions to improve indoor air quality and the issues related to their implementation. Promising interventions to be assessed are identified through a working group established between Health Canada and the National Research Council of Canada, through review of the scientific literature, and with consultations with leading experts in the area. The results gathered during CARA I on baseline levels of indoor air pollutants in residences across Canada and the building characteristics and occupants’ activities associated with those levels are being used to inform the selection of the interventions. As part of this contract, the Contractor will review and provide input to intervention study protocols and scientific manuscripts, including design of analyses to be conducted, quality assurance requirements, and interpretation of quality assurance and study results for several Health Canada intervention studies conducted under CARA II.
Activity area (iii) – Knowledge transfer: The specific objective of the communications and outreach is to communicate targeted information on indoor air quality and health to federal and provincial partners and public health professionals. To this end, the contractor will develop a concise guide (5 pages maximum) on the use and practical applications of indoor-outdoor ratios for risk assessment of VOCs, for use by Health Canada staff and public health professionals.
5. Minimum requirements
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements:
a) Extensive research experience (at least 10 years) in conducting and publishing studies of indoor air quality and proven expertise in the use and analysis of data collected from continuous and integrated air monitoring equipment.
b) Intimate knowledge of quality control and quality assurance procedures used in the processing of continuous measurement data collected from indoor air monitoring equipment.
c) Flexibility to work with the Health Canada team on an as needed basis with little advance notice.
6. Reason for non-competitive award
As per Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations (Treasury Board Secretariat Contracting Policy, Appendix B) or the limited tendering is only one person/ firm capable of performing the contract.
7. Applicable trade agreements
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
8. Ownership of Intellectual Property
Under Treasury Board Policy on Title to Intellectual Property Arising Under Crown Procurement Contracts; Section 6 of the Policy states, the Crown may own the Foreground for the following reasons:
6.4 where the main purpose of the Crown Procurement Contract, or of the deliverables contracted for, is:
6.4.1 to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination;
9. Period of the proposed contract
Upon contract award to February 14, 2014; with one option year potential end date February 14, 2015.
10. Estimated value of the proposed contract
The total estimated value of the proposed contract should not exceed $109,000 CAD one Firm year and One Option Year including travel and living expenses (if applicable), and all applicable taxes.
11. Closing date and time
The closing date and time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is October 3, 2013 at 2:00 PM EDT
12. Contact Person
All inquiries with regard to this Notice must be addressed by e-mail to:
Name: Cheryl Moss
E-Mail: c••••••••@•••••.••.ca
