ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICEJ0646 – BSE Surveillance and Sampling ServicesThe Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a requirement for provision of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance and Sampling Services in the province of Ontario.The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government's intention to award a contract for these services to Sanimax APB Inc, located at 9900, boulevard Maurice Duplessis, Montreal, QC, H1C 1G2. 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 fifteen (15) calendar day posting period.If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the fifteen (15) calendar day posting period that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either the government's electronic tendering service 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.BackgroundOn May 20, 2003, a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly called mad cow disease, was confirmed in an animal born and raised in Canada. On January 9, 2004, the Government of Canada announced it would increase BSE surveillance testing as part of the national BSE response strategy. The CFIA has increased the number of samples collected at the national level to a minimum of 8,000 in 2004, the CFIA has subsequently increased its surveillance to analyze a minimum of 30,000 samples in 2005 and aims to get to 60,000 samples in subsequent years. The CFIA therefore wishes to encourage, through offers of service contracts, the collection of samples in sufficient quantity to meet the objectives of the surveillance program for BSE.Services required by the CFIA in implementing its surveillance program include those associated with carcass pick up, identification and traceability (record keeping) of selected carcasses, provision and maintenance of a suitable sampling facility and on site handling to present the appropriate samples to the CFIA, as well as those services related to the storage and segregation of carcasses pending determination of BSE status.The proposed contract period is from December 01, 2015 to March 31, 2016 with one (1) one six (6) months option.The estimated value of the contract, including the option is $233,440.00 (taxes excluded).Minimum Essential RequirementsAny interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:be located in the eastern portion of the province of Ontario (east of Hwy. 400 to Quebec border);have knowledge and experience of the dead stock industry;have a proven track record in the dead stock collection industry over the past 3 years;have adequate facilities including a designated work area for the collection of BSE samples and storage of the carcasses in a manner to prevent deterioration of the specimens;be able to provide access to at least 1,750 carcasses that provide eligible samples , representative of the yearly adult bovine (at least 30 months of age) mortality over at least 75% of the cattle producing area in eastern Ontario;have refrigeration equipment in order to preserve 30 animals before and after sampling occurs until test results are available;have an ability to maintain a clean environment for the collection of samples and sufficient water supply for sanitation of the area;keep records in accordance with the Health of Animals Act and Regulations: andmust be operated in accordance with federal, provincial and municipal requirements;Justification for the Pre-Selected SupplierServices required by the CFIA are those associated with:maintaining the identification and traceability (record keeping) of selected carcasses for the BSE surveillance program,provision and maintenance of a suitable sampling facility and on site handling to present the appropriate samples to CFIA,and those related to the storage and segregation of selected carcasses pending determination of BSE status.Sanimax ABP Inc meets all these specifications.CFIA will give priority to Collectors covering larger areas with their cattle carcass pick up activities, for which they have volume and capacity to meet CFIA BSE surveillance objectives for the area covered. Sanimax ABP Inc covers the eastern portion of the province of Ontario (east of Hwy. 400 to Quebec border) and has access to at least 1,750 carcasses over the course of this contract that will provide eligible samples.Of significant importance, Sanimax has a large enough cooler to store the number of carcasses on a weekly basis before and after sampling occurs until test results are available. Up to 100 carcasses a week, is a substantial number to provide adequate storage/cooling especially in the summer months. In addition, Sanimax is the only deadstock dealer in Eastern Ontario that can meet the required number of samples, as the next closest dealer only collects up to 1,600 samples that meet the “Over Thirty Months of Age” (OTM) eligible sample surveillance requirements.Of note, as of July 12, 2007, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enhanced regulations to more quickly eliminate bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, from Canada. This has required implementation of new procedures that Sanimax ABP Inc has instituted to meet with regulations.Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to meet the specified requirements may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the Contracting Authority 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 closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is November 17, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Ottawa, Ontario time.Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:Michel LarivièreTelephone: 613 773-7559Facsimile: 613 773-7615E-mail: m••••••••@••••••••.••.caPolicy InformationGovernment Contracts Regulations (GCRs): d. only one person is capable of performing the contract. b. Subject to WTO-AGP:XV.1(a) - 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 c. Subject to NAFTA:1016.2(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 d. Subject to AIT: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 e. Subject to CKTEA: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
