Synthétiseur d'ADN

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:
CERTIFIED SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.
2699 SPRING STREET
REDWOOD CITY California
United States
94063
Nature of Requirements:
Marlene Hall
Supply Specialist
Telephone: 204 984-6423
E-mail: m••••••••@••••••••.••.ca

File No.: 6D063-133001/A

TITLE: DNA Synthesizer

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf
of Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC), intends to negotiate with
Certified Scientific Instruments, Inc. for the provision of a
DNA Synthesizer.

DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT

Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC) has a requirement for one (1)
3900 high throughput DNA/RNA Synthesizer system. The Genomics
Core facility provides in-house DNA synthesis services to the
National Microbiology Laboratory and its stakeholders. Requests
from clients has expanded beyond existing capacity and a new
system is required to meet the rapid response to on-going
research and emergency situations such as disease outbreak. The
DNA Synthesizer must be compatible with existing 3900 instrument.

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities that its product meets the following mandatory
requirements:

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES/SPECIFICATIONS

The Public Health of Canada requires instrumentation capable of
high throughput, column-based synthesis of varying length
oligonucleotides at scales of 40-, 200-, and 1000- nmol, as well
as degenerate and modified oligonucleotides (e.g., dye-labeled
primers and probes). the instrument must be automated DNA
synthesis for at least 40 synthetic products (20 nucleotides in
length) in less than 2-hours using industry-standard
phosphoramidite chemistry. It must also possess inherent
flexibility to synthesize sequences with lengths greater than
50-mers, and synthesize all three scales simultaneously in one
run. More criteria/objective and specifications are outlined
below and in the sole source (TB seven questions) document.

Mandatory operational requirements the procured high-throughput
DNA synthesizer system are detailed below:

1. Must be compatible with the existing 3900 currently in
operation in our laboratory.

2. To address increased throughput requirements in our Core
facility and achieve our production
requirements in a timely manner, the instrument must be capable
of performing automated DNA
synthesis in a high-throughput manner: Synthesizer must be able
to synthesize at least 40
samples in parallel (i.e, not sequentially); must also be
capable of making at least 20 synthetic
products (20 nucleotides in length) in less than 2 hours using
industry-standard phosphoramidite
chemistry; must be able to produce at least 80 standard-length
(20-30mers) oligonucleotides at
40- and 200- nmol scales in a single working day of 7.5 hours;
must have a cycle time for one
base addition to each column of less than 5 minutes. Instrument
must also be capable of
simultaneous 1000-nmol-scale synthesis, and of synthesizing
high-quality long oligonucleotides
(>50-nucleotides in length).

3. Our facility absolutely requires a column-based synthesis
system, rather than a 96-well or
plate-based system. System must be compatible with either CPG
and polystyrene column
synthesis, have color-coded display for visual confirmation of
correctly loaded columns and be
compatible with the existing 3900 workflow currently in use in
our laboratory.

4. For optimal flexibility in a Core facility and to address
multiple dye-modified oligonucleotides or
DNA of different scales in a single synthesis run, System must
perform fully automated
(unattended) reagent delivery, synthesis and control. System
also must be provided with a
computer/laptop and software to enable instrument control.
System must include programs and
be capable of making oligonucleotides within one synthesis run
at each of several synthesis
scales:
Small synthesis scale (40 nanomoles).
Medium synthesis scale (200 nanomoles). Medium synthesis scale
must use less than
2 milligrams of phosphoramidite, and less than 45 microliters of
saturated 'tetrazole
activator' for each nucleotide cycle.
Large synthesis scale (1000 nanomoles).

5. As our Core facility supplies end users with products used
for public health surveillance and
diagnoses, we absolutely require System produce greater than
90% chemically authentic
synthetic "quality" DNA (as measured by capillary
electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF or equivalent
quality assurance assay) with standard synthesis cycles
(40-nmol, 200-nmol, or 1000-nmol) and
standard reagents provided by the instrument's vendor.

6. For efficient operation and conservation of Core facility
reagents, System must be able to predict
reagent volumes necessary to complete the queued sequences;
system must also track waste
composition by volume and component percentage. System must
also include automated reagent priming and purging feature for
individual as well as system priming and purging.

7. Delivery of reagents must be accomplished by argon gas
pressure; no syringes or mechanical
pumps must be employed. Mechanical gas regulators must control
gas pressures. Synthesizer
must also be able to monitor the compressed gas pressure.

8. Synthesizer must include all program methods for cyanoethyl
phosphoramidite synthesis of DNA,
AND program methods for "degenerate" (e.g., software recognizes
IUB codes for mixed-base
site) synthetic DNA oligonucleotides at small, medium and large
nanomole synthesis scales
listed above. To address additional Core facility needs,
System must also accept user-modified
methods including novel synthesis reaction conditions (or
modules).

9. Owing to space limitations in our laboratory, the synthesizer
cannot exceed (with all required
clearances) the footprint of 130-cm width, 85-cm depth and
120-cm height to enable placement
on a small, fixed laboratory bench.

Following specifications relate to System Chemistry Requirements:

10. System must be compatible with fast-deprotection
phosphoramidite chemistry, which reduces
manual deprotection time requirements.

11. Reagents optimized for synthesis system performance must be
available directly through the
instrument's vendor and available in bulk packaging, including
proprietary synthesis columns,
along polystyrene supports, reagents and consumables.

12. The synthesis columns must be clearly labeled or color-coded
to easily identify the coupling
nucleotide (A, G, C, or T) and prevent accidental misuse of the
wrong synthesis column.

Following specifications relate to System Hardware requirements:

13. For optimal flexibility, the instrument must be equipped
with a minimum of 40 synthesis
column/cartridge positions, 4 amidite stations, at least five
ancillary reagent bottle positions to
accommodate modified or non-standard phosphoramidites (e.g.,
five different modifications can
be accomplished in a single run), and two additional
non-amidite reagent positions for
specialized synthesis (e.g, thiolating-reagent).

14. Synthesizer must include all reagent bottles, plumbing
lines, fittings, connections, software,
hardware, firmware, etc. to make a fully functional unit. The
end user will supply synthesis
chemicals, synthesis columns, and compressed gas with two-stage
regulator, for reagent
delivery. The supplier must include all other required system
components.

15. Synthesizer system must include:

16. Acetonitrile reservoir(s) with at least 8 liters capacity.

17. 'Deblock' reservoir(s) with at least 2 liters capacity.

18. 'Cap A' and 'Cap B' and 'Oxidizer' and 'Tetrazole activator'
reservoir(s) of at least 900 milliliters
capacity for each of these four chemical solutions.

19. Waste reservoir(s) with at least 10-liters capacity.

20. Synthesizer must include sufficient capacity to synthesize
in under 2-hours (including set up and
synthesis time) at least 40 independent samples simultaneously
for UNATTENDED/AUTOMATIC
synthesis. Instrument must be capable of reporting activities
that occurred during a synthesis run.
Synthesizer must automatically generate a real-time log file of
synthesizer operations. For
example, the software must provide a report at the conclusion
of a run detailing the
oligonucleotides made and their sequences.

21. The instrument must use dedicated reagent delivery lines to
prevent cross contamination.
Solenoid-activated valves must control flow of all reagents.
Each reagent position must have a
dedicated valve.

22. System must include a controlling computer with the
following minimum specifications:

23. Must be a well-known business class brand-name computer,
with manufacturer's warranty, and
come preloaded with standard protocols. Computer must have all
necessary hardware,
firmware, and software for complete control of all synthesizer
operations. Computer must also
have the necessary hardware, firmware, and software for
importing information from an Excel
spreadsheet format.

Following specifications relate to System Software requirements:

24. System must come with controlling computer and software with
a graphical user interface to
transfer DNA sequences, functions, and cycles to Synthesizer
automatically. Default protocols
must be provided and allow for simultaneous synthesis of both
unlabeled and labeled
oligonucleotides.

25. Software must provide for synthesis operation with the
following functionalities: instrument
diagnostics to check status of critical system components;
full-cycle editing and modification;
assignment of multiple phosphoramidite bottle positions for a
wide range of synthesis options;
automatic import of DNA sequence information; capability for
storing DNA sequence and method
information; tracking and recording of runs and files for the
purpose of auditing and
troubleshooting. Instrument control interface must also allow
immediate termination of a run, or
pause at the next specified safe step.

26. Software must be able to accept electronic text-based
defined format orders, created
automatically, without re-entry of the sequence. For example,
the software must capable of
importing sequences in tab-delimited text, comma-separated text
files, or Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet format.

Following specifications relate to miscellaneous system
procurement requirements:

27. Include on-site delivery, installation, training, and
software/instrument manuals; System warranty
for one year from the date of installation. This full warranty
must include parts, labor and travel.
The instrument must also be supported by telephone technical
support, Field Applications/Sales,
and instrument service. Factory-trained service engineer must
be available to perform all repairs.

JUSTIFICATION FOR PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER

Certified Scientific Instruments Inc. is the only known supplier
that can provide a DNA Synthesizer that meets all of the
mandatory performance specifications.

TRADE AGREEMENTS

The following limited tendering reasons pertain to this
requirement:

Government Contract Regulations, Part 1, Section 6(d) only one
person is capable of performing the contract.

Government on Internal Trade (AIT), Article 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), 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;
AIT, Article 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;

Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), Article Kbis-09 (b)
where, for the 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 reason, the goods or services can be
supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable
alternative or substitute exists;

Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement, Article 1409, 1(b) where 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: (ii) the protection of
patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights,

Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement, Article 1409, 1(b) where
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: (ii) the
protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights,

DELIVERY DATE

The equipment must be delivered on or before March 31, 2014, FOB
destination, to the Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada.

PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER

Certified Scientific Instruments, Inc.
2699 Spring Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
United States
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.