Système d'analyse de cellules vivantes

Trade Agreement: CETA / WTO-AGP / NAFTA / FTAs with Peru / Colombia / Panama / Korea
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address:
Essen Instruments, Inc.
300 West Morgan Road
Ann Arbor Michigan
United States
48108
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 National Research Council of Canada is seeking a live-cell analysis system with the flexibility and broad utility required to meet the needs of a rapid-paced, multi-user, multi-application and multidisciplinary research environment. The Biologics and Biomanufacturing Program within the Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center is a lucrative and fast expanding division of the Canadian National Research Council (CNRC).

Multiple teams within this Program are in desperate need for increasing their cellular-based assay imaging capacity in order to support NRC’s internal projects and the demands from external (industrial) clients. Our client base, and with that their needs, are expanding beyond our current capabilities needed to provide world-class cutting edge support and expertise in the development of novel therapeutic biologics.

Currently the Primary Assay Team performs a suite two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cellular assays. These assays require different types of image analysis to assess the biological activities of novel biologics in in vitro cancer cell models, all of which are time consuming, labor intensive and relatively low in throughput. Together these aspects form a significant bottleneck in HHT’s internal projects but also in supporting external (industrial) client requests.

Acquisition of the Live-Cell Analysis System will address this capacity gap and will allow the Primary Assays Team to expand its capabilities with novel high throughput live-cell assays that can be run in a time and cost effective manner. This system offers a flexible assay platform that performs automated kinetic, image-based around-the-clock measurements at precise, regularly scheduled intervals for long periods of time and thus allows for the continuous analysis of cellular events in real-time. The use of ?live-dyes’, in addition to label-free imaging, gives researchers the opportunity to profile the biological activity of cells in a specific and time-dependent manner. This technology does not only generate data that is more physiologically relevant, it also provides a much deeper and more meaningful understanding of cellular functions and active biological processes compared to the conventional endpoint assays.

Constraints

The imager must fit into a regular tissue culture incubator and must have the following dimensions (H x W x D): 32.0cm x 45.0cm x 47.8cm (12.6in x 17.7in x 18.8in).

The imaging system must not contain any robotic arms.

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:

Mandatory technical specifications

The delivered equipment must have the following specifications:

3.1. The automated image acquisition and analysis system must operate and capture images from within a standard tissue culture incubator so that precise control of temperature, humidity and other environmental factors such as CO2 and oxygen can be maintained. Cells in the imager therefore take full advantage of the incubator’s physiologically environment (37°C, 5% CO2 and humidification).

3.2. Cells must remain in the imager that is placed in the incubator during the entire experiment and must not be manually or robotically moved at various time intervals between the incubator and the imager. This thus allows for an uninterrupted and unperturbed assessment of cellular behavior over the entire course of the experiment.

3.3. Once cells are placed in the Live-Cell Analysis System and users have set up their experiment they must be able to walk away while the imaging system automatically collects and analyzes images at pre-programmed intervals, magnification and imaging mode without predefining the assay endpoint of the experiment.

3.4. The optics of the Live-Cell Analysis System must move to the areas being imaged. The cell culture vessels must remain stationary during this process. Stationary optics, stage driven vessel movement or moving plates with robotic systems are not acceptable.

3.5. The system must be capable of simultaneously imaging and analyzing any mixture of 6 assay plates that conform to the ANSI/SLAS standard for assay plates. These include 384-well microplates, 96-well microplates, 48-well plates, 24-well plates, 12-well plates, and 6-well plates.

3.6. The Live-Cell Analysis System must accommodate multiple users that must be able to initiate experiments at any time, irrespective of experiments that are already ongoing, and run six (6) different assays simultaneously. This can be by using a) different types of cellular assays (e.g. cytotoxicity, tumor cell invasion using tumor spheroids, 2D migration, etc.), b) various vessels or microplates, c) ?live-dye(s)’ either in single or multiplex mode, or d) different imaging intervals.

3.7. The Live-Cell Analysis System must accommodate the following but must not be limited to the following plastic tissue culture vessels: 92.6 cm2 Robo flask, 500 cm2 Triple flask, 84 cm2 Auto flask, 225 cm2 flasks, 185 cm2 flasks, 182 cm2 flasks, 175 cm2 flasks, 162 cm2 flasks, 150 cm2 flasks, 75 cm2 flasks, 25 cm2 flasks, 35mm dishes, 60mm dishes, 100mm dishes, 150mm dishes, chambered slides and microslides.

3.8. The Live-Cell Analysis System system must possess fully automated, hands-free operation for periods exceeding 25 days and must be designed to autofocus and auto expose without intervention during this time period. The automated imaging system must return to the same location in a repeated fashion without error over this same time period.

3.9. The Live-Cell Analysis System imaging software must be capable of generating label free, time based, growth curves for cells in 2D and 3D cultures.

3.10. The Live-Cell Analysis System imaging software must be able to mask, quantify and generate time based curves based on fluorescence metrics including but not limited to: Fluorescent Count, Fluorescent Average Area, Fluorescent Total Area, Fluorescent Confluence, Fluorescent Mean Intensity, Fluorescent Average Integrated Intensity, Fluorescent Total Integrated Intensity, and Fluorescent Eccentricity.

3.11. Control of the Live-Cell Analysis System imaging system must be distributed over a network and the imaging software must be able to elicit control of the automated image acquisition and analysis system from any networked computer.

3.12. Unlimited licensees of the imaging software must be available. The imaging software must not operate using a client computer license key or dongle.

3.13. The system must perform whole-well imaging for selected vessels and include software for image navigation and panning.

3.14. The system must have high definition phase contrast optics and two fluorescent wavelengths (red: ex565-605nm, em625-705nm; green: ex440-480nm, em504-544nm). The fluorescence optics must be capable of reading YoPro-3, mKate2, GFP, YFP, Alexa 488, intercalating DNA dyes, fluorescein or fluorescein derivatives.

3.15. The high definition optics of the system must image standard 384-well tissue culture plates without any sidewall or meniscus effects.

3.16. The system must have the following objectives on an automated turret: 4x PLAN, 10x PLAN FLUOR, and 20x PLAN FLUOR.

3.17. The system must have a CMOS detector with low read noise and detector with linear response to changes in fluorescence.

3.18. All generated data is centrally stored in a controller unit that can be remotely accessed by an unlimited number of users at any time from their own office work station.

3.19. Data storage capacity on the system must consist of at least 18 Terabytes in the form of a RAID Array design and be expandable to 49 Terabytes.

3.20. The instrument must have a fluorescence calibration system that allows for comparison of fluorescence-based metrics derived from images on one instrument to metrics derived from images on another instrument. The calibration system also must allow for comparison of intensity values for images that are captured with different objectives and at different acquisition times. Last, calibration must enable automated correction of camera offset, illumination shape, and background signal from sources such as light leakage and autofluorescence of optical elements (e.g., dark-field and flat-field corrections).

4-Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:

-Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

-World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)

-North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

-Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

5-Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

N/A

6-Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)

N/A

7-Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The supplier must be able to provide an equipment that comply with all the criteria mentioned at point 3 of this notice. To PWGSC’s knowledge, only Essen BioScience, Inc. is able to provide this equipment.

8-Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

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

9-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) Article 513 par .b)

-World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) Article XV par. 1.b)

-North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Article 1016 par. 2.b)

-Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Article 19.12 par. 1.b.iii)

10-Ownership of Intellectual Property

N/A

11-Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The work consists of supply, delivery, installation of the system at the NRC address (Montreal-Royalmount Building) and training on equipment use; all of the work must be completed by March 29th, 2019.

12-Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is between 310 000$ and 350 000$ (GST/HST extra).

13-Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Essen BioScience, Inc.
300 West Morgan Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan
United States, 48108

14-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.

15-Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is December 19th, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

16-Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Denis Leporé
Telephone: (514) 701-6852
Facsimile: (514) 496-3822
E-mail: d••••••••@••••••••.••.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.