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: Interchangeable Parts
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address:
Life Technologies Inc.
5250 Main Way
Burlington Ontario
Canada
L7L5Z1
Nature of Requirements:
Marlene Hall
Supply Specialist
Telephone: 204 984-6423
E-mail: m••••••••@••••••••.••.ca
File No.: 6D063-132299/A
TITLE: Real Time Thermocycler
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf
of Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC), intends to negotiate with
Life Technologies Inc. for the provision of a Real Time
Thermocycler System.
DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT
The Public Health Agency of Canada has a requirement for the
supply and delivery of one (1) ABI 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR
System.
The National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services (NLHRS)
represents Canada's premier reference laboratory for HIV and
HTLV testing in support of testing programs conducted by
provincial ministries of health and the Canadian Blood Services.
Our role is to strengthen the country's capacity to diagnose,
detect and characterize HIV infection, which threatens the
public health system and blood supply. Our reference diagnostic
testing program and Reference Material, Proficiency testing and
External Quality Control program supports national and
international stakeholders. As well, our Surveillance program is
at the leading edge of new and novel HIV and Hepatitis C testing
due to its reference diagnostic and technical capacity and we
have the ability to rapidly 'alert' public health and blood
screening agencies of potential new threats. We have extensive
experience in molecular and serological testing, from a variety
of sample types, for HIV-1 and HIV-2 as well as other human
retroviruses (Human T-cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV-I, HTLV-II), SIV
and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs)). Our laboratory is also
actively involved in the development and optimization of new and
innovative technologies.
The NLHRS also possesses an invaluable expertise in HIV
serological and molecular testing of challenging samples (whole
blood, cell pellets, plasma, formalin fixed and frozen tissue
and dried blood spots (DBS), etc.) for Canadian provinces and
the Canadian Blood Services. This requires us to deliver time
sensitive results in a timely manner in order to avoid
devastating consequences for patients across Canada. The
molecular assays that the NLHRS currently performs to detect the
presence of HIV DNA are end-point nested polymerase chain
reactions (PCR). The NLHRS has been working towards transferring
these tests to RealTime PCR. Brand new primers and probes have
been evaluated and validated on the ABI 7500 Fast instrument.
The NLHRS currently has 4 functioning thermocyclers to perform
the end-point PCR assays. To successfully complete the transfer
of these assays to the 7500 Fast, the NLHRS requires an
additional ABI 7500 Fast instrument to maintain current workflow
and meet the increased testing demand. Without this additional
instrument the NLHRS would not be able to meet its
turn-around-time due to delays in testing. It would be
problematic to our stakeholders; the delay in testing would
increase the time it takes to provide test results to the labs
who submit results, this in turn would increase the time it
takes for patients to receive their test results. For positive
patients this could result in transmission of the virus to
others if the patient is unaware of their infection status. In
negative patients it could result in continued precautionary
medication when it is unnecessary.
No other instrument would be acceptable as it would not fall
within our current workflow or be able to be used
interchangeably with the current NLHRS instrument.
SECURITY REQUIREMENT
There is a security requirement associated with this requirement.
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities that its product meets the following mandatory
requirements:
PERFORMANCE/ CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES/SPECIFICATIONS
1. The Real Time PCR system must be compatible with the current
chemistry and workflow.
2. The Real Time PCR system must be in 96-microtiter well plate
format.
3. The Real Time PCR system must be able to perform high-speed
thermal cycling to deliver high quality results in less than 30
minutes while maintaining thermal uniformity.
4. Excellent precision; can differentiate between 5000 and 1000
template copies.
5. The Real Time PCR system must support a variety of
application to follow current workflow including:
- Gene expression
- Absolute quantitation
- SNP genotyping
- High resolution melt analysis
- Present/Absent analysis
6. The Real Time PCR system must be calibrated for current
chemistry: FAM?/SYBR® Green I, VIC®/JOE?, NED?/ TAMRA?/ Cy3?,
ROX?/Texas Red®, and Cy5?.
7. The Real Time PCR system must have multiplexing capabilities.
8. The Real Time PCR system must come with a laptop.
9. The Real Time PCR system must fit on a bench top.
JUSTIFICATION FOR PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc. is the only known supplier that can
provide an ABI 7500 Fast PCR System 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(a) to ensure
compatibility with existing products, to recognize exclusive
rights, such as exclusive licences, copywright and patent
rights, or to maintain specialized products that must be
maintained by the manufacturer or its prepresentative;
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1016.2(d) for
additonal deliveries by the original supplier that are intended
either as replacement parts or continuing services for existing
suppliers, services or installations, or as the extension of
existing suppliers, services or installations, where a change of
supplier would compel the entity to procure equipment or
services not meeting requirements of interchangeability with
already existing equipment or services, including software to
the extent that the initial procurement of the software was
covered by this Chapter;
DELIVERY DATE
The equipment must be delivered on or before March 31, 2014, FOB
destination.
PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER
Life Technologies Inc.
5250 Mainway
Burlington, Ontario
L7K 5Z1
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.
