Transmetteur de profil des vitesses par ultrasons

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/AIT/Canada-Peru FTA/Canada-Colombia FTA
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited
to bid
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives
Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address:
MET-FLOW SA
Ch. Auguste-Pidou 8
Switzerland
1007
Nature of Requirements:
Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor

1. Purpose of an Advance Contract Notice (ACAN)

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows department 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 goods, service or construction contract to a
pre-identified supplier. 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 officer will proceed to a full
tendering process.

2. Definition of requirements and sole source justification

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has a requirement for an
Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor to conduct research in
bitumen recovery.

Natural Resources Canada has the intention to purchase an
Ultrasound Velocity Profile Monitor DUO-MX SN from MET-FLOW SA
in order to meet their research requirements. The proposed
research project cannot be completed on the schedule basis
without an automated, reliable and sensitive settling velocity
measurement. Many efforts have been done to find another
equipment with similar abilities. These non-intrusive UVP
methods for 2D or 3D flow field velocity mapping in an opaque
system is patented by MET-FLOW SA and seems to be unique.
These methods satisfy NRCan's needs to measure the velocity of
settling aggregates based on the velocity range and measurement
depth.

In previous research, image acquisition and video recording
techniques have been used for measuring the settling velocity of
aggregates in Paraffinic Solvent Froth Treatment (PSFT). The
sample of diluted bitumen froth collected during typical PSFT
processing were completely opaque suspensions of aggregates in
diluted bitumen. To view the composition of the aggregates and
determine their settling velocities, a dilute bitumen solution
with the same solubility of the original solution was made to
facilitate the image acquisition and video recording. To
preserve the aggregate structure, a new method of sample
dilution was employed whereby the diluent prepared was a mixture
of aromatic and paraffinic solvents. The proportion of aromatic
and paraffinic solvents were calculated based on the solubility
parameters of the original diluted froth sample using Hildebrand
and Scatchard solubility equation and solubility numbers. Then a
drop of the aggregates was released in the new transparent
dilute bitumen solution and the settling velocity was measured
using image acquisition and video recording.

Since the above mentioned processes were very time consuming and
needed a lot of skills and efforts, in this research we highly
recommend providing and using Ultrasound Velocity Profiler (UVP)
DUO-MX SN for in situ characterization of particulate settling
and sedimentation. UVP techniques in particular hold great
promise for oil sand industries due to their relative
robustness, low cost (compared to radiation transmitters) and
instrument design flexibility. In principle, UVP systems work
similarly to laser based instruments, where a burst of
ultrasonic (US) sound (normally 1-10MHz) is sent through
dispersion and the scattering or absorption of the signal
describes particle properties such as size and concentration.
The advantages of US systems, in terms of in situ deployment, is
that they can be operated with a single transducer-receiver,
which both produces the US pulse and can measure the return
"echo" signal from the dispersion. Hence, they don't require the
signal to be passed through a specific sample unit, such as most
turbidity and conductivity meters. In addition, ultrasonic
systems have been used for a number of years in marine
environment to study long term shifts of sediment beds and
particle transport, and are often preferred over laser systems,
due to their applicability in opaque environments such as
solvent froth solution. The essential attributes of (UVP) DUO-MX
SN for in situ characterization of particulate settling and
sedimentation can be classified as follows:

Non-intrusive technique using detection of the Doppler shift
frequency
Ability to measure particle and settling velocity in opaque
solutions using echo reception as a function of time
2D and 3D flow field mapping possible
Through-wall measurement often possible
Instantaneous and time-averaged information
No calibration required
Small dimensions & easy set-up
Velocity range from 0 to 40 m/s (unsigned)
Measurement of flow reversals possible
Measuring depth from 3 mm to 3 m using various transducers from
0.5 to 8 MHz
Measurement of an instantaneous velocity profile
High spatial and temporal resolution: down to 0.4 mm, and down
to 1 msec
Possibility to monitor turbulence statistics, transient
behaviour, flow instabilities

3. Trade Agreements

Article 1016, Section 2, (b) of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA)
"...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;"

Article 506, Section 12 (b) of the Agreement on Internal Trade
(AIT)
"...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;"

4. Government Contracts Regulations Exception
This contract is subject to subsection 6 (d) of the Government
Contracts Regulations, in that only one person or company is
capable of performing the contract.

5. Total Estimated Value
CAD $53,438.70

6. Proposed Contractor
MET-FLOW SA
Ch. Auguste-Pidou
8-1007 Lausanne-Suisse,
Switzerland

7. Departmental Contact Person

Suppliers may address inquiries or submit their statement of
capabilities to:

Name: Ian Taylor
Position: Supply Specialist
Tel: (780) 497-3621
Fax: (780) 497-3510
E-mail: I••••••••@•••••.••.ca

8. Submission of Statement of Capabilities by Suppliers

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.

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.