Ultrasound Velocity Profile Monitor

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: Ian.Taylor@pwgsc.gc.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.