Plant Growth Chambers

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Interchangeable Parts Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Vendor Name and Address: Controlled Environments Limited 590 Berry Street Winnipeg Manitoba Canada R3H0R9 Nature of Requirements:

PLANT GROWTH CHAMBERS (CABINETS)

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 Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of its client, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAC), is proposing to negotiate the supply of nine (9) Plant Growth Chambers or Cabinets of two different dimensions (Type 1 and 2). AAC is looking for growth chambers for plants equipped with control systems designed specifically for horticultural research, meeting all of the specifications below and be commercially available (COTS).

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 product(s) meets the requirements of the requirement and that it includes the following components and/or specifications and is in a position to do the installation:

Mandatory criteria for the nine (9) chambers: Type 1 and Type 2

General: - The cabinets shall all be made by the same manufacturer. - The cabinets shall all be designed to run on a 120/208V, 3PH, 60Hz power supply. - The interior and exterior walls shall be corrosion-resistant and painted white (baked enamel). Control system: - Cabinets shall be equipped with a control system connected to the central operating system that can be used to: o receive and control the alarms in each cabinet; o control and/or monitor in real time the environmental conditions within each cabinet; o view the history log of alarm conditions; o view the history log of the environmental conditions within each cabinet; o obtain technical support over the internet based on a specific diagnostic; o identify the managers and users who are authorized to use the software. - Cabinets shall be equipped with a full-colour LCD touchscreen that displays real-time temperature, lighting, relative humidity and CO2 data. - Cabinets shall be capable of storing at least 15 real-time programs, containing 48 timelines, with a maximum resolution of 1 minute. They must be able to organize eight programs into a schedule and create single-day, multi-day and seasonal schedules. The programs shall be capable of transitioning conditions in either step mode or ramp mode. The program shall enable graphing to allow users to view historical data in graph form and compare actual performance to programmed performance. The user must be able to enter a program from: o the local control system; o a personal computer (PC) connected to the cabinet network (computer 1 - cabinet room); o a second PC (computer 2 - office of the operations supervisor), also connected to the cabinet network. - Network computers with each cabinets so that the control system and data collection services work. - The equipment shall be compatible with the cabinet software (Conviron CMP6050) that already operates the existing growth cabinets. - The touchscreen shall display the alarms, including the audio alarm. - The alarm history shall be accessible via Ethernet (provide software and instructions) and display, at a minimum, the last 12 alarm events. - The alarms shall be equipped with settings for managing programmable alarms, such as emails or automatic phone calls to the user. - The control system shall be shipped communications-ready for hookup to a local area network. - The control system shall be supplied with surge protection and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to ensure continuous operation and to continue saving data during a power failure. - Multiple password-protected levels (a minimum of three discrete levels) shall be provided for users, administrators and service personnel. - The diagnostic screen shall allow service personnel to view the history of each component by the inputs/outputs.

Floors and doors - Cabinets shall have perforated aluminum channel floors. - Floors shall have corrosion-resistant drains that can easily be connected to the floor drains in the rooms. - Door thresholds shall be between 2" and 2.5". - Cabinets shall have adjustable levelling feet at least 3" long. - The windows in the doors shall have light-tight covers.

Lighting - Cabinets shall be lit by T5 fluorescent lamps and incandescent halogen bulbs. - The light canopy shall consist of adjustable-height lamps counterbalanced to enable hand positioning in varying vertical positions over the full growth height. - Lamp heat shall be mitigated by the refrigeration system. - Ballasts must be able to operate at below-freezing temperatures. - Cabinets shall have a quantum light meter with an alarm to display and record the light intensity in micromoles/m2/s.

Refrigeration system - Cabinets shall be equipped with a water-cooled condensing unit (8 °C) with a scroll compressor and close temperature control, including a two-way pressure regulating valve. - Each cabinet shall be equipped with a chilled water strainer. - Cabinets shall have an electromagnetic three-way valve that smoothly modulates heating and cooling. - Evaporator: heat exchanger with copper tube and aluminum fin construction. - High- and low-pressure transducers shall be provided in order to monitor the condition of the refrigeration system. Control systems must be able to log, alarm and shut off the system if the high- or low-pressure value exceeds the factory-set limits. - Cabinet temperature shall be maintained during the defrost cycle.

Relative humidity - Cabinet must be able to maintain relative humidity (RH) levels of 90% (lights off) and 75% (lights on), based on a temperature of 21 °C at 50% RH. - Cabinets shall be equipped with spray nozzles for additive humidity. - The RH control shall be accurate to ±3%.

- The cabinets shall be equipped with an additive atmospheric CO2 control unit, including: o a CO2 analyzer; o a CO2 regulator; o a control valve; and o a CO2 injection system. - The additive CO2 range shall be 400 ppm (ambient air) to 2900 ppm minimum, accurate to ±50 ppm. - Cabinets shall be equipped with a CO2 sensor to measure the percent RH in the air.

Additional mandatory criteria for Type 1 (Large Cabinet)

Type 1: Minimum interior capacity of 252 ft3

- The interior walls (panels) shall be insulated with polyurethane foam insulation at least 4" thick. - The temperature range shall be: o Lights off: =-5 °C to =40 °C o Lights on: =0 °C to =40 °C Deviation of ±0.5 °C from the setpoint and temperature sensor accurate to ±0.1 °C.

Temperature safety limits: Primary - Programmable high and low temperature limit Secondary - Cabinet shall have an independent high- and low-temperature limit alarm for increased security (Audible alarms for both limits).

- An aspirated sensor shall be installed above the growing surface to measure and record the temperature. - Cabinet shall be equipped with a sequential defrost system to avoid temperature spikes. - Minimum growth height shall be 72" (under the lamps). - Minimum lighted area shall be 42 ft2. - Subfloors shall be made of fibreglass resin with floor drains. - Each cabinet shall have a door with an observation window measuring at least 13" by 13". - Observation window shall be located at approximately 48’’ of the ground ± 2’’. - Light intensity shall be controllable between 0 and 1400 micromoles/m2/s when measured at a distance of 6" from the light source. - Lamp control shall provide a minimum of five programmable intensity levels per lamp type. - Minimum air flow rate in the chamber shall be 55 ft3/min (1.55 m3/min). - Filtered fresh air with adjustable exhaust.

Quantity required: 5

Additional mandatory criteria for Type 2 (Small Cabinet)

Type 2: Minimum interior capacity of 78 ft3 - The interior walls (panels) shall be insulated with polyurethane foam insulation. - The temperature range shall be: o Lights off: =-5 °C to =40 °C o Lights on: =0 °C to =40 °C - Deviation of ±0.5 °C from the setpoint and temperature sensor accurate to ±0.1 °C.

Temperature safety limits: Primary - Programmable high and low temperature limit Secondary - Cabinet shall have an independent high- and low-temperature limit alarm for increased security (Audible alarms for both limits).

- An adjustable aspirated sensor shall be installed to measure and record the temperature, independent of light radiation. - Minimum growth height shall be 57" (under the lamps). - Minimum lighted area shall be 16 ft2. - Subfloors shall be designed with a minimum 22 gauge stainless steel drain pan connected to the room floor drain. - Each cabinet shall have a door with an observation window measuring at least 13" by 13". - Observation window shall be located at approximately 48’’ of the ground ± 2’’. - Light intensity shall be controllable up to at least 875 micromoles/m2/s when measured at a distance of 6" from the light source. - Lamp control shall provide a minimum of four programmable light levels per lamp type. - Cabinet shall be equipped with a conventional defrost system. - Minimum air flow in the cabinet shall be 50 ft/min (15.2 m/min). - Filtered fresh air with adjustable exhaust to 20 ft3/min (0.57 m3/min).

Quantity required: 4

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements: o Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) o North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) o World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)

5. Government Contracts Regulations Exception The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work". 6. 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): - Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506.12 (a) & (b); - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016.2(b). - World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) - Article XIII (b) 7. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier Controlled Environments Limited operating as Conviron manufactures the Growth Plants Room, which combine all the unique and essential characteristics required by AAC. Consequently, in accordance with government contracting policy, it is proposed that a contract be awarded to Controlled Environments Limited operating as Conviron, which is to our knowledge, the only firm capable of supplying the products.

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.

9. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date The equipment must be delivered no later than six (6) months following the contract award. The equipment must be installed no later than six (6) weeks following the delivery.

10. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier Controlled Environments Limited 590, Berry Street Winnipeg, MB, R3H 0R9 Canada Operating as: Conviron

11. 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.

12. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is July 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

13. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Name: Alain Roy Title: a/ Procurement Specialist Telephone:(418) 649-2845 Facsimile:(418) 648-2209 Email: alain.roy.que@tpsgc.gc.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.