Protein Purification Unit

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: Exclusive Rights Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Vendor Name and Address: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES INC. / GE SANTE BIO-SCIENCES INC. 500 Morgan Blvd. Baie d'Urfé Quebec Canada H9X3V1 Nature of Requirements: Marlene Hall Supply Specialist Telephone: 204 984-6423 E-mail: marlene.hall@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca File No.: 31005-125907/A

TITLE: Low Pressure Protein Purification System

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of the National Research Council Canada (NRC), intends to negotiate with GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Inc. for the provision of the following:

AKTA Pure M1 Chromatography System

NRC is a Research and Technology organization with a mandate of transferring technology to Canadian industry. The Biomolecular Sensing and Imaging (BSI) group in Medical Devices Portfolio (MD) has a requirement for a chromatographic system to perform low pressure protein purification. This request is aligned with NRC's priorities regarding our participation in the food and water safety GRDI FWS program that started in 2012. The program directly relates to an urgent need for better response times to outbreaks of infection in the food and water supplies. This equipment is needed to perform purifications of biomolecules to characterize the metabolic labeling of cell surface proteins and bacterial capture in order to prove that our new technology is specific to the pathogenic E. coli of interest to other government departments and ultimately industries related to food and water products. This equipment can help provide information critical to enhance the methodology for the bacterial capture and detection.

The BSI has been using the AKTA system from the Human Therapeutics portfolio laboratory for purifying samples and collecting data for the GRDI projects. BSI has optimized purification methods with this system and has begun purifying samples and generated data for the GRDI project. One of the columns used extensively for the purification of samples is a prepacked Superdex column for high resolution separation of biomolecules by size (gel filtration). It is critical that the work be performed using the same system (and columns) to be able to compare to previous data collected and without jeopardizing the quality of the purified samples.

Required Features

The BSI requires this low pressure protein purification system to purify proteins and other biomolecules. The system must deliver a smooth, low pulsation flow to the column in increments of 0.1 ml/min up to a maximum of 25 ml/min at 0 to 20 MPa pressure. Additionally, the system must allow users to perform time-based, volume-based and column-based programming. Specifically, the AKTA Pure M1 comes with a multi-wavelength UV/Vis monitor and detects up to 3 wavelengths from 190 to 700 nm. This can purify, identify and distinguish the labeled protein from the unlabeled species since they absorb at different wavelengths. The modular design of the system brings versatility and flexibility in using the system. Additional parts/modules can later be added on to further expand the system capability and productivity. Due to the accessibility and design of the modules, they are easily changed, which allows quick and efficient customization. The V9-C column valve of the system can control the flow of the column and monitor by measuring the change of pressure pre and post column. This is important since the column valve can adjust the flow rate according to the change in pressure, instead of the system abruptly stopping the flow due to pressure exceeding the upper limit. That means the run will continue as long as the flow rate is adjusted to keep the pressure under limit. The column valve also allows reverse flow through the column for fast and effective elution of strongly bound proteins, sharper peaks (increase purity), and a concentrated target molecule eluent. This is important for maximizing the yield for purifying the target protein for subsequent characterizations. A reversed flow also help lengthens the lifetime and improve the performance of columns by rinsing away debris on the top. In addition, the inlet selection of the system comprises 4 inlet positions in a single valve giving a convenient solution for automation of buffers. All of these features can allow BSI to obtain highly pure sample in a time efficient manner.

Delivery, FOB Destination must be on or before March 27, 2013.

The only known manufacturer of a system with the required features stated above is manufactured by GE Healthcare.

Trade Agreements: The following limited tendering reasons pertain to this requirement:

Government Contract Regulations, Part 1, Section 6(d) only one supplier (person or firm) is capable of performing the contract.

Government on Internal Trade (AIT), Article 506-12(b) 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;

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1016.2(b) 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 reason, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. 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.