Portable Photosynthesis System and Fluorescence System - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

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: LI-COR, Inc. PO Box 4425 Lincoln Nebraska United States 68504 Nature of Requirements: Portable Photosynthesis System and Fluorescence System - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

31029-124169/A Glover, Cindy Telephone No. - (306) 780-5605 Fax No. - (306) 780-5601

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.

Requirement: National Research Council (NRC) located at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has a requirement for the supply and delivery of one (1) portable photosynthesis system and fluorescence system.

Background: Under the new "Wheat Flagship" initiative at National Research Council (Saskatoon), a project focused on improving photosynthetic efficiency in wheat has been initiated. In this project, assessing photosynthesis in wheat genotypes and related species is one of the major objectives. To perform the photosynthesis related experiments in this project, NRC requires the most current system with advanced features to measure photosynthesis in wheat plants grown in greenhouse and field conditions. It is also important that the system that is used and the results obtained from these experiments meet the required standards and compatibility with similar studies performed by international researchers (including potential international collaborators).

Mandatory Specifications: The portable photosynthesis and fluorescence system required for the research project must:

1) Portable unit for use in the lab, greenhouse and in field conditions to measure photosynthesis 2) Measures gas exchange plus chlorophyll fluorescence 3) Wavelength controlled light source to measure fluorescence 4) Measure gas exchange and PAM fluorescence simultaneously over the same leaf area 5) The gas analyzer is user cleanable 6) High throughput capability with bar-coded reader support

The LI-COR LI-6400XTR Portable Photosynthesis System and Fluorescence System is the only known commercially available instrument that meets the needs of the research project. LI-COR Biosciences Inc. is the sole distributor of the LI-COR LI-6400XTR Portable Photosynthesis System and Fluorescence System.

The LI-COR LI-6400XTR Portable Photosynthesis System and Fluorescence System offer the following unique specifications, which are essential in meeting the specified research objectives of this project:

1) CO2 and H2O infrared gas analyzers must be located in the sensor head so gas concentrations are measured within the leaf cuvette mixing volume 2) H2O must be measured with high precise infrared gas analyzer not a capacitance relative humidity sensor 3) The gas analyzer must have a minimum of 10 Hz (0.1 s) response time 4) The system must have a blacklit display, in-field programming and file editing capabilities 5) The system must be expandable to measure gas exchange and PAM fluorescence simultaneously over the same leaf area with full control of environmental variables 6) The system must operate without the use of fiber optic light guides which can cause shading of leaf surface 7) Instrument configuration and data acquisition must have the ability to be remotely controlled through Ethernet connections 8) The system software must be able to export data in both text and Microsoft Excel formats and facilitate bar-code reader support in the software 9) Option for independent red and blue light source measurements for PSII induction and phytochrome/cryptochrome signaling 10) Option to measure whole seedlings in chambers

Only Known Source of Supply: LI-COR Biosciences Inc. 4421 Superior Street Lincoln, NE 68504 USA

Sole Source Justification: Only one supplier is capable of performing the work.

Trade Agreements: The requirement is applicable to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Government Contracts Regulations Exception and Limited Tendering Reason: Section 6 (d) of the Government Contracts Regulations is being invoked as only one supplier (person or firm) is capable of performing the contract.

AIT Articles 506.12(b) of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) is applicable on the basis of limited tendering 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.

NAFTA In accordance with Article 1016: Limited Tendering Procedures, 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 reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.

Delivery Date: Delivery is required on or before March 28, 2013.

Estimated Contract Value: The estimated contract value of this procurement is $45,350.00 USD.

Statement of Capabilities: Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services and/or 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.

Closing Date: The closing date for a submission of a Statement of Capabilities is 18 January 2013.

Direct inquiries and submissions of Statements of Capabilities to:

Cindy Glover Supply Specialist Public Works and Government Services Canada Western Region - Acquisitions Branch #201, 1800 11th Avenue Regina, SK S4P 0H8

Telephone: (306) 780-5605 Facsimile: (306) 780-5601 E-mail: cindy.glover@pwgsc-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.