AutoGenprep 965

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama 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: AUTOGEN INC 84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD HOLLISTON Massachusetts United States 01746 Nature of Requirements: AUTOGENPREP 965

31029-137224/A Tammy Kozak Telephone No. - (204) 984-8825 Fax No. - (204) 983-7796

1. INTRODUCTION Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of the National Research Council (NRC) in Saskatoon, SK intends to solicit a proposal and negotiate a contract with Autogen in Hollinston, MA, USA for the for the supply, installation, and training of a AutoGenprep 965.

2. BACKGROUND NRC-Saskatoon is a centre of excellence for the development and improvement of molecular tools for crop breeding. NRC-Saskatoon has made a major commitment to establishing advanced molecular biology, genetics and genomics technologies in the DNA Technologies Laboratory, to further the rapid development of improved crop germplasm. An important project supported at NRC-Saskatoon is the NRC Wheat Flagship incorporating the Genomics Assisted Breeding (GAB) project and aligned to the Genome Canada "Canadian Triticum Advancement through Genomics (CTAG)" project. Both of these projects are carrying out large-scale sequencing and genotyping in the major Canadian wheat crop species and varieties. A key aspect of this work is the screening of large numbers of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) from multiple wheat varieties and large segregating populations (1,000's plants) derived from crosses of these varieties. This will require the extraction of large amounts of very high quality genomic DNA from these plants so that; 1) multiplex and low-plex SNP genotyping can be undertaken in the samples as robustly as possible; and 2) significant (microgram) amounts of very high quality DNA are available for complete digestion with a large variety of restriction enzyme, including methylation sensitive enzymes, to enable next generation sequencing (NGS) sequencing library construction. The requirement for genomic DNA of these amounts and quality requires the utilization of an organic solvent based centrifugation methodology to ensure optimal preparations are produced. The platform will also be used to extract the DNA from 1000's of bacterial clone cultures each carrying Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) carrying segments of a wheat chromosome as part of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC). A very high quality DNA is required for the construction of NGS libraries to enable the sequencing of the BACs and ultimately the entire chromosome. Due to the large number of wheat plants and BAC samples being processed for DNA extraction, the system has to be fully automated, free of cross contamination issues and be capable of operating overnight unattended with minimum downtime. An automated DNA extraction platform that will be able to accommodate all of the above needs and listed specifications is required for the wheat projects.

3. MANDATORY PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Mandatory capabilities of the DNA extraction platform must include but are not limited to the following performance requirements:

SPECIFICATIONS: 1. Ability to produce microgram amounts of a minimum 5ug of very high quality DNA with a OD260/OD280 reading between 1.8 and 2, for direct use in DNA sequencing, PCR, restriction digests, and transformations. 2. Flexibility to extract DNA from plant tissue, plasmid and BAC bacterial cultures, blood and animal tissue. 3. Ability to extract DNA using a single-phase organic extraction without the requirement of filters, columns, magnetic beads, or vacuums. 4. Equipped with air filtration for biohazard reduction. 5. Capability to process, unattended, up to 384 samples in 4 to 6 hours (four 96 deep well plates) simultaneously, allowing multiple runs per day. 6. Capability of operating overnight unattended. 7. Automated Liquid transfer so that cross contamination between samples is eliminated. 8. Liquid handling capabilities such as transferring eluted and resuspended DNA from 96 deep well plates to shallow well plates for PCR set up. 9. Ability to upgrade to new extraction protocols as they are developed.

4. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

The AutoGen AutoGenprep 965 platform is the only dedicated DNA extraction platform that can accommodate the stated requirements. AutoGen is in a unique position to fulfill this requirement as they are the manufacturer and sole authorized distributor of the AutoGen AutoGenprep 965. Based on the above, the Crown intends to negotiate a contract with AutoGen on a sole source basis.

5. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT REGULATIONS Government Contract Regulations: 6.(d) only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract.

6. TRADE AGREEMENTS The requirement is subject to the provisions of the World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

AIT Article 506. 12 Where only one supplier is able to meet the requirements of a procurement, an entity may use procurement procedures that are different from those described in paragraphs 1 through 10 in the following circumstances: (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;

NAFTA Article 1016: Limited Tendering Procedures. 2. An entity may use limited tendering procedures in the following circumstances and subject to the following conditions, as applicable: (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;

WTO - ARTICLE XV: The provisions of Articles VII through XIV governing open and selective tendering procedures need not apply in the following conditions, provided that limited tendering is not used with a view to avoiding maximum possible competition or in a manner which would constitute a means of discrimination among suppliers of other Parties or protection to domestic producers or suppliers: b)when, for works of art or for reasons connected with protection of exclusive rights, such as patents or copyrights, or in the absence of competition for technical reasons, the products or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.

7. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR

AutoGen 84 October Hill Road Holliston, MA 01746

8. DELIVERY DATE While delivery is requested by January 31, 2014, or earlier, delivery must be made complete by March 31, 2014.

9. ESTIMATED COST Estimated value of the requirement is between $230,000.00 and $550,000.00 CND (GST not included). The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. The Crown will also include the option to purchase additional units within the terms of the contract.

10. SUPPLIERS RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES 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.

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.

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.