Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

Trade Agreement: 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: TA Instrument Waters LLC 159 Lukens Drive New Castle Delaware United States 19720 Nature of Requirements: 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

The National Resource Council has a requirement for the supply and delivery of one (1) Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA).

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is widely used to characterize materials' bulk properties. It measures changes of rheological behavior under dynamic conditions as a function of temperature, time, frequency, stress, atmosphere or a combination of these parameters. Material properties which can be measured by the technique are:

o Modulus o Damping o Glass Transition o Softening Temperature o Rate of Cure o Degree of Cure o Viscosity o Gelation o Sound Absorption o Impact Resistance o Creep o Stress Relaxation

In order to perform characterization, durability, and aging studies on the above listed material properties, the NRC needs a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) that can analyze samples of varied shapes (film, fibers, prisms).

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 equipment meets the following requirements:

3.1 Size: maximum dimensions - 70 cm x 120 cm x 70 cm

3.2 Must determine rheological properties of materials and products under the following simulated field conditions:

a) 95% RH at 25°C (degrees Celsius); b) 90% RH at 25°C, 40°C, 60°C, 80°C; c) 80% RH at 25°C, 40°C, 60°C, 90°C; d) 50% RH at 25°C, 40°C, 60°C, 90°C; e) 30% RH at 25°C, 40°C, 60°C, 90°C; f) sample immersed in water at 25°C to 90°C; g) ramping RH from 30% to 90% RH at 2%RH/min at a constant temperature of 25C to 80C.

3.3 The DMA instrument must include two (2) separate chambers. One chamber to encase the sample in water and one chamber to control temperature and relative humidity. The DMA must maintain specific temperatures and relative humidity consistent with parallel experiments. This is required to maintain exposures to high temperatures and high humidity which provides for an aggressive aging environment.

3.4 The parameters for the DMA must be within the following limits:

a) Maximum Force - 18 Newton (N) or higher; b) Minimum Force - .1 mN or lower; c) Force Resolution - 0.01 mN or better; d) Strain Deformation - 2000 micrometre or more; e) Strain Resolution - 1nm or better; f) Modulus Range - 103 to 1012 Pascal (Pa); g) Frequency Range - 0.01 to 200 Hz; h) Temperature Range -150°C to 600°C; i) Heating Range - 0.1°C to 20°C/min; j) Cooling Range - 0.1°C to 10°C/min.

4. Applicability of the trade agreements to the procurement

The procurement is subject to the following trade agreements

- Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

There is only one known supplier that can provide an instrument that controls temperature and humidity in the range being sought identified in Sections 2 and 3 of the Advanced Contract Award Notice. The humidity control chamber for TA Instruments has the capability of maintaining 90% RH at 80°C and 80% RH at 90°C, which is critical to the development of accelerated aging tests that stimulate field aging of construction materials. Both conditions are necessary to determine material characteristics in parallel to accelerated aging studies.

6. Government Contracting Regulations Exception

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work."

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:

Agreement on Internal trade (AIT) - Articles 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) - Article 1016 (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."

8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The system must be delivered 4 weeks after contract award.

9. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract is $102,635.00 USD.

10. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

TA Instruments - Waters LLC 159 Lukens Dr New Castle, DE 19720

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 June 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM.

13. Inquiries and submissions of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to

Jeff Schmidt Supply Officer Public Works and Government Services Canada 33 City Centre Dr, Suite 480C Mississauga, ON L5B 2N5

Telephone: 905-615-2058 Facsimile: 905-615-2060 E-mail: jeff.schmidt@pwgsc.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.