AXIO IMAGER A2m MICROSCOPE

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: Carl Zeiss Canada Ltd 45 Valleybrook Drive Toronto Ontario Canada M3B2S6 Nature of Requirements: AXIO IMAGER A2m MICROSCOPE

31184-131844/A Martins, Christina Telephone No. - (819) 956-6911 Fax No. - (819) 956-3814

1. 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. National Research Council Canada has a requirement for the purchase of a high precision optical microscope with fully integrated digital imaging capability to develop and document semiconductor specimen processing for various applications.

3. Minimum Essential Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its system meets the following requirements:

3.1 Binocular ergo trinotube must have a 50-50 split between the camera and oculars.

3.2 The head of the microscope must move up by 5 cm plus front and back by 5cm with an inclination of 15 degrees.

3.3 The head of the microscope must not tilt.

3.4 Both oculars must have a field of 23mm and be adjustable.

3.5 The microscope must have an encoded objective and filter turret for the different contrast techniques.

3.6 The light path for reflected light (RL) must be apochromatically corrected.

3.7 Contrast techniques: Reflected light brightfield, reflected light darkfield, reflected light CIRCULAR DIC. Traditional DIC will not be considered.

3.8 Traditional DIC will not be considered. Transmitted light brightfield, transmitted light darkfield, Circular DIC for transmitted light. IR mode for transmitted and reflected light.

3.9 The reflected light path must have a diaphragm with a centering aperture. Neutral density filters must be in a rotating insert for RL.

4.0 The two light sources must be 100 watts halogen for use with IR light.

4.1 The objective turret must hold 7 objectives for current needs.

4.2 Objectives to be used without a cover slip with neofluar correction minimum: Circular DIC must be available for all objectives 2.5x/0.06 WD 15mm 5x/0.13 WD 14mm 10x/0.25 WD 9mm 50x/0.80 WD 0.59mm 100x/0.9 WD 0.28mm Long distance 20x/0.22 focal distance over 1cm Special plan apochromate for VIS and IR water dipping with an NA of 1.0 WD = 2.1mm

4.3 The stage carrier must be removable with the stage to insert large samples.

4.4 The stage carrier must have different set positions to visualize larger samples onto the stage.

4.5 The stage for TL and TL must rotate at least 240 degrees.

4.6 The condenser must have the DIC prisms for TL C-DIC. A rotatable polarizer with color filter holder must be under the condenser.

4.7 IR optics must be included for TL and RL.

4.8 The software, camera, microscope and support must come from the same company.

4.9 The software must include

64bits operating system. It must be able to collapse the different areas in focus from different focal planes into one image. Advanced measurement tools must be included. Manually stitching images interactively, not post acquisition. Upgradable to motorized xy stage with tiling capabilities with a pyramidal file structure. The software must register the microscope and its components such as objectives, light source, filter turret for contrast techniques.

5.0 Cameras: 5 megapixels color CCD camera with 0.63x adaptor, second camera for IR imaging with a 1x c mount must be mounted on the microscope with another 50-50 split.

5.1 Computer high performance workstation with 64 bits windows ultimate, minimum 12 gigs of RAM and 24 inch monitor.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s):

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

5. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)

Not Applcable.

6. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

Carl Zeiss offers the unique circular Differential Interference Contrast (C-DIC). C-DIC is a polarization-optical technique which, in contrast to ordinary DIC, uses circularly polarized light. The specimen no longer has to be rotated for best image contrast and quality, as in the case of basic DIC. With C-DIC you just have to adjust the position of the C-DIC prism to achieve the best image quality whether it is for contrast and/or resolution independent of sample orientation. To increase the contrast and resolution, Carl Zeiss has developed different specific DIC sliders for different magnifications and numerical aperature.

7. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

10.2 Exceptions 10.2.1 Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations contains four exceptions that permit the contracting authority to set aside the requirement to solicit bids.

These are

a. the need is one of pressing emergency in which delay would be injurious to the public interest;

b. the estimated expenditure does not exceed $25,000, $100,000, where the contract is for the acquisition of architectural, engineering and other services required in respect of the planning, design, preparation or supervision of the construction, repair, renovation or restoration of a work, or $100,000 where the contract is to be entered into by the member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency and is for the acquisition of architectural, engineering or other services required in respect of the planning, design, preparation or supervision of an international development assistance program or project;

c. the nature of the work is such that it would not be in the public interest to solicit bids;

OR

d. only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract.

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 10.2 Section 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work").

8. Limited tendering provisions under NAFTA Article 1016.2(b) and AIT Article 506.12(b) for reasons based on exclusive rights will apply.

9. 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.(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 reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.

10. Ownership of Intellectual Property.

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

11. The period of the proposed the delivery date.

The equipment is requested on or before 15 November 2013.

12. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Carl Zeiss Canada Ltd 45 Valleybrook Drive Toronto, Ontario M3B2S6 Canada

13. 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.

14. The closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities.

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is 4 September 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EST. 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.