Analytical Services for the Detection and Quantitation of Allergens, Chemical Additives and Residue Contaminants in Food

This notice is being extended from February 16, 2018 to April 3, 2018. ********** The Contracting Officer is Daisy Suk Wah Yee. ********** This notice is being extended from December 1, 2017 to February 16, 2018. The RFSO is anticipated winter 2017-2018. ********** Introduction This pre-solicitation notice is provided to inform industry of a potential upcoming Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) for the procurement of commercial laboratory services related to chemical hazards found in food products. The intent of this notice is to allow industry additional time to undergo method validation and accreditation, and identifies the potential Methods of interest and assess capability for both method accreditation and sample volume. An RFSO is anticipated winter 2017-2018. No response to this notice is required. Background The CFIA is a federal regulatory agency with a mission to safeguard food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada’s people, environment and economy. As Canada’s largest science-based regulator, the CFIA works with various partners to support and develop science that contributes to evidence-based decisions that better protect Canada's food, animal and plant resources. In order to attain a better understanding of the food safety risks that Canadians may be exposed to, the CFIA developed a series of surveys to target and profile commodities in the non-federally registered sector. Foods, such as bakery products, grains, grain products, juices, snack foods, beverages, coffee and tea, meal replacements, spices and seasonings, are subjected to analysis for certain hazards (allergen, chemical residues, contaminants and toxins). The collective results obtained through these Surveys will enable CFIA to:

enhance capacity to identify risks, to determine their origin, and to reduce and mitigate these risks; to provide inspectors with additional tools to their activities, verify compliance, and take enforcement actions; to improve consumers' ability to be well-engaged, in order to make informed decisions they must play an active role in the safety of their food; to help industry and stakeholders play an active role in the safety of food by improving the Agency's guidance to assist them in implementing effective control systems.

As these data are to be used in health risk assessments, the supplier(s) must meet stringent quality assurance criteria. While, CFIA is continuously maintaining and monitoring these criteria, given the nature of the ever evolving food science and food industry, changes and modification to the list may happen in the upcoming RFSO.  Requirement The Supplier will be required to perform commercial laboratory services for the delivery of targeted surveys of allergens, chemical additives and residue contaminants (hazards) in food. The services will be conducted across Canada and be delivered to the National Capital Region (NCR). The Supplier must collect the sample as defined in the sample plan and provide testing for one or more hazards in accordance with analytical methods and standard operating procedures (SOP). These methods must be accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) in the Program Specialty Area for Agriculture and Food Products, or under the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA). Annex A, “Targeted Surveys Hazards Methods and Criteria” identifies all targeted hazards, along with Method Reference, estimated sample volume, possible Commodity (of which the method must be validated in), required analytes and minimum detection limits. This table is to provide useful information for potential bidders to develop their analytical methods and standard operating procedures (SOP), thus achieve the accreditation as required. The required detection limits are minimums and CFIA may preferentially rate those with more desirable detection limits during the evaluation process. References SCC https://www.scc.ca/en/search/palcan CALA http://www.cala.ca Proposed Period of Service The services are required for the period commencing on standing offer issuance (estimated to be April 2018) to 31 March 2021 with up to two option periods of one year each. Policy This procurement is subject to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. This procurement consists of Quality Control, Testing, Inspection and Technical Representative Services which are excluded from the application of the NAFTA as per Annex 1001.1b-2, Class H and is not listed under the WTO-AGP. The Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements (CLCAs) will not be applicable to this procurement, as no Work will be conducted within a CLCA area.  The Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal business will not apply to this procurement as the services will not be delivered to or for an Aboriginal population and Canada has elected not to designate the procurement as being restricted exclusively to qualified Aboriginal suppliers. The requirement will be limited to Canadian goods and/or services. Contracting Officer Daisy Suk Wah Yee Intern Officer Science and Software Systems Procurement Directorate Les Terrasses de la Chaudière Telephone: 613-859-0678 E-mail address: DaisySukWah.Yee@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca