ABI 3730 Sequencer

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: Life Technologies Inc. 5250 Main Way Burlington Ontario Canada L7L5Z1 Nature of Requirements: Marlene Hall Supply Specialist Telephone: 204 984-6423 E-mail: marlene.hall@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

File No.: 6D063-132305/A

TITLE: ABI 3730 Sequencer

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC), intends to negotiate with Life Technologies Inc. for the provision of a ABI 3730 Sequencer.

DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT The Public Health Agency of Canada has a requirement for the supply and delivery of one (1) ABI 3730 Sequencer. The National Laboratory for HIV Genetics (NLHG) contributes to the global effort against the HIV/AIDS pandemic by performing genetic analysis of HIV for a number of activities including the Canadian HIV/AIDS Strain and Drug Resistance Surveillance Program. The NLHG monitors and evaluates trends in HIV drug resistance and HIV subtype distribution, ensures the quality of HIV diagnostic testing, informs vaccine development, guides antiretroviral selection and facilitates our understanding of HIV transmission patterns.

The Life Technologies 3730 sequencer will facilitate the fulfillment of our HIV DR surveillance obligations both in Canada and internationally. The NLHG currently uses the Life Technologies sequencers in HIV genotyping as this equipment provides the greatest flexibility for both genotyping and research. Sequence used by this machine is analyzed using software that we currently use (SeqScape and ReCall), and is therefore compatible with existing equipment, SOPS and current workflows in our program. Representing a higher throughput version of the 3130XL sequencer we are currently using, this instrument will allow us to test more samples allowing us to meet the demands of stakeholders more efficiently.

This requirement includes a trade-in, Model 3130XL, Serial number 1594-005 as part of the purchase.

SECURITY REQUIREMENT There is a security requirement associated with this requirement.

PERFORMANCE/ CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES/SPECIFICATIONS Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product meets the following mandatory requirements:

The instrument must use at least 48-capillary arrays to speed up work processes. The capillary array must be constructed using internally uncoated capillaries and perform 300 sample runs, enabling us to save on the costs involved in changing the capillary array.

The instrument must be designed to process successive runs without requiring a capillary array washing or conditioning step to speed up runs.

The instrument must have the ability to simultaneously inject 48 sequencing or genotyping samples.

The instrument must be able to detect and analyze 5 fluorescent dyes simultaneously (6-FAM, VIC, NED, PET and LIZ) which are part of a dye set that reduces potential crosstalk while providing a higher dynamic range.

The instrument must use a POP-7? Performance Optimized Polymer separation matrix, on which all our SOPs have been based and optimized.

The instrument must be compatible with current reagents used and optimized in our laboratory's SOPs (ex: BigDye Terminator, etc).

The instrument must provide automated filling of capillary arrays with a separation matrix (polymer) for every run without the need for user intervention. This allows to us run samples overnight, therefore increasing workflow speed.

The instrument must have an internal barcode reader to allow for automatic and unattended processing of sample plates.

The instrument's laser must be fixed in place and illuminate all 48-capillaries in the array simultaneously. A dual-side illumination and in-capillary excitation must be used for more uniform simultaneous excitation of all 48-capillaries in an array.

The instrument must be able to simultaneously capture the emitted fluorescence from all capillaries in an array.

The instrument's analysis software for use with sequencing applications must be compatible with our current workflow and SOPs (ex: SeqScape).

Purchase of the system must include local service of engineers, regional technical support/applications training in English and/or French, on-site, in-lab customer training in English and/or French, technical support via phone and Internet and 1 year parts and labour warranty.

These specifications, taken as a whole, show that no other instrument system in the current market can achieve the results we are expecting from it, or that no other genetic analyzer manufacturer can offer.

JUSTIFICATION FOR PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER Life Technologies Inc. is the only known supplier that can provide an ABI 3730 Sequencer that meets all of the mandatory performance specifications.

TRADE AGREEMENTS The following limited tendering reasons pertain to this requirement:

Government Contract Regulations, Part 1, Section 6(d) only one person is capable of performing the contract.

Government 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;

World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP), Article XV(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;

DELIVERY DATE The equipment must be delivered on or before March 31, 2014, FOB destination.

PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER Life Technologies Inc. 5250 Mainway Burlington, Ontario L7K 5Z1 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.