Pathogen Analysis of Honey Bee Samples, Beaverlodge AB

Pathogen Analysis of Honey Bee Samples, Beaverlodge AB ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN): This Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada intends to award a service contract 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 this ACAN, the Contracting Officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENT:  Specialized analysis of composite honey bee samples is required for quantification for RNA viruses and the parasite Nosema ceranae by Beaverlodge Research Farm as part of the Genome Canada-funded project “BeeCSI”. Data from these analyses are required for completion of this large-scale research project which focusses on honey bee health and involves many university–level collaborators across the country. The Contractor is required to provide quantitation (number of genetic copies) for nine honey bee viruses: ABPV, BQCV, CBPV, DWV, IAPV, KBV, LSV (variants 1-4), SBV and VDV from composite samples of adult honey bees. They will also be required to provide microscopic counts of environmental spores produced by the honey bee parasite Nosema ceranae and identify the parasite using an end-point PCR protocol. Techniques shall be carried out using standard qPCR procedures (for viruses) and end-point PCR (for N. ceranae) using primer sets recognized by the OIE and the EURL for Honey Bee Health. CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES: Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

Knowledge and experience in the quantitation (number of genetic copies) for nine honey bee viruses: ABPV, BQCV, CBPV, DWV, IAPV, KBV, LSV (variants 1-4), SBV and VDV from composite samples of adult honey bees using qPCR. Knowledge and experience in providing microscopic counts of environmental spores produced by the honey bee parasite Nosema ceranae and identification of the parasite using an end-point PCR protocol.  Knowledge and experience in the techniques of using standard qPCR procedures (for bee viruses) and end-point PCR (for N. ceranae) using primer sets recognized by the OIE and the EURL for Honey Bee Health.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER: There are no other commercial providers for the breadth of services that Beaverlodge Research Farm requires in Canada other than the National Bee Diagnostic Centre (NBDC). The services being provided are very highly specialized, namely the molecular detection of honey bee parasites and viruses, including their quantification. Though there are a very limited number of labs offering detection of some honey bee pathogens, few offer quantitation and none offer then range of diagnostics that the NBDC provides.  Should Canada receive a statement of capabilities from a supplier that contains sufficient information to indicate that it meets the requirements set forth in this ACAN, a competitive process will be triggered with a technical and financial evaluation methodology of the bids proposed by the potential bidders. EXCEPTION TO THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS: Section 6 (d) has been invoked for this procurement as only one supplier (person/firm) is capable of performing the work. 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. CONTRACT PERIOD: Upon Contract Award to March 31, 2021, with three (3), one (1) year options to extend. ESTIMATED VALUE: $271,600.00 (plus GST) Initial Contract Period – Contract Award Date – March 31, 2021, $95,200.00 Option Years, if exercised: Option Year 1 - April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022, $92,400.00 Option Year 2 - April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023, $42,000.00 Option Year 3 - April 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023, $42,000.00 PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER: National Bee Diagnostic Centre Box 1118 Beaverlodge, Alta T0H 0C0 SUPPLIERS’ RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES: Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing, either via letter, facsimile or preferably email 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. CLOSING DATE: The closing date and time for a submission of a Statement of Capabilities is December 7, 2020 at 2:00 pm CST. The Solicitation Number, Name of Contracting Authority and closing date of the ACAN must appear within your Statement of Capabilities in block letters. The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY: Zack Flamont, Procurement Officer Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Western Service Centre 300 – 2010 - 12th Avenue Regina, SK S4P 0M3 Phone: (306) 540-6023 zack.flamont@canada.ca