Snow Micropenetrometer

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: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF Flüelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Switzerland 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 Department of the Environment has a requirement for the supply, delivery and training of one (1), SnowMicroPen 4 (SMP) and associated software manufactured by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF). The snow micropenetrometer (SMP) will be used as part of field experiments in support of Environment Canada's research on deriving information on snow cover from satellite measurements. Enviroment Canada use satellite passive microwave and radar measurements which are sensitive to the physical properties of the snowpack, including the microstructure such as snow grain size and snow layering. The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), SnowMicroPen 4 (SMP) has the ability to objectively measure the resistance of snow over a maximum depth of 1.25 metres and a vertical resolution of 0.5 mm (resistance is measured every 0.5 mm of depth through a maximum 1.25 m deep snowpack). Objective measurements of snow texture are produced at a minimal layer thickness 2 mm. The SMP is capable of rapid measurements of many profiles. The SMP is optimized for cold weather deployment and can provide immediate measurement visualization on a LCD-display.

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 system meets the following requirements:

3.1 Must have a measurable snow depth of between 1.0 to 1.25 metres 3.2 Must have a vertical sampling resolution of less than 4µm (micrometer) (250 measurements/mm); 3.3 Must have a vertical layer resolution less than 0.5 mm; 3.4 Must have a force range from 0 to 50 N (Newtons); 3.5 Must have a force resolution of less than 0.02 N; 3.6 Must have an operating temperature between +5 and -30 C; 3.7 Must have a battery life of greater than 6 hours; 3.8 Must have a total weight for field use of less than 10 kg for transportation; 3.9 Must have a data visualization of export software; 3.10 Must have a source code for reading and further processing of binary files.

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

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements

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

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

There is only one known supplier that can provide a Snow Micropenetrometer (SMP) system that can meet the requirements identified in Sections 2 and 3 of the Advance Contract Award Notice. The SMP makes precision measurements of the physical resistance which results in a vertical profile of resistance (the bonds between individual snow grains) from the top of the snowpack to the bottom. The SMP is the only known instrument that can make the physical resistance measurements to the specifications listed in Section 3 of the ACAN. These are the required measurement specifications to ensure conversion of the the resistance measurements to physical variables such as snow grain size and snow density.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

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."Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons.

7. Limited Tendering Reasons

The following 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 prior to 31 March 2014.

9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF Flüestrasse 11 CH-7260 Davos Dorf Switzerland

10. 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.

11. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is 4 November 2013.

12. Inquiries and submission 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.