The Use of Forest Residues in Mining, Oil Sands and Municipal Applications

1. Definition

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 competitive requirements of the government's contracting policy have been met. Following notification to suppliers not successful in demonstrating that their Statement of Capabilities meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contract may then be awarded using the Treasury Board's electronic bidding authorities.

If other potential suppliers submit Statement of Capabilities during the fifteen calendar day posting period, and meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the department or agency must proceed to a full tendering process on either the government's electronic tendering service or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

2. Definition of Requirements

Objectives

1) To convert diseased ash trees from within Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) designated contaminated areas to assess their potential as a pyrolysis feedstock and the subsequent capability of producing value added and sterile products that can be shipped out of the contamination zones to various end use markets

2) To co-pyrolyze bauxite residues with forest biomass residues in various ratios and at a range of temperatures to investigate how these variations affect the properties of end product pyrolysis oil and biochar. To determine potential end use applications for these pyrolysis products.

Scope of work

1) Perform pyrolysis tests using ash sawdust from a saw mill that is within the CFIA contaminated zone:

- each test run would be for a minimum of 3 hours; - weight of material and its moisture content need to be measured prior to pyrolysis; - Representative samples of bio-oil and biochar from each test to be collected

Deliverable

Report on findings and disposal option for contaminated ash trees.

2) Perform a number of test runs under different temperatures and bauxite residues/biomass ratios:

- At least three tests should be conducted at temperatures of 370C, 400C, 425C using 1%, 5% and 20 % bauxite residues by weight; - Three baseline tests with no red mud should also be conducted; - Mass and energy balances to be determined for each test run; - Bio-oil and biochar samples to be collected

Deliverable

Report of a framework for disposal option for bauxite residues

3. Trade Agreements

Trade Agreements are not applicable.

4. Contract Period

The period of the contract will be from the date of contract award to March 31, 2015

5. Estimated Cost

The estimated cost is $43,000.00.

6. Exception to the Government Contracts Regulations and applicable trade agreements

In accordance with the Government Contract Regulations (GCR) exception, Part 1, Section 6, (d) only one firm is capable of performing the contract.

ABRI-TECH is the only pyrolysis company that is allowed to work with Rio Tinto Alcan on bauxite residues.

7. Name and Address of the Proposed Contractor

ABRI-TECH Inc. 768 Rte 323 Namur, Quebec J0V 1N0

8. Inquiries on Submission of Statement of Capabilities

"Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing, preferably by e-mail, to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date and time of this Notice. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements."

9. The closing date and time for accepting Statements of Capabilities

March 24, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST).