Basic Information

Reference Number

0000204536

Issuing Organization

University of Ottawa

Solicitation Type

RFP - Request for Proposal (Formal)

Solicitation Number

2021064-RFP

Title

Controlled Environmental Chambers for Plant and Algal Research

Source ID

PU.AC.ON.11752.C91672

Agreement Type

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

Details

Location

Canada, Ontario, Ottawa

Delivery Point

University Downtown Ottawa Campus

Purchase Type

Duration: TBD

Description

Statement of Requirements

The Unversity of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified proponents to submit a proposal for the provision of one (1) two-tiered plant environmental chamber and one (1) modular three-tiered plant and algae environmental chamber. This includes installation and training for both chambers.

The University’s research program will use the infrastructure for highly controlled lab experiments on plants, algae and cyanobacteria including physiology, plant-microbe interactions, stress signalling, development, metabolism, toxicology, and ecology. The research team is interested in how photosynthetic organisms interact with their abiotic (e.g., temperature, light, humidity) and biotic (e.g., fungal symbionts and pathogens) environment. Photosynthetic organisms are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, so a precise control and measurements of key environmental parameters in the lab are essential to the research. To ensure high-quality experimental results, environmental chambers are necessary. These chambers (one large two-tier unit, one small modular unit) will be used for germinating and cultivating plants, and culturing aquatic algae and cyanobacteria, followed by exposing these organisms to different environmental conditions and monitoring their responses at the level of physiology, molecular biology and genetics. The two chambers will accommodate multiple research programs and will increase the capacity for various experiments. Finally, these chambers will be located in a shared core facility and managed by a full-time technician that will ensure accessibility to highly qualified personnel (“HQP”) from various labs and departments across uOttawa.

General Description:

Item 1 - Two-tier environmental growth chamber (Qty 1): This chamber will have two tiers to increase the surface area for plant growth, and thus increase the capacity of the chamber. It will be used to cultivate small and medium-height land plants.

Item 2 - Modular environmental growth chamber (Qty 1): This modular chamber will come with removable tiers with independently controlled light banks that can easily be adapted for work with both plants (e.g. two tiers to allow for greater height) or algal cultures (e.g. three tiers where added height is not necessary).

Both chambers need to have precise control over temperature, humidity and light. They will be workhorse equipment and must have a long lifetime and be reliable. The output of using the infrastructure is high-quality scientific results to be published in peer-reviewed journals and as conference abstracts. The equipment will be used to provide multiple HQP (>100) hands-on training in many areas of plant science important in academia and industry.

Mandatory Requirements
1. Item 1 - Two-tier Environmental Growth Chamber
1.1 Must have a growth area of 30ft2 (2.79 m2) or greater
1.2 Must have two tiers, with a shelf capacity of 31 ft3 (940 liters) per air shelf or greater
1.3 Distance between air shelves must be 25” (635 mm) or greater from the floor to the underside of the lamp for each shelf
1.4 Air shelves must provide uniform upward air flow
1.5 Supply air to the chamber interior will be recirculated ambient laboratory air
1.6 Control panel should be located on the right-hand side of the unit
1.7 Must have at least two (2) instrument ports with light tight caps
1.8 Lamp fixtures must be equipped with broadband spectrum LED fixtures and supplementary far-red bulbs, and the Proponent must provide informationon the light intensity over each shelf. If the Proponent cannot provide LED fixtures, fluorescent/incandescent lighting must be provided instead and included in the main bid price
1.9 Light intensity must be at 500 µmol/m-2s-1 or greater. The intensitty must be dimmable
1.10 Must include a quantum light meter for display and recording of light output
1.11 Must have a temperature range of +2°C to +45°C or greater with the lights ON or OFF
1.12 Must include humidity control up to 90% RH or greater with the lights OFF and 75% RH or greater with the lights ON
1.13 Must include audible and visual user-settable alarms for all controlled processes
1.14 Assembled equipment must fit in available space that’s clear in lab, which is a maximum footprint of: 3350 mm (W) x 950 mm (D) x 2740 mm (H). If necessary, the equipment must be constructed and shipped in parts and be assembled in the laboratory to not exceed this available space.
1.15 Water-cooled condensing unit is required
2. Item 2 - Modular Environmental Growth Chamber
2.1 Must have a growth volume of 27.6 ft3 (781 liters) or greater
2.2 Must include at least three (3) adjustable tiers with a total growth area of 16.9 ft2 (1.5 m2) or greater
2.3 The growth height must be 12” (305 mm) or greater between tiers
2.4 Each shelf must be able to support 40 lb (18 kg) or more of distributed load
2.5 HEPA filters must be located on the fresh air intake and on exhaust ports
2.6 Must have at least two (2) instrument ports with a light tight cap
2.7 Lamp fixtures must be equipped with broadband spectrum LED fixtures and supplementary far-red bulbs, and the Proponent must provide information on the light intensity over each shelf. If the Proponent cannot provide LED fixtures, fluorescent/incandescent lighting must be provided instead and included in the main bid price
2.8 Light intensity must be at 500 µmol/m-2s-1 or greater. The intensitty must be dimmable
2.9 Must have a temperature range of at least +4°C to +40°C with the lights OFF or +5°C to 45°C with the lights ON
2.10 Must include humidity control up to 90% RH or greater with the lights OFF and 70% RH or greater with the lights ON
2.11 Must include audible and visual user-settable alarms for all controlled processes
2.12 Assembled equipment must fit in available space that is clear in lab, which is a maximum footprint of: 2030 mm (W) x 950 mm (D) x 2740 mm (H). If necessary, the equipment must be constructed and shipped in parts and be assembled in the laboratory to not exceed this available space.
2.13 Water-cooled condensing unit is required. If the supplier cannot provide this for a modular chamber, rejection of heat to air must be provided instead and included in the main bid price.
3. Other Requirements (for both chambers)
3.1 Must include delivery, on-site installation, and training
3.2 Must include three (3) year warranty on parts and labor
3.3 Must include Ethernet connectivity
3.4 Must include a controls system with the capability for customizable user-entered programs that define the growth parameters
3.5 Must have keyed locks on doors
3.6 Equipment must be constructed and shipped in parts if necessary, and be assembled in the laboratory to not exceed the available dimensions of the maximal footprint (1.14 and 2.12), elevator dimensions (3.7) and corridor dimensions (3.8)
3.7 Manufacturer shall transfer the equipment from the receiving dock to the laboratory using the freight elevator; therefore, packaged equipment must slide into, fit in, and slide out of an elevator with the following dimensions, without obstructing door closure:
• door 47”(W) X 84”(H)
• length of 96” door to door
3.8 Whether the unit is one piece or in several pieces, any one component crated or uncrated must pass around a sharp corner from the corridor through the lab door and into the lab; therefore, each piece being transferred to the lab must not exceed 2560 mm (W) x 950 mm (D) x 2070 mm (H) in order to pass this sharp corner
3.9 Must include surge protection
3.10 All products must have CSA mark to demonstrate they have been tested against North American electrical standards, or alternatively a marking that is an accepted equivalent to CSA, as listed on the Electrical Safety Authority website available at: https://esasafe.com/electrical-products/recognized-certification-marks/

Dates

Publication

2021/07/15 12:41:41 PM EDT

Bid Intent

Not Available

Question Acceptance DeadlineA - Previous Amendment

2021/07/26 03:00:00 PM EDT

Questions are submitted online

Yes

Closing DateA - Previous Amendment

2021/08/13 03:00:00 PM EDT

Contact Information

Lisa Pougnet

613-562-5800 ext. 2358

lpougnet@uottawa.ca

Buyer Preferences, Guidelines & Requirements

General Requirements

- Installation Required

- Insurance Required

- Training Required

- Warranty Information Required

Bid Submission Process

Bid Submission Type

Electronic Bid Submission

Pricing

In attached document

Bid Documents List

Item Name	Description	Mandatory	Limited to 1 file
Attachment 1	Technical/Qualitative Proposal	Yes	No
Attachment 2	Financial Proposal	Yes	No
No entries

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