Basic Information

Reference Number

0000225732

Issuing Organization

University of Ottawa

Owner Organization

University of Ottawa

Solicitation Type

ACAN - Advance Contract Award Notice (Formal)

Solicitation Number

2022-00712-ACAN

Title

Highthroughput Long-Term Live-Cell Analysis Instrument

Source ID

PU.AC.ON.11752.C97953

Agreement Types

Broader Public Sector (BPS)

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

Details

Location

Canada, Ontario, Ottawa

Delivery Point

University of Ottawa

Purchase Type

Duration: TBD

Description

BACKGROUND:

Notice is hereby given by the University of Ottawa of the intent to enter into a contract with Sartorius Corporation to procure:

Supply one Incucyte® S3 HD/G/R 2CLR System
Incucyte® Cell Migration Kit
Network attached data collection and archiving software for real-time anywhere/anytime access to imaging data and analysis using a computer running the Windows operating system.
Software licence for Neurotrack Analysis and Cell Migration Scratch Wound Analysis Modules
4 years extended software and service warranty

These items will replace the current high-throughput live-imaging (IncuCyte ZOOM HD/CLR) system located in the Cell Biology and Image Acquisition (CBIA) Core Facility in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

PROCESS:
Suppliers who consider their equipment functional, successfully tested, readily available and fully compliant to the ACAN minimum requirements may submit in writing a statement of specifications to the contact person identified in this Notice, on or before the closing date of this Notice. In the statement of specifications, the supplier must unequivocally demonstrate how their equipment, at minimum, equals, or exceeds the stated requirements. If no other supplier submits a statement of specifications, on or before the closing date of this Notice, the competitive requirements of
the University of Ottawa will be considered having been met.

Following notification to suppliers not successful in unequivocally demonstrating that their statement of specifications equals or exceeds the requirements set out in this Notice, the contract may then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier.

Date of issue: June 8, 2022
Closing Date: June 23, 2022 at 3:00:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

INTENDED USE:

One of the goals of our research program is the development of effective novel antiviral therapies against emerging viruses. The Incucyte® S3 HD/G/R 2CLR system will allow the study of the antiviral activity of our compounds and the cytopathic effect of the small molecules on cells for extended periods of time. At the same time, several other researchers will use this machine to evaluate cell migration of various cells types using the so-called scratch wound assay. This instrument will be used as follows:

Measuring growth of different viruses in cells using a fluorescent reporter gene such as GFP.
Screening small molecule inhibitors of virus growth (using GFP).
Generating a homogeneous and repeatable “wound” in cell monolayers grown in a 96-well plate to perform cell migration assays, aka the Scratch Wound Assay.
Monitoring cytopathic effect of the small molecule inhibitors of infection in cells by performing proliferation assays and viability assays (using reporter genes and/or label-free phase imaging) during extended periods of time.
The equipment must conform to the following specifications:
The automated imaging system must operate and capture images from within a standard tissue culture incubator so that precise control of temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors such as CO2 and oxygen can be maintained.
The optics must move to the areas being imaged. The cell culture vessels must remain stationary during this process. Stationary optics and stage driven vessel movement are not acceptable.
The system must be capable of simultaneously imaging any mixture of 6 (or more) assay plates that conform to the ANSI/SLAS standard for assay plates. These include 384-well microplates, 96-well microplates, 48-well plates, 24-well plates, 12-well plates, and 6-well plates.
The system must accommodate the following but must not be limited to the following plastic tissue culture vessels: 75 cm2 flasks, 25 cm2 flasks, 35mm dishes, 60 mm dishes, chambered slides and microslides.
The system must possess fully automated, hands-free operation for periods exceeding 25 days and must be designed to autofocus and auto expose without intervention during this time period. The automated imaging system must return to the same location in a repeated fashion with sub-μm tolerances over this same time-period.
The system must have high-definition phase contrast optics and switchable filters for epifluorescent imaging of wavelengths suitable for eGFP (ex. 440-480 nm; em. 504-544 nm) and mCherry (ex. 565-605 nm; em. 625-705 nm).
The system must be capable of switching between objectives (4x, 10x, 20x) in real-time with multi-user support for parallel experimentation using different magnifications.
The software must be capable of generating label free, time based, growth curves for cells.
The software must be able to quantify and generate time-based curves based on fluorescence metrics including Fluorescent Count, Fluorescent Average Area, Fluorescent Total Area, and Fluorescent Confluence.
Must have software allowing users to automatically process 96-well scratch wound assay images and to analyze cell migration and invasion without labels. Algorithm must mask each phase-contrast image to identify the position of the wounded (cell-free) and unwounded (cell-occupied) zones.
Software must be able to generate metrics and time-course plots on Wound width, wound confluence and relative wound density (RWD).
The CBIA Core Facility currently has a device from Sartorius (Incucyte Wound Maker 96 Tool, Catalogue #4563) capable of generating such wounds and any new system must be compatible with wounds generated by this particular device.
The high-definition optics of the system must image standard 384 well tissue culture plates without any sidewall or meniscus effects.
CSA certification to meet Ontario standards must be included.
Manufacturer must supply, install and act as single point of contact for all warranty and service relating to the instrument.

Justification of Pre-Selected Supplier:

Supplier: Sartorius

Justification:

The Sartorius Incucyte® S3 HD/G/R 2CLR System will be replacing an existing Incucyte ZOOM HD/CLR originally purchased in 2015. The replacement system for high-throughput live-imaging must meet or exceed the above-mentioned requirements, and additionally, ensure the following:

1) Continuity of ongoing experiments with the dozens of students currently trained on this system.
2) Data files are in a proprietary format requiring the Incucyte software/hardware to access and manage previously collected/archived raw data as well as the ability to efficiently analyze these datasets.
3) that existing infrastructure (i.e., the incubator to house the unit) will physically fit the device, alleviating the need to purchase ancillary equipment using extraneous funds.
4) The carryover of several analysis software modules including NeuroTrack and Scratch Wound Analysis
5) Network access to check cell health and analyze data from anywhere with internet access and on as many computers as desired. Obviating the requirement to purchase a dedicated computer for running the system and creating greater access for our users.

Dates

Publication

2022/06/08 08:36:16 PM EDT

Bid Intent

Not Available

Question Acceptance Deadline

2022/06/16 03:00:00 PM EDT

Questions are submitted online

Yes

Closing Date

2022/06/23 03:00:00 PM EDT

Contact Information

Charles Gosselin

613-562-5800 ext. 1943

cgossel2@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

No Pricing

Bid Documents List

Item Name	Description	Mandatory	Limited to 1 file
Statement of Compliance	Substantiation of Compliance with each Functional Minimum Requirement	Yes	No
No entries

© MERX - All rights reserved. No part of the information on this Web Site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of MERX and the Minister of the participating government department (if applicable). MERX, the Minister nor the Contracting Authority will assume responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained in the publication.