This Solicitation opportunity from Government of Canada was posted on July 23, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
Atlantic Whitefish Holding, Raising and Captive-Breeding
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The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has awarded a sole-source contract to Dalhousie University’s Aquatron Laboratory for the captive holding, rearing, and genetically managed breeding of Atlantic Whitefish, an endangered species protected under the Species at Risk Act. The work, which spans from contract award through March 31, 2031, includes the care of wild-caught Young-of-the-Year fish collected annually, as well as the development and implementation of a mating strategy designed to preserve genetic diversity across generations. The facility must be located within Nova Scotia, no more than 150 kilometers from the wild collection site, to ensure safe and timely transport. It must include a variety of tank sizes, full mechanical systems for year-round temperature-controlled freshwater and seawater, fail-safe infrastructure with backup generators and after-hours alarms, and access to aquatic veterinary services. Staff must be available seven days a week to provide continuous care and welfare support. The contractor is required to demonstrate extensive qualifications, including a minimum of ten years’ direct experience operating aquatic systems, at least two years in aquatic research, proven experience in hatchery and grow-out aquaculture, specific expertise in endangered aquatic species, and a history of managing projects of similar complexity. Personnel must hold a Bachelor’s degree in aquatic sciences or aquaculture, possess certification in Recirculating Aquatic Systems or ten years of equivalent experience, and maintain a Good Animal Practice Certificate from the Canadian Council on Animal Care. All fish must be individually identified using PIT tagging, and detailed records on inventory, survival, breeding, and genetic data must be maintained. Deliverables include annual mid-year and year-end reports, as well as a comprehensive multi-year report agreed upon by October 1 of the prior year, submitted in Microsoft Word and PDF formats. The contract, valued at $648,323.00, is justified as sole-source due to Dalhousie University’s unique possession of the captive breeding stock, its existing SARA Section 73 permit, and unmatched operational expertise, making any alternative supplier biologically and legally unfeasible. Intellectual property developed under the contract vests with the contractor, but the Crown retains broad, royalty-free rights to use all results for conservation and research purposes.
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