Shellfish Water Classification Program - Quebec

The Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) mandates annual bacteriological monitoring of shellfish growing areas and aquaculture sites in Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands to ensure public health protection from contaminated bivalve shellfish. This contract, issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada under solicitation number 5000094744, requires the continuous assessment of seawater quality through field sampling, measurement of physical and meteorological conditions, and laboratory analysis using the APHA 2017 Section 9221 E.2 method with A-1 Medium for thermotolerant coliform testing. All analyses must be conducted in an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited facility, with samples incubated within 30 hours of collection to meet CSSP regulatory standards. Data must be entered in real time into the Regional Shellfish Sanitation Information Platform (PRISM), and the contractor must provide weekly and monthly sampling plans, along with complete field notebooks and microbiological sample records. The contract is awarded solely to Merinov due to its unique capability to meet the strict geographic and temporal requirements in the region, as justified under paragraph 6(d) of the Government Contracts Regulations. The performance period spans three years, beginning April 1, 2026, with one base year and two optional one-year extensions, covering 27 shellfish growing areas and 16 aquaculture sites. The total estimated value is $2,068,750.51 plus tax, funded by ECCC under agency code 18051f74. All intellectual property generated under the contract is owned by Canada, and no competitive bidding process is conducted due to the absence of other qualified providers capable of fulfilling the 30-hour incubation window and accreditation requirements. Sampling activities occur annually from May to November, with final laboratory analysis performed at Merinov’s facility in Gaspé, Quebec, under the oversight of Environment and Climate Change Canada.