McMaster Regional Centre for Mass Spectrometry (MRCMS) has a requirement for a high-resolution mass spectrometry (Quadrupole Time-of-Flight, QTOF) platform equipped with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources, coupled to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). This instrument is required to support existing and planned analytical workflows across multiple research and service programs, including high-sensitivity qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex biological and chemical samples. The proposed acquisition of the Agilent Revident Q-TOF high-resolution mass spectrometer is driven by both technical necessity and operational continuity. MRCMS currently operates an established Agilent QTOF mass spectrometry system coupled with Agilent-based CE and UHPLC platforms, with validated analytical methods, trained personnel, and integrated data processing workflows.
The Revident QTOF is fully compatible with this existing infrastructure, enabling direct method transfer with minimal re-validation and avoiding disruptions to ongoing research, fee-for-service activities, and contractual obligations. This level of compatibility is critical to maintaining service continuity, data comparability, and regulatory compliance, as significant method redevelopment and re-validation would be required if a different platform were introduced. Such redevelopment would result in extended instrument downtime, increased costs, and delays to time-sensitive research and analytical services. Moreover, the proposed Revident QTOF system also ensures backward compatibility along with single software control for direct control of either UHPLC or CE instruments.
Following a review of available high-resolution mass spectrometry systems, it was determined that no alternative supplier can provide the same level of integration with our existing Agilent QTOF, CE and UPLC platforms, or the same degree of workflow consistency, software interoperability, and operational efficiency within our budget constraints. As a result, the Agilent Revident QTOF is the only instrument capable of meeting MRCMS’ technical, operational, and continuity requirements.
The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal McMaster University’s intention to award a contract for the above-noted goods and/or services to the following pre-selected supplier:
Agilent Technologies Canada Inc.
6705 Millcreek Dr. Unit 5
Mississauga, ON, L5N 5M4
Website: www.agilent.com
