Please read our Terms of Service before submitting a sample to our facility.
This Agreement is a legally binding contract. By submitting a Sample Submission Form to the André E. Lalonde National Facility for AMS (AEL-AMS) the Submitter acknowledges and agrees to the following terms and conditions.
Download a printable version of the Terms of Service (PDF, 587 kB).
AEL-AMS is a low-background Facility, free of any enriched material (including but not limited to 14C). By submitting this form, the Submitter warrants that their samples are free of any enriched material. If enriched material from the Submitter’s samples, or the packaging in which they are shipped, results in contamina on of equipment or instrumentation requiring cleanup or replacement, significant charges will be incurred. Researchers working aboard research vessels or near vicinities where enriched radio-labelled tracer material is used will be required to complete a swipe test prior to submitting samples.
The Submitter will provide a completed Submission Form (the “Submission”) and the samples to be analyzed (the “Samples”). We reserve the right to decline a Submission. By making a Submission, the Submitter certifies that they are legally capable of entering into binding contracts on behalf of themselves, their supervisor, and/or their company.
We do not accept samples from private individuals. We only accept samples from Academic institutions, Government and Non-profit agencies or Commercial institutions.
The Samples are not the property of AEL-AMS, and we assume no responsibility for any loss or damage to the Samples. The Submitter acknowledges that the analysis process is destructive; therefore, unless otherwise specified in the Submission, any remaining sample material will be held for a period of six (6) months, after which time it will be discarded. If the Submitter specifies the return of the samples, a minimum fee of $30 will be applied to their invoice; larger return shipments (i.e. coolers, canisters) are the responsibility of the Submitter.
We expressly disclaim all warranties in respect of the analyses and the data including all expressed or implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, including as evidence in any legal proceeding. By analyzing the Samples and providing the data, AEL-AMS is not providing an opinion and declines to be a witness in any legal or other adversarial proceeding. Our liability to the submitter whether arising in contract, tort, negligence, breach of statutory duty or otherwise shall not exceed the price paid for the analysis. The submitter acknowledges and agrees that: (i) analyses and the data are provided by AEL-AMS “as is”; (ii) in no event shall AEL-AMS be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages whatsoever with respect to the analyses and the data; (iii) that any reliance upon the analyses and/or the data shall be at the submitter’s sole risk; (iv) title and risk of loss with respect to submitted samples shall at all times remain with the Submitter prior to acceptance by AEL-AMS.
The Submitter shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend AEL-AMS, and their respective officers, directors, employees, students and agents (the "indemnified parties") against any and all claims, demands, actions, liability and expenses ("claims") including claims, allegedly resulting in whole or in part from the negligence of the indemnified parties or from acts or omissions for which the indemnified parties otherwise would be liable, related to or arising from the tests, the Samples, the data or use of the data. The Submitter shall be responsible for any damage to AEL-AMS’s facilities and/or personnel caused by the Samples.
"Confidential Information" means any materials, written information, and data marked "Confidential" by the Submitter and provided to AEL-AMS for the purpose of conducting the analyses. We will use reasonable efforts to maintain the Confidential Information as confidential to the extent permitted by law. Our obligations do not apply to information in the public domain or independently known or obtained by AEL-AMS. The Submitter acknowledges that AEL-AMS is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Ontario) and as such records in its custody or control, including the Confidential Information, may be subject to access to information requests.
The Submitter certifies that any samples of artwork, or cultural artifacts submitted to AEL-AMS are the property of the Submitter, or that the Submitter is acting as an agent of the owner. If requested, the Submitter will provide evidence of the ownership of the artwork or artifact. The Submitter declares that the articles are legally imported and exported from any country through which they passed; if requested, the submitter will provide documenta on to this effect. The Submitter undertakes not to use the radiocarbon date in an advertisement, or in a description of the samples for sale, and not to pass the date on to a third party who might do likewise. If authentication is required, or valuable artifacts are involved, the piece should be sampled by a conservator (as they possess the knowledge to sample with a minimum reduction of value to the artifact). AEL-AMS will not sub-sample artifacts or artwork. The Submitter will provide a photograph of the artifact or artwork post sub-sampling (the picture must include the sampled artifact/artwork and sub-sampled piece to be analysed) to be included in their final analysis report. We do not accept Samples from private individuals, only those affiliated with academic, government, non-profit agencies or commercial institutions.
Invoices are payable upon receipt (net 30 days) and must be settled by the end of the current fiscal year (March 31 year-end) to remain in good standing. The fee schedule rates for all lab units are assigned based on the billing address listed on the Submission Form, and the pricing listed on our website at the time of submission. A purchase order (PO) is required for submissions over $5,000 CAD. Duty charges are the responsibility of the Submitter and will be added to their invoice. Canadian Academic, Non-Profit, and Government Users: Submitters affiliated with Canadian academic institutions, registered non-profit organizations, indigenous groups, and government agencies will be invoiced following the delivery of their results. Commercial and International Users: Submitters affiliated with private Canadian companies and those from abroad are required to remit payment in full prior to release of their results. An invoice will be issued upon receipt of the Submission. Internal Users: Submitters affiliated with the University of Ottawa or the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre (OCGC) (including faculty, adjuncts, post-docs, graduate, and undergraduate students) are entitled to internal rates. To qualify for internal rates, the Submitter must remit payment from a university-administered fund. Results will only be released if the Submitter’s account is in good standing, as of the end of previous fiscal year (March 31 year-end).
Quantity discounts may be considered at the discretion of AEL-AMS Management on a case-by-case basis.
We reserve the right to suspend work and/or withhold data delivery if the Submitter fails to make timely payment of their invoices. We will not be held responsible for any damages incurred by the Submitter caused by AEL-AMS’s work suspension or withholding of data precipitated by their failure to promptly pay invoices.
Upon successful completion of the requested analyses, AEL-AMS will provide the Submitter with results using the email address provided in their Submission. Results will not be released to third parties not listed on the Submission without written consent of the original Submitter.
For Samples which fail due to the nature of the sample itself, and which are outside the control of AEL-AMS, AEL-AMS reserves the right to recover partial or full costs for laboratory treatment up to the point of failure.
We will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations under a Contract that is caused by events outside our reasonable control, commonly known as “force majeure”.
This Agreement constitutes the Entire Agreement between the Submitter and AEL-AMS. It supersedes all other written or verbal communications between the Submitter and AEL-AMS. It can only be amended in writting by mutual agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario that are in force. The Submitter expressly accepts jurisdiction of the Ontario Courts.
