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Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Helium 3   2

ID: NB686050-24-02260 • Type: Special Notice

Description

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Linde Gas & Equipment Inc., located in Danbury, CT, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for Helium 3 Gas (He3).

The NAICS Code is 325120 Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,200 employees. For this requirement, NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Linde Gas & Equipment Inc.

Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued by 08/09/2024. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein for this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

The Advanced Microwave Photonics Group recently purchased cryogen-free dilution refrigerator cryostats, which require 44 liters of He3 for operation. Without this helium gas, the cryostats would be completely inoperable, and the group would not be able to test and measure the superconducting quantum devices required to meet NIST's mission goals and outside agency milestones.

Background
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Linde Gas & Equipment Inc., located in Danbury, CT, on a sole source basis under the authority of Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for Helium 3 Gas (He3). The Advanced Microwave Photonics Group recently purchased cryogen-free dilution refrigerator cryostats, which require 44 liters of He3 for operation. Without this helium gas, the cryostats would be completely inoperable, and the group would not be able to test and measure the superconducting quantum devices required to meet NIST’s mission goals and outside agency milestones.

Work Details
Title: Helium 3 for Advanced Microwave Photonics Group
Requesting Lab/Division/Group: PML/Applied Physics Division/Advanced Microwave Photonics Group (686.05)
General Statement of Need: The Advanced Microwave Photonics Group requires helium-3 gas to commission dilution refrigerator cryostats for the testing and measurement of superconducting quantum circuits. The amount (44 liters) is required for the operation of newly purchased dilution refrigerators. The Helium 3 gas must be delivered in an appropriately sized gas cylinder.
Items and/or Ancillary Services:
Item 1: Helium-3
Quantity: 44 liters
Specifications: 44 STP liters of 99.9AT% purity helium-3
Service Requirements / Item Specifications:
Contractor is responsible for all shipping costs. Contractor should send all parts to:
325 Broadway st
MS 686.05
Boulder, CO 80305
Warranty: Base Manufacturer Warranty is acceptable
Inspection and Acceptance: Visual inspection and acceptance based on volume of helium gas

Place of Performance
325 Broadway st, MS 686.05, Boulder, CO 80305
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Overview

Agency
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]
Response Deadline
July 2, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EDT Past Due
Posted
June 18, 2024, 9:30 a.m. EDT
Set Aside
None
NAICS
325120 - Industrial Gas Manufacturing
PSC
6835 - Medical Gases
Place of Performance
Boulder, CO 80305 United States
Source
SAM
Current SBA Size Standard
1200 Employees
Pricing
Fixed Price
Est. Level of Competition
Sole Source
Est. Value Range
Experimental
$500,000 - $2,000,000 (AI estimate)
On 6/18/24 National Institute of Standards and Technology issued Special Notice NB686050-24-02260 for Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Helium 3 due 7/2/24.
Primary Contact
Name
Lisa Stevens   Profile
Email
lisa.stevens@nist.gov
Phone
(303) 497-3272

Secondary Contact

Name
Angela Hitt   Profile
Email
angela.hitt@nist.gov
Phone
(303) 497-7305

Documents

Posted documents for Special Notice NB686050-24-02260

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Additional Details

Source Agency Hierarchy
COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF > NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
FPDS Organization Code
1341-1341
Source Organization Code
100109529
Last Updated
July 17, 2024
Last Updated By
lisa.stevens@nist.gov
Archive Date
July 17, 2024