The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $99,913 firm fixed-price purchase order to Cryo Associates Inc., a small disadvantaged business based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, for the replacement of approximately 50 meters of deteriorated liquid nitrogen vacuum-insulated piping (LN2 VIP) at the NIST Charleston facility. The contract, designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, requires removal and replacement of the existing exterior Chart MVE Liquid Nitrogen piping system located in the crawl space beneath the Hollings Marine Laboratory, including connection to the NIST bulk tank and interior piping infrastructure. The contractor must develop comprehensive safety plans, conduct vacuum testing, and ensure proper functioning of the liquid nitrogen delivery system, with project completion required by September 30, 2026.
Cryo Associates brings extensive expertise in cryogenic equipment design, installation, and maintenance, with a demonstrated track record serving federal research institutions including NIST, the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and the Department of Defense. The company specializes in vacuum-insulated piping systems and related cryogenic infrastructure that support critical scientific research missions. This award reflects NIST's confidence in the contractor's capability to execute complex specialized piping work, building upon Cryo Associates' established portfolio of cryogenic infrastructure projects across multiple federal agencies.