Sol_1305M325Q0126_Amd_0002.pdf

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

Purchase and Delivery of Hydrogen Gas to the National Weather Service (NWS), Corpus Christi Weather Forecast Office (WFO)

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). Submit written quotes on RFQ Number 1305M325Q0126.

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-03 (Jan 2025) (Deviation 2025-02/03) (Feb 2025).

(iv) This solicitation is being issued as a total Small Business Set-Aside. The associated NAICS code is 325120. The small business size standard is 1,200 employees.

(v) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial item(s):

BRAND REQUIREMENT: Matheson brand hydrogen gas is required to meet the needs of the Corpus Christi WFO to ensure the quality standards of the ultra high purity (UHP) gas is met, and provide consistency in lift for use in weather balloons. Use of other brands will not meet the needs of the Corpus Christi WFO, as they cannot achieve the loft required for accurate weather sounding. This data is vital for accurate weather forecasting.

CLIN 0001 Base Period Purchase and delivery of hydrogen gas in accordance with the Statement of Need. Period of Performance 06/01/2025 through 05/31/2026.

Provide unit pricing for the below:

Cost per cylinder: ___________________ Delivery Costs: _____________________ Cylinder Rental Costs: _______________ Hazmat Fees: ______________________ Overhead/Other (optional): ___________ Estimated annual total for 230 cylinders: _______________

CLIN 1001 Option Period 1 Purchase and delivery of hydrogen gas in accordance with the Statement of Need. Period of Performance 06/01/2026 through 05/31/2027.

Provide unit pricing for the below:

Cost per cylinder: ___________________ Delivery Costs: _____________________ Cylinder Rental Costs: _______________ Hazmat Fees: ______________________ Overhead/Other (optional): ___________ Estimated annual total for 230 cylinders: _______________

CLIN 2001 Option Period 2 Purchase and delivery of hydrogen gas in accordance with the Statement of Need. Period of Performance 06/01/2025 through 05/31/2026.

Provide unit pricing for the below:

Cost per cylinder: ___________________ Delivery Costs: _____________________

Cylinder Rental Costs: _______________ Hazmat Fees: ______________________ Overhead/Other (optional): ___________ Estimated annual total for 230 cylinders: _______________

CLIN 3001 Option Period 3 Purchase and delivery of hydrogen gas in accordance with the Statement of Need. Period of Performance 06/01/2025 through 05/31/2026.

Provide unit pricing for the below:

Cost per cylinder: ___________________ Delivery Costs: _____________________ Cylinder Rental Costs: _______________ Hazmat Fees: ______________________ Overhead/Other (optional): ___________ Estimated annual total for 230 cylinders: _______________

Estimated aggregate total for all years: _________________

(vi) Description of requirements is as follows:

See attached Statement of Need which applies to Base Period and all Option Periods 1 – 3.

INVOICES TO BE BILLED MONTHLY IN ARREARS. QUOTE PRICING MAY BE PROVIDED ON

ATTACHED SF18 FORM OR ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD.

(vii) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance:

Delivery schedule shall be:

Base Period for a twelve month period 06/01/2025 through 05/31/2026.

Option Period 1 for a twelve month period 06/01/2026 through 05/31/2027.

Option Period 2 for a twelve month period 06/01/2027 through 05/31/2028.

Option Period 3 for a twelve month period 06/01/2028 through 05/31/2029.

The start date is an estimate and is subject to new funding approval processes. If there is a significant delay in awarding this contract, a shortened base period Period of Performance may be utilized or an updated quote may be requested with a new 12-month base period and corresponding option periods.

Delivery shall be FOB Origin to 426 Pinson Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78406.

(viii) FAR provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sept 2023), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.

(ix) FAR provision 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.

(x) FAR provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (May 2024) (Deviation 2025-02) (Deviation 2025-03) (Feb 2025), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision with its offer, unless the offeror’s Reps & Certs section on SAM.gov is accurate and current.

Per Deviation 2025-02/03: System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations, including 52.223-22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals—Representation, and paragraph (t) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Examples include 52.222-25, https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_212_1 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_212_2 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_212_3

Affirmative Action Compliance, and paragraph (d) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Contracting officers will not consider these representations when making award decisions or enforce requirements. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM.

(xi) FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2023), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.

(xii) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jan 2025) (Deviation 2025-02) (Deviation 2025-03) (Feb 2025), applies to this acquisition and can be found in full text on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.

(xiii) Any additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions that apply can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.

(xiv) Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating does not apply.

(xv) Quotes are required to be received in the contracting office no later than 12:00PM MST/MDT on Friday, April 25, 2025. All quotes must be submitted electronically via email to stephanie.mas@noaa.gov.

(xvi) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted electronically via email to stephanie.mas@noaa.gov.

UTILIZATION OF FEDCONNECT® FOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

The Department of Commerce will utilize the FedConnect® web portal in administering this award. The contractor must be registered in FedConnect® and have access to the FedConnect® website located at https://www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect® questions please call the FedConnect® Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net.

There is no charge for registration in or use of FedConnect®.

(End)

1352.215-72 Inquiries (Apr 2010)

OFFERORS MUST SUBMIT ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS SOLICITATION IN WRITING

VIA EMAIL TO stephanie.mas@noaa.gov. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 12:00pm MST/MDT on Friday, April 18, 2025. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract.

(End of clause)

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023) NOTICE TO OFFERORS: Instructions for submitting quotations under this request for quote must be followed. Failure to provide all information to aid in the evaluation may be considered non-responsive. Offers that are non-responsive may be excluded from further evaluation and rejected without further notification to the offeror.

1. Submit PDF or Microsoft Word format quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the time specified in the solicitation. Quote documents shall include signed copies of the SF 18 and SF 30(s) to acknowledge the solicitation and any applicable amendments. Email quotes are required and can be sent to stephanie.mas@noaa.gov.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_212_4 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_212_5

2. Offeror shall have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM found at https://sam.gov/content/home) in order to provide a quote and be eligible for award. Must provide their UEID/CAGE CODE with their quote.

3. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of them or their capability.

4. Offerors must provide all evaluation criteria in accordance with FAR 52.212-2. Offerors who do not provide all evaluation criteria may not be considered.

1. Technical Acceptability/Capability, including at least two completed past performance questionnaires.

2. Specification Sheet.

3. Price

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR NON-RECEIPT OF

QUOTES. IT IS THE CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE A

CONFIRMATION OF THE QUOTE RECEIPT.

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021) Offers will be evaluated based on price and the factors set forth in paragraph (a).

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Paragraph (a) is hereby completed as follows: Evaluation will be based on the following;

1. Technical Acceptability/Capability.

Quote shall include at least two references from at least two separate contracts for similar and relevant recent services within the past two years including the name, phone number, full address, and e-mail address of the reference to demonstrate the offeror’s capability to successfully perform the services listed in the Statement of Work.

The offeror is required to fill out blocks 1-4 and send the attached Past Performance Questionnaire to the references provided by the offeror in their submission. The references should complete the Past Performance Questionnaire and then email it directly to stephanie.mas@noaa.gov by the closing date and time of this solicitation. The Government reserves the right to consider past performance report forms received after the due date and time of the solicitation, past performance questionnaires submitted from previous solicitations, and to contact references for verification or additional information.

The offeror's past performance on related contracts will be evaluated to determine, as appropriate, successful performance of contract requirements, quality and timeliness of delivery of goods and services, cost management, communications between contracting parties, proactive management and customer satisfaction. The Government will use its discretion to determine the sources of past performance information used in the evaluation, and the information may be obtained from references provided by the Offeror, the agency’s knowledge of Offeror performance, other government agencies or commercial entities, or past performance databases, and will be based on responsiveness, quality, and customer services.

Offerors lacking relevant past performance history, or for whom past performance information is either not available or has not been submitted to the Government, will receive a neutral rating for past performance. A good past performance rating provides higher confidence than a neutral or satisfactory rating.

2. Specification Sheet.

3. Price.

The Government intends to award a low priced, technically acceptable, single firm fixed-price purchase order on an all or none basis with payment terms of Net 30.

https://sam.gov/content/home

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)

STATEMENT OF NEED (SON)

Department of Commerce (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Weather Service (NWS) Corpus Christi Weather Forecast Office (WFO)

BACKGROUND:

The NWS is a 24-hour, 365-day operation and is a public safety agency. The primary mission of the NWS is the protection of life and property. The NWS in Corpus Christi, TX launches weather balloons routinely twice a day at 0500 and 1700 CST. Each balloon requires approximately 75 cubic feet (CF) of hydrogen. Instrumentation is attached to each balloon that provides measurements of temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and height. This data is transmitted worldwide, incorporated into weather models, and used to make weather forecasts out to 10 days into the future.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the NWS is to receive and keep on-site an adequate supply of hydrogen gas in individual cylinders to perform the weather balloon launches on schedule.

SCOPE:

The Contractor shall supply hydrogen to the NWS upper air building located at 426 Pinson Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78406. The total amount of hydrogen to be delivered for the 12-month period of this requirement will be a maximum of 230 full 300 CF hydrogen cylinders. The hydrogen shall be supplied at regular intervals throughout the period, provided as individual cylinders.

REQUIREMENTS:

Site Storage and Usage: All hydrogen must be provided in individual cylinders as the facility is not arranged to allow for other configurations. The Government has space at the delivery point to receive and store up to thirty (30) 300 CF capacity cylinders of hydrogen at a time, but maintains an inventory of 18.

This site uses a minimum of 150 CF of hydrogen, every day of the year. Actual use has the potential to vary should NWS Corpus Christi have a need to launch extra balloons.

Initial Delivery: The Contractor shall supply 10 full 300 CF individual cylinders. Initial delivery date will be at the start of the period of performance.

Delivery Schedule: The Contractor shall deliver cylinders every two weeks from November through May. The Contractor shall deliver weekly from June through October. Deliveries shall be made either Monday or Tuesday between the hours of 0800 and 1500 local time. This is a strict time slot as the balloon launches must not be delayed or interrupted in order to receive the delivery. Balloon launches occur twice a day, every day of the year, regardless of holidays. Therefore, the delivery schedule needs to be maintained regardless of holidays. If a holiday falls on a scheduled delivery day and the Contractor is not able to complete a regularly scheduled delivery, the Contractor shall make arrangements in advance for an alternate delivery date. The Contractor shall contact the NWS office if a delivery is going to be delayed for any other reason. If the Contractor is unable to find a reasonable supply in time to fill the requirement, the NWS reserves the right to purchase hydrogen from another supplier outside of this contract.

The delivery schedule shall be arranged with the Administrative Support Assistant (ASA), Upper Air Program Point-of Contact or Meteorologist-in-Charge (MIC) upon contract award.

Transition Period: The Contractor and one of the NWS points of contact shall establish the delivery schedule, including coordinating the initial delivery to coincide with the pickup of cylinders by the former Contractor. Likewise, upon completion of this contract, the Contractor shall participate in the transition coordination efforts in order to minimize the risk of a missed balloon launch due to the hydrogen being unavailable at the launch site. The end-of-contract transition period may include a lighter delivery in the final weeks of the contract.

Recurring Deliveries: The point of delivery is not staffed except during balloon launches. The Contractor shall supply hydrogen gas to the Place of Performance in accordance with the coordinated date and time scheduled.

The WFO will coordinate with the Contractor as to the number of tanks to be delivered. The Contractor shall then pick up the empty cylinders in the same trip; the empty cylinders to be picked up will be capped and marked as empty by NWS personnel. The total quantity of cylinders will not exceed 230 cylinders total per year.

The Contractor shall contact NWS personnel at this location when arriving for a delivery. The loading area is located on the north side of the inflation building. The loading area will remain clear of obstructions and all safety rules must be followed. Cylinders can be rolled from a truck lift gate to its delivery point. All equipment necessary for loading and unloading the hydrogen shall be provided by the Contractor.

The Contractor shall ensure the bottles are securely strapped to the stand at delivery and placed in an orderly/neat and clean fashion with the cap loose and nozzle facing out. The Contractor shall perform the deliveries in such a manner that there will be minimal interruption to or interference with the normal operation of Government business on the premises. NWS personnel will not assist with loading or unloading of cylinders.

Evidence of Delivery: The driver shall provide evidence of delivery by way of receipt signed by a NWS representative at the time of delivery. A copy of the signed receipt shall be left with the NWS representative, and a copy shall also be attached to the associated invoice when mailed. The NWS has a total of five (5) business days to notify the Contractor of any cylinders that were delivered empty. The Contractor shall be obligated to either 1) replace the empty cylinder(s) within five (5) business days or 2) adjust the invoice to reflect the accurate count of full cylinders delivered.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

All rules concerning safety, including but not limited to not smoking and the security of the property, must be observed at all times.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be provided by the Contractor to the MIC or ASA at each office, where the information will be kept on file in accordance with applicable guidelines of the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard. Requirements pertaining to recordkeeping will be strictly followed, with copy(s) provided to MIC as necessary and upon request.

INVOICING

The Contractor shall invoice monthly in arrears via IPP.gov. The invoice must include the following items:

a. Name and address of the Contractor, which must be the same as that on the Purchase Order.

b. Invoice date and invoice number.

c. Purchase Order number and associated line-item number from the Purchase Order.

d. Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price and extended price of supplies delivered.

e. Date of delivery.

f. Evidence of delivery by way of receipt signed by NWS representative at the time of delivery

g. Name (where practicable), title, phone number, and mailing address of person to notify in the event of a defective invoice (a defective invoice is one that does not meet all the above requirements)

DELIVERY SCHEDULE:

Base Period: 06/01/2025 to 05/31/2026 Option Period 1: 06/01/2026 to 05/31/2027 Option Period 2: 06/01/2027 to 05/31/2028 Option Period 3: 06/01/2028 to 05/31/2029

DELIVER TO:

426 Pinson Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78406

The point of delivery is at the Upper Air Inflation Building, located past the main office and through the locked gate. The Contractor must coordinate with the NWS office upon arrival to unlock the gate. The hydrogen truck is permitted to use the main driveway for delivery. The drop off door is located on the north side of the inflation building as depicted by the red arrow in the aerial picture below.

GOVERNMENT POINT(S) OF CONTACT:

To be provided at time of award.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

E. IMPORTANT: is not is required copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7.ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Previous edition unusable

PAGESOF

Contractor

The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers to sign this document and return

STEPHANIE MAS

See continuation page

WAD-SAP

325 BROADWAY, SOU6

BOULDER CO 80305

WAD-SAP-B

1305M325Q0126

04/10/2025

04/10/2025

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CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGES

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(B)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

ITEM NO.

(A)

QUANTITY

(C)

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

1305M325Q0126/0002

AMENDMENT 0002 (04/18/2025): SON Revisions

The Statement of Need is revised to remove the requirement for the contractor to provide a pressure gauge. See attached cover sheet, including the revised full Statement of Need.

END OF AMENDMENT 0002.

AMENDMENT 0001 (04/14/2025): Period of

Performance Changes

The period of performance is changed to include one base year and three option years. Updated documentation attached.

END OF AMENDMENT 0001.

1305M325Q0126 0002

Section II - Supplies or Services and Price/Costs

CLIN List

Sponsored by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.110