RFQ.pdf

COMBINED SYNOPSIS SOLICITATION

(1) Action Code: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

(2) Date: April 4, 2024

(3) Classification Code: 6830, Gases: Compressed and Liquefied.

(4) Subject/Title: Compressed Gas Deliveries

(5) Proposed Solicitation Number: 75N95024Q00168

(6) Closing Response Date: April 15, 2024

(7) Description:

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

(ii) The solicitation number is 75N95024Q00168 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The Solicitation is a Total Small Business set-aside, the acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13.

(iii) The contract type will be up to four (4) year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract with a minimum order amount of $20,000.00 and maximum order amount of $250,00.00. This IDIQ contract is being issued as a firm fixed price task orders based on unit pricing.

(iv) The associated NAICS code is 325120- Industrial Gas Manufacturing with the small business size standard of 1000 employees.

(v) Period of Performance: Each Task Order will be issued for a 12-month period. The Period of Performance are as follows:

Contract Year one (1): June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025 Contract Year two (2): June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026 Contract Year three (3): June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027 Contract Year four (4): June 1, 2027 through May 31, 2028

Contractor Requirements: Please refer to the Statement of Work, Attachment 01.

The below FAR clauses are incorporated by reference:

(vi) FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(vii) FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

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.

The award will be made on the basis of Best Value. Evaluation factors are listed in order of importance, with most important listed first. The government will conduct a trade-off between price and non-price factors. The government reserves the right to award without discussions.

Evaluation Factors:

• Technical Approach - Offerors are required to submit their technical approach to meeting the requirements outlined in the statement of work. Offerors must display a clear understanding of the requirements.

• Price: Offerors must include all applicable costs (Example: Delivery and Installation) in their quote. The total quoted price will be the evaluated price.

• Past Performance: Offerors will be evaluated based on information obtained from references provided by the offeror, other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government, and any information supplied by the offeror concerning problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken.

Furthermore, the Government will assess the relative risks associated with each offeror.

Performance risks are those associated with an offeror's likelihood of success in performing the acquisition requirements as indicated by that offeror's record of past performance. The assessment of performance risk is not intended to be the product of a mechanical or mathematical analysis of an offeror's performance on a list of contracts but rather the product of subjective judgment by the Government after it considers all available and relevant information.by alternative sources in conducting its assessment of past performance history.

Please note:

1) The Offeror in their response shall quote all of the required items/services in the provided price template for Contract year 1 through Contract year 4. The offeror shall indicate unit pricing and the estimated costs for the minimum and maximum quantity in the attached table for all 4 years.

2) The Offeror must provide certification of ability to meet the delivery time frame requirement. Quotations must include a delivery lead time.

3) The Offeror must indicate in its quotation the ability to provide all of the requirements specified in the Statement of Work.

(viii) FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, with its offer. An offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via http://www.sam.gov. If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the System for Award Management (SAM) website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision.

(ix) FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The invoice instructions at FAR 52.212-4(g) are replaced with the NIH IPP Invoice and Payment Provisions (4/2022) attached to this Solicitation.

(x) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xi) The following are additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions.

FAR 52.216-18 Ordering FAR 52.216-19 Order Limitations FAR clause at 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity.

FAR clause at 52.217-8 Option To Extend Services.

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 5 days. (End of clause) FAR clause at 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract.

The Government may extend the term of this order by written notice to the Contractor any time prior to order expiration; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 5 days before the order expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension. If the Government exercises this option, the extended task order shall be considered to include this option clause. (End of clause)

(xii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating are not applicable.

(xiii) Respondents proposing on an equal product of the brand-name product specified in this announcement must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in the purchase description; quantity; estimated price or cost; shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order.

(xiv) The due date for receipt of offers is 6:00 pm Eastern Time on April 15, 2024. and must reference the solicitation number cited above. All responsible small business sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Government. Responses must be submitted electronically to polina.klimenkova@nih.gov .

Fax responses will not be accepted. Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the Offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the government requirements stated in this solicitation.

mailto:polina.klimenkova@nih.gov

Attachment 1

Statement of Work (SOW)

I. GENERAL INFORMATION:

1) Agency/Institute: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) / Intramural Research Program (IRP)/ Occupational Health & Safety Program

2) Title of Project: Compressed Gas Deliveries

3) Background Information: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. The Intramural Research Program (IRP) of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides a stimulating setting for a comprehensive effort to understand drug addiction through multidisciplinary investigator-initiated research, in this regard. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Occupational Health & Safety Program requires daily gas deliveries for use at the NIDA/IRP building locations (BRC and Triad).

Gases are used daily at most labs located in the BRC and Triad buildings. They are required to maintain essential lab equipment and integrity of research performed by scientific staff who support NIDA/IRP research.

Gas usage in labs varies depending on types of experiments and use of specific lab equipment. Orders are placed and delivered based upon daily lab request. Gases shall be delivered daily to the Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Suite 200, Room 2B408, Baltimore, MD 21224 and to the Triad Building, 333 Cassell Drive, Room 1902, Baltimore, MD 21224.

4) Purpose or Objective of the Requirement: The purpose of this requirement is to provide an efficient Compressed Gas Delivery service that must be adequate to the needs of the National Institute of Drug Addiction (NIDA), Baltimore, MD. The contractor shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the tasks and deliverables described in this Statement of Work (SOW).

5) Type of Contract: The contract type will be four (4) year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract with a minimum order amount of $20,000 and a maximum order amount of $250,000.00. Fixed price task orders will be issued based on unit pricing for items specified in the Contractors Price Quote.

6) Period of Performance: Each Task Order will be issued for a 12-month period. The period of performance are as follows:

Contract Year One (1) June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025

Contract Year Two (2): June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026

Contract Year Three (3): June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027

Contract Year Four (4): June 1, 2027 through May 31, 2028

II. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS (SCOPE OF WORK):

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the tasks as specified in each issued task orders.

1. Product Dimension: Contractor is to provide rental compressed gas cylinders. Gases may include, but not limited to:

o Oxygen, 282 CU FT o 02-N2 Gas Mixture size 200 30/70 certified standard o Hydrogen, UHP carrier grade; grade 5.0 size 300 o UHP carrier grade; grade 5.0 size 80 o Hydrogen, zero grade; grade 4.5 size 200 o Helium, high purity; grade 4.5 size 300 o UHP carrier grade; grade 5.0 size 300 o Nitrogen, zero grade; grade 4.8 size 300 o Nitrogen, UHP carrier grade; grade 5.0 size 300 o Argon, zero grade; grade 4.8 size 300 o Helium, 5.5 grade; grade 99.9995 size 300 o Air, zero grade, 260 CU FT; THC< 2.0 ppm o Air, zero grade, 310 CU FT; THC < 2.0 ppm o CO2-02 Gas mixture size 200; 5/95 analyzed o E-med Oxygen, USP 25CF o Nitrogen-CO2 mixture, 200 CU FT 75/25 o E-Med Oxygen, USP 25CF Alum; aluminum for non-magnetic use o Carbon Dioxide, extra dry 20 LB o Carbon Dioxide, extra dry 50 LB o Carbon Dioxide, syphon 50 LB o Carbon Dioxide, USP 6.5 LB o Nitrogen, 255 CU FT; grade 4.5 high purity o Argon, 336 CU FT; Grade 4.5. high purity o Nitrous Oxide, USP 65 LB o E. Nitrous Oxide, USP 6.5 LB o Therapy Oxygen, USP 282 CU FT o Air, compressed 260 CU FT o Air, breathing quality 310 CF o Hydrogen, 216 CU Ft o Liquid Helium 60 liter o Air USP, 260 CU FT

2. Oxygen, “medical grade” will be needed on an as needed or requested basis. Other gases (including oxygen) are mixed high purity or above.

3. Customized Blends: Mixed gases will be required per the customer’s request and will be tailored to the specific proportion of gases as requested. All gases to be used in the mixed blends are included in the above list of required gases. The customized blends of gases will include but not be limited to the following:

o 02-N2 Gas Mixture size 200 30/70 certified standard.

o CO2-02 Gas mixture size 200; 5/95 analyzed.

o As needed or requested.

4. Refills of Liquid Nitrogen for NIDA/IRP customer owned Dewars to be filled at the BRC Building, 251 Bayview Blvd., loading dock and Triad Building, 333 Cassell Drive, loading dock as follows:

o 60 liters o 160 – 240 liters o No additional hazmat fees o Standard next day delivery service o Automatic Weekly delivery date for Thursday

5. Deliveries for cylinder gases will be made within 24 hours from the time ordered (via telephone and/or online) by NIDA representative between 8:30am-4:00pm. Deliveries will be made to NIDA on the second floor of the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) building, Room 02B408, 251 Bayview Blvd., Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224 & Triad Building, 333 Cassell Drive, Room 1902, Baltimore, MD 21224.

6. Demurrage/cylinder charges will apply to the following rentals:

o High Pressure Cylinders o Specialty Gas Cylinders o D & E Cylinders o Liquid Helium Cylinders

7. Removal of empty cylinders; During each delivery contractor, shall remove all empty cylinders stores in the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) building, Room 02B408, 251 Bayview Blvd., Suite 200 and Triad Building, 333 Cassell Drive, Room 1902 and return to vendor.

8. Emergency Deliveries: The service shall include emergency deliveries, when requested by NIDA representative. The contractor must be capable of providing same day service upon emergency requests as well as nights, weekends and holidays. Emergency delivery fees will be charged for the following:

o Emergency Delivery Fees: (Same Day service during business hours) o Emergency Delivery Fees: (Nights, Weekends and Holidays)

Deliverables:

1) Description of Tasks and Associated Deliverables:

o Contractor shall provide a monthly delivery report to NIDA’s point of contact indicating type of gas, quantity, cost, and delivery date of all gas cylinders delivered monthly.

o The contractor shall also assist the customer in monitoring gas levels and report on gas levels as monitored during deliveries. The tank volume can be read from pressure regulators attached to each tank.

2) Contractor Experience Requirements.

Delivery personnel should be trained in the proper handling of compressed gas cylinders. This training should meet or exceed OSHA training standards. All deliveries must be in accordance with current federal, state and local regulations.

III. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

• NIDA will grant the contractor access to the second floor of the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) building, Room 02B408, 251 Bayview Blvd., Suite 200 and to the Triad Building, 333 Cassel Drive, Room 1902.

Updated on April 21, 2022

Invoice and Payment Provisions (Vendor has Transitioned to

IPP)

The following clause is applicable to all Purchase Orders, Task or Delivery Orders, and Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Calls: Prompt Payment (Jan 2017) FAR 52.232-25. Highlights of this clause and NIH implementation requirements follow:

I. Invoice Requirements

A. An invoice is the Contractor's bill or written request for payment under the contract for supplies delivered or services performed. A proper invoice is an "Original" which must include the items listed in subdivisions 1 through 12, below, in addition to the requirements of FAR 32.9. If the invoice does not comply with these requirements, the Contractor will be notified of the defect within 7 days after the date the designated billing office received the invoice (3 days for meat, meat food products, or fish, and 5 days for perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, edible fats, or oils) with a statement of the reasons why it is not a proper invoice. (See exceptions under II., below.) Untimely notification will be considered in the computation of any interest penalty owed the Contractor.

1. Vendor/Contractor: Name, Address, Point of Contact for the invoice (Name, title, telephone number, e-mail and mailing address of point of contact).

2. Remit-to address (Name and complete mailing address to send payment).

3. Remittance name must match exactly with name on original order/contract. If the

Remittance name differs from the Legal Business Name, then both names must appear on the invoice.

4. Invoice date.

5. Unique invoice #s for all invoices per vendor regardless of site.

6. NBS document number formats must be included for awards created in the NBS: Contract

Number; Purchase Order Number; Task or Delivery Order Number and Source Award Number (e.g., Indefinite Delivery Contract number; General Services Administration number); or, BPA Call Number and BPA Parent Award Number.

7. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which is in the System for Award Management (SAM) and replaces the Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

8. Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). In those rare cases where a contractor does not have a UEI number or TIN, a Vendor Identification Number (VIN) must be referenced on the invoice. The VIN is the number that appears after the contractor’s name on the face page of the award document.

9. Identify that payment is to be made using a three-way match.

10. Description of supplies/services that match the description on the award, by line billed.*

11. Freight or delivery charge must be billed as shown on the award. If it is included in the item price do not bill it separately. If identified in the award as a separate line item, it must be billed separately.

12. Quantity, Unit of Measure, Unit Price, Extended Price of supplies delivered or services performed, as applicable, and that match the line items specified in the award.*

NOTE: If your invoice must differ from the line items on the award, please contact the Contracting Officer before submitting the invoice. A modification to the order or contract may be needed before the invoice can be submitted and paid.

Shipping costs will be reimbursed only if authorized by the Contract/Purchase Order. If authorized, shipping costs must be itemized. Where shipping costs exceed $100, the invoice must be supported by a bill of lading or a paid carrier's receipt.

B. The Contractor shall submit invoices to the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing

Platform (IPP) at https://www.ipp.gov with a copy to the approving official, as directed below.

The Contractor shall submit a copy of the electronic invoice to the following Approving Official (Contracting Officer) and Contracting Officer’s Representative:

Approving Official: Contracting Officer Name- Email Address-

Contracting Officer’s Representative Name- Email Address-

II. Invoice Payment A. Except as indicated in paragraph B., below, the due date for making invoice payments by the designated payment office shall be the later of the following two events:

1. The 30th day after the designated billing office has received a proper invoice.

2. The 30th day after Government acceptance of supplies delivered or services performed.

B. The due date for making invoice payments for meat and meat food products, perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, and edible fats or oils, shall be in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, as amended.

III. Interest Penalties

A. An interest penalty shall be paid automatically, if payment is not made by the due date and the conditions listed below are met, if applicable.

1. A proper invoice was received by the designated billing office.

2. A receiving report or other Government documentation authorizing payment was processed and there was no disagreement over quantity, quality, or contractor compliance with a term or condition.

3. In the case of a final invoice for any balance of funds due the contractor for supplies delivered or services performed, the amount was not subject to further settlement https://www.ipp.gov/ actions between the Government and the Contractor.

B. Determination of interest and penalties due will be made in accordance with the provisions of the Prompt Payment Act, as amended, the Contract Disputes Act, and regulations issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

IV. PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS, FAR

52.232-40 (November 2021)

(a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the Contractor shall make accelerated payments to its small business subcontractors under this contract, to the maximum extent practicable and prior to when such payment is otherwise required under the applicable contract or subcontract, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor.

(b) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act.

(c) Include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts with small business concerns, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services.

(End of Clause)

V. HHSAR 352.232-71 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (February 2, 2022)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

Payment request means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), ‘‘Content of Invoices’’ and the applicable Payment clause included in this contract.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, the Contractor shall submit payment requests electronically using the Department of Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or successor system. Information regarding IPP, including IPP Customer Support contact information, is available at www.ipp.gov or any successor site.

(c) The Contractor may submit payment requests using other than IPP only when the Contracting Officer authorizes alternate procedures in writing in accordance with HHS procedures.

(d) If alternate payment procedures are authorized, the Contractor shall include a copy of the Contracting Officer’s written authorization with each payment request.

(End of Clause) http://www.ipp.gov/