Sources_Sought_Notice_-_DOIGFBO250007_1.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Sources Sought # DOIGFBO250007 The Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is conducting a MARKET SURVEY to determine the interest and capability of any firm eligible to compete under NAICS code 325120 for an upcoming requirement needed by the USGS – Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) for bulk gases, cylinders, and nitrogen gas tank rentals in accordance with the draft Statement of Work (SOW) shown below.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. ALL COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION

AS REQUESTED BY THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF

THE CONTRACTOR. Submission is voluntary.

Draft Statement of Work (SOW)

BULK GASES, CYLINDER, AND NITROGEN TANK RENTALS

The U.S. Geological Survey, WRD, Kansas District, Organic Geochemistry Research

Laboratory (OGRL) is a $3.5 my/year research laboratory that develops robust and sensitive analytical methods to study the occurrence, fate, transport and effects of new and understudied organic contaminants in the environment. Ultra-high purity specialty gases are essential for the highly sensitive ultra-pressure chromatography/tandem and Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry system and also for sample preparation, sample evaporation and solvent exchange, and as a pneumatic gas used to operate valves in complex extraction equipment. To ensure that the UPLC/mass spectrometers, solids extractors, and sample evaporators have an on-demand source of high purity nitrogen a 900-gallon bulk tank is tied to a stainless steel nitrogen distribution system.

It is essential to have these bulk gases, cylinder and bulk nitrogen tank rentals in order for the instruments to function properly. We have several high-profile projects with the Water Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area Environmental Health Program, NASA, several USGS science centers, universities and state and local agencies that depend upon the OGRL for timely data for pesticides, herbicides, hormones, algal toxins, and antibiotics to address critical hypotheses on endocrine disruption, acute poisonings, antimicrobial resistance, and complex mixtures of organic contaminants in the environment. Thus, continuous instrument operation and proper maintenance is critical for the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory to conduct research and methods development. Attached are the functional and technical specifications.

Technical and Functional Specifications:

A. Contractor shall supply bulk nitrogen that is 99.998 percent or greater in purity and meets or exceeds 8.0 PPM Oxygen and 4.0 PPM Moisture.

B. Contractor shall supply 5.0 ultrahigh purity helium in cylinders

C. Contractor shall supply Argon of 5.0 purity or higher in cylinders

D. Contractor shall maintain a 900-gal bulk nitrogen tank with telemetry on existing concrete slab adjacent to laboratory wing of existing building.

Sources Sought # DOIGFBO250007

E. Contractor shall maintain all stainless-steel valves and tubing from the nitrogen bulk tank up to and including the in-line filter and pressure gauges that are installed on the inside wall where the bulk nitrogen line enters the laboratory.

F. Contractor shall conduct a full inspection of the bulk tank and all associated valves and tubing at least once per year.

G. Contractor shall monitor bulk nitrogen tank with telemetry to ensure tank is always filled above the minimum required level.

H. Contractor shall ensure nitrogen bulk tank is able to supply 130 psi or more at the gas pressure meter in the building to ensure all the instruments have nitrogen within the pressure specifications of the instrument manufacturer.

I. Contractor shall ensure cylinder gases are delivered within 48 hours of when the request is phoned in.

J. Contractor shall be responsible for the purity of their gases. Any instrument damage or contamination of the bulk nitrogen distribution tubing resulting from inferior grade or contaminated gas will be the responsibility of the gas company to fix.

K. If installation of a new bulk tank is necessary, the Contractor shall be responsible for all costs associated with removing existing bulk nitrogen tank and installation of a new bulk nitrogen tank including flushing of lines, modification or installation of new distribution valves, tubing and filters, which must all be of stainless steel.

L. Contractor shall be responsible for providing a plan for the timing and length of the installation of a bulk nitrogen tank if required and the plan must be accepted by the KS WSC Associate Director. If the conversion exceeds the allotted time, the Contractor shall be responsible for all costs associated with the delay.

M. Current Services & Costs Linde Tank / System #8526911

N. Current Monthly Demurrage:

Packaged gas (high purity cylinders) $3.87 EA per month, Bulk NI system -900 gallon, PDI Tank # 2386051, CST# 86163834 - $449.69 per month

Current Product costs:

Bulk nitrogen (99.998+ purity) $0.889/per 100 CFT AR 5.0 UHP-T (300 series) $80.52 EA HE 5.0 UH-T (300 series) $183.90 EA

Sources Sought # DOIGFBO250007

O. Product Specification Statement: The liquid nitrogen currently supplied has a purity guarantee of 99.998% by difference and meets or exceeds the following specifications:

COMPONENT SPECIFICATION

Oxygen 8.0 PPM

Moisture 4.0 PPM

(End of Draft SOW)

For market research purposes only, the USGS is investigating interested contractors that can demonstrate capabilities to meet or exceed the above details in Draft SOW. A finalized SOW will be provided with any future solicitation that may be issued for this requirement.

Responses to this announcement are requested from (1) Small Businesses (SB); (2) Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB); (3) Section 8(a) Businesses; (4) Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB); (5) Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB); (6) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses; (7) Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; (8) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB); and (9) Large Businesses.

In response to this announcement, please indicate your firm's socioeconomic status (e.g. small business, service-disabled veteran-owned, women owned, HUBZone, etc.) This information will assist the Government in determining how small businesses can fit into the acquisition strategy.

The small business size standard under NAICS code 325120 is 1,200 employees. Any information submitted is voluntary. If sufficient interest and capability is not received from firms in categories (1) through (8) above, any solicitation may be issued as unrestricted to Large Businesses without further consideration.

Interested business firms shall submit (1) NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRM (including DUNS NUMBER); (2) a CAPABILITY STATEMENT including (a) RECENT (within the last three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history (identify the name of the owner and their point(s) of contact with telephone and fax numbers, email addresses; and (b) in what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor, etc) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS.

Your company must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) https://www.sam.gov. All responses shall be received no later than December 17, 2024 by 1700 (EST) via e-mail to:

jharris@usgs.gov.

This is NOT a Request for Quote (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Invitation for Bid (IFB) and does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Responses to this sources sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that may be issued will be posted on SAM.gov (https://www.sam.gov) website and no paper copies will be provided.