19-00251_FBO_SJU_SON_(FINAL).pdf

STATEMENT OF NEED (SON)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

NATIONAL OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS)

SAN JUAN WFO (WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE)

HYDROGEN GAS SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND CYLINDER RENTAL

DELIVERY PERIOD:

Base Year: 9/1/2019 through 8/31/2020 Option Year 1: 9/1/2020 through 8/31/2021 Option Year 2: 9/1/2021 through 8/31/2022 Option Year 3: 9/1/2022 through 8/31/2023 Option Year 4: 9/1/2023 through 8/31/2024

BACKGROUND:

The National Weather Service (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 San Juan, is located near LMM International Airport in Carolina, PR. The office launches weather balloons routinely twice a day at 1200 and 2000 Atlantic Standard Time. Each balloon requires approximately 75 cubic feet (CF) of hydrogen. Instrumentation is attached to each balloon which provides measurements of temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and height. This data is transmitted worldwide and used to make weather forecasts out to 10 days.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the NWS is to receive and keep on-site an adequate supply of hydrogen gas (no less than 195 CF, up to 4,680 CF) in individual cylinders to perform the weather balloon launches on schedule.

Two cylinders of helium will be needed in rare instances of failure of hydrogen delivery system.

SCOPE

The Contractor is responsible for supplying hydrogen to the NWS upper air building located at 4000 Carr, 190, Carolina, PR 00979. The total amount of hydrogen to be delivered for the 12 month period of this requirement will be a minimum of 51,000 CF, up to a maximum of 70,000 CF. The hydrogen will be supplied at regular intervals throughout the period, provided as individual cylinders, delivered approximately every two weeks. See Delivery Schedule in Section 6, below, for details. Two cylinders of helium will be delivered or replaced at least once per year or as needed.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All deliveries are to be made to the NWS office at 4000 Carr. 190, Carolina, PR 00979. The point of delivery is at the Upper Air Inflation building, located on the southeastern side of the main building on a separate driveway. The hydrogen truck is permitted to use the driveway for delivery; drop off door is located on the western side of the inflation building. (red arrow on below picture of the facilities).

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 24 cylinders of hydrogen at a time. This site uses a minimum of 150 CF of hydrogen, every day of the year. Actual use has the potential to vary if we have to launch extra balloons. We anticipate using 2,100 CF every 2 weeks, but need to keep an additional store of hydrogen on site in case of additional unforeseen launches. The intent is that we will be replenished to our maximum of approximately 4,680 CF after each completed delivery.

Initial Delivery: The Contractor shall supply a minimum of 4,290 CF of hydrogen on September 1, 2019.

The actual amount of supplied will vary based on the size of the cylinders. The hydrogen will be contained in no more than 22, 195 CF capacity individual cylinders. Two tanks of cylinders of helium (195 CF) shall also be supplied.

Delivery Schedule: Deliveries shall be made every other week, Monday through Friday between the hours of 0800 and 1700 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 will 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.

If additional deliveries are required prior to the next regularly scheduled delivery, the NWS will contact the

Contractor and request the additional delivery, with delivery to be completed within three calendar days of being contacted.

The delivery schedule shall be arranged with the Upper Air Program Point-of Contact, Meteorologist-In-

Charge (MIC), or Administrative Support Assistant (ASA) upon contract award (see section 9 below for contact information).

Transition Period: If this contract is awarded to other than the incumbent Contractor, then prior to the first day of the contract, the new Contractor and one of the agency points of contact, listed in section 9 below, 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, if the new follow-on contract is awarded to other than the current Contractor, the current 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 for during the balloon launches. The Contractor shall supply hydrogen gas to the Place of Performance in accordance with the coordinated date and time schedule

The Contractor will replenish back to 4,290 CF of hydrogen on a every other week basis in accordance with the arranged schedule, replacing all empty hydrogen cylinders with full hydrogen cylinders. The Contractor shall pick up the empty cylinders in the same trip. If additional deliveries are required prior to the next regularly scheduled delivery, the NWS will contact the Contractor and request the additional delivery, with delivery to be completed within three business days of being contacted.

The Contractor shall contact NWS personnel at this location when arriving for a delivery. The loading area is located on the South side of the inflation building. The loading area will remain clear of obstructions and all safety rules shall 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 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 an 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.

Compliance: If any of the deliveries do not conform to contract requirements (i.e. a delivery results in less than full replenishment of hydrogen to 4,200 CF), the Government reserves the right to require the Contractor to bring the delivery into conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount (i.e. without additional delivery charges).