SON_1333MH22QNWWT0018.pdf

STATEMENT OF NEED

Hydrogen supplied to WFO Glasgow

1. 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 in Glasgow, MT launches weather balloons routinely twice a day at 4 am and 4 pm Mountain Standard Time and 5 am and 5 pm Mountain Daylight Time.

Each balloon requires approximately 70 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.

2. OBJECTIVE

The objective of the NWS is to receive and keep on-hand an adequate supply of hydrogen (between 980 CF and 5,460 CF) to perform the weather balloon launches on schedule. The supply will be re-stocked approximately every 4 weeks.

3. SCOPE

The Contractor is responsible for supplying hydrogen to the NWS office located at 92 Airport Road, Glasgow, MT 59230. Up to 5,460 CF will be stored on site in individual cylinders. Deliveries will be approximately every four weeks of between 3,920 and 4,480 CF. For each period of performance described below, there may be up to six additional “ad hoc” deliveries required. The total amount of hydrogen to be delivered for each period of this requirement is between 51,100 and 57,820 CF.

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance for this requirement is 12 months, beginning April 25, 2022 and ends April 24, 2023. There are four options of one year each for the same quantity as the base period:

Option 1: April 25, 2023 through April 24, 2024 Option 2: April 25, 2024 through April 24, 2025 Option 3: April 25, 2025 through April 24, 2026 Option 4: April 25, 2026 through April 24, 2027

5. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All deliveries are to be made to the NWS office at 92 Airport Road, Glasgow, MT 59230. The point of delivery is at the Upper Air Inflation building, located on the South side of the main building. 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.

6. REQUIREMENTS

Site Storage and Usage: All hydrogen must be provided in individual cylinders as the facility is not arranged to allow for other configurations, such as manifolded six-packs. The Government has space at the delivery point to receive and store up to 22 cylinders of hydrogen at a time. This means that each cylinder provided must contain a minimum of 248 CF of hydrogen in order to store up to 5,460 CF on site.

This site uses a minimum of 140 CF of hydrogen per day, every day of the year. Actual use and the correlated number of cylinders per delivery depends on how many cubic feet of hydrogen is provided in each cylinder, and also has the potential to vary if we need to launch extra balloons. During an average four week period, with no extra launches, we will use approximately 3,920 CF. However, due to this being a mission critical supply to support public safety, we need to keep an additional store of 1,540 CF of hydrogen on site in case of additional unforeseen launches or delayed deliveries. The intent is that we will be replenished to our maximum of 5,460 CF after each completed delivery.

Initial Delivery: The contractor shall supply 5,460 CF of hydrogen on or after April 25, 2022, with the actual delivery date coordinated with one of the Points of Contact listed in Section 8, below. We understand the exact amount supplied will vary based on the size of the cylinders. The hydrogen will be contained in no more than 22 individual cylinders.

Delivery Schedule: After the initial delivery, the Contractor will replenish back to 5,460 CF of hydrogen approximately every 4 weeks, 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. At no time shall more than 22 total cylinders be left on site. 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 delivery schedule shall be arranged upon contract award with one of the NWS points of contact listed in paragraph 8 below.

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.

In the event of a hydrogen shortage by the Contractor or their supplier, the Contractor is responsible for communicating the shortage to the NWS as soon as possible, but no less than two days prior to the next scheduled delivery. 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.

Performing Deliveries: The Contractor shall contact NWS personnel at this location when arriving for a delivery.

NWS personnel will remain with driver throughout the delivery unlocking and locking doors as needed. NWS personnel will not assist with loading or unloading of cylinders. 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 shall be followed.

This location does not have a lift gate, platform, or forklift to assist with unloading; all equipment necessary for loading and unloading the hydrogen shall be provided by the Contractor. Cylinders can be rolled between a truck lift gate and the delivery point. 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.

The Contractor shall perform the pickup of empty cylinders and delivery of full cylinders in the same trip. 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.

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.

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 5,460 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).

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 NWS points of contact, listed in paragraph 8 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.

7. SAFETY AND SECURITY

All rules concerning safety, 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.

8. POINTS OF CONTACT

The Government contacts at the NWS office in Glasgow, MT are:

Observation Program Leader – 406-228-4042 Administrative Support Assistant – 406-228-2850 x221 Meteorologist In Charge – 406-228-2850 x222

9. INVOICING

The Contractor will invoice in arrears for deliveries and related surcharges. Cylinder rent shall be invoiced in arrears on a monthly basis. Invoices shall be provided within 30 days of the end of the billing period. 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, and date of delivery

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

f. 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)

Invoices shall not be emailed. Paper copy invoices shall be sent to the following address:

National Weather Service 92 Airport Road Glasgow, MT 59230