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SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
Purchase and Installation of Laboratory Nitrogen Generators Food and Drug Administration | CDHR-2026-134106
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This notice does not constitute a solicitation and does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this notice. Responses will be used for market research purposes only and will not be evaluated for award.
| Notice Type: |
| Sources Sought Notice |
| Solicitation Number: |
| CDHR-2026-134106 |
| Issuing Office: |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services (OAGS) |
| Project Title: |
| Purchase and Installation of Laboratory Nitrogen Generators |
| NAICS Code: |
| 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (Size Standard: 1,000 Employees) |
| PSC Code: |
| 6640 – Laboratory Equipment and Supplies |
| Place of Performance: |
| FDA/OSEL, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Building 64, Room 4082, Silver Spring, MD 20993 |
| Response Deadline: |
| June 10, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time |
| Point of Contact: |
| Freshta Javid, Email; Freshta.Javid@fda.hhs.gov |
1. PURPOSE
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services (OAGS), is conducting market research to identify qualified sources capable of providing two (2) high-flow laboratory nitrogen generators and one (1) low-flow laboratory nitrogen generator, including delivery, installation, validation, and warranty services, for the FDA Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL), Division of Biology, Chemistry and Materials Science (DBCMS).
This Sources Sought Notice is issued in accordance with FAR 10.001 and FAR 10.002 to identify potential small business sources and to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for this requirement. Participation in this market research is voluntary and will not affect any future solicitation or award.
2. BACKGROUND
The FDA/OSEL/DBCMS uses mass spectrometry systems to identify and characterize biological and chemical components present in medical devices and device extracts. Mass spectrometry instrumentation manufactured by multiple vendors — including Agilent, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Waters — requires a stable and continuous supply of high-purity nitrogen gas for essential functions including ion source operation, desolvation, nebulization, curtain gas, and collision-induced dissociation across LC-MS and GC-MS analytical platforms.
The required nitrogen generators will replace compressed gas cylinders, eliminating unexpected gas depletion, reducing safety risks associated with cylinder handling and storage, and ensuring consistent nitrogen purity during extended analytical runs.
3. REQUIREMENT SUMMARY
The Government requires the following, including delivery, on-site installation by manufacturer-certified field service engineers, performance verification testing, and a three-year warranty:
A. High-Flow Nitrogen Generators — Two (2) Units
| Specification |
| Requirement |
| Maximum Flow Rate |
| 70 L/min |
| Nitrogen Purity |
| Up to 99.5% (minimum ~95% at max flow); hydrocarbon-free (<1 ppm) |
| Output Pressure |
| Up to 116 psi (8 bar) |
| Air Compressor |
| Integral/built-in — no external compressor required |
| Moisture Removal |
| Two-stage moisture removal system |
| Particulate Filter |
| Triflex particulate filter (<0.02 µm) |
| Interface |
| Full color, high resolution touchscreen with system control, performance monitoring, diagnostics, and service scheduling |
| Power / Voltage |
| 230 VAC / 50–60 Hz; Dual trap transformer (190–250V building supply) |
| Power Consumption |
| ~2,530 VA |
| Noise Level |
| <60 dB(A) at continuous use |
| Dimensions (max) |
| Less than 23"W × 20"D × 40"H |
| Technology |
| ECO (Electronic Compressor Optimization™) for low energy consumption |
| Compatibility |
| LC/MS and LC/MS/MS instruments (multi-vendor: Agilent, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waters) |
| Warranty |
| 3-year manufacturer warranty |
B. Low-Flow Nitrogen Generator — One (1) Unit
| Specification |
| Requirement |
| Maximum Flow Rate |
| 35 L/min |
| Nitrogen Purity |
| Up to 99.5% (minimum ~95% at max flow); hydrocarbon-free (<1 ppm) |
| Output Pressure |
| Up to 116 psi (8 bar) |
| Air Compressor |
| Integral/built-in — no external compressor required |
| Moisture Removal |
| Two-stage moisture removal system |
| Particulate Filter |
| Triflex particulate filter (<0.02 µm) |
| Interface |
| Full color, high resolution touchscreen with system control, performance monitoring, diagnostics, and service scheduling |
| Power Consumption |
| ~2,530 VA |
| Noise Level |
| <60 dB(A) at continuous use |
| Dimensions (max) |
| Less than 23"W × 20"D × 40"H |
| Technology |
| ECO (Electronic Compressor Optimization™) for low energy consumption |
| Compatibility |
| LC/MS and LC/MS/MS instruments (Thermo Q-Exactive systems); sample evaporation and auxiliary lab applications |
| Warranty |
| 3-year manufacturer warranty |
4. INSTALLATION AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
The contractor must provide the following services for all three (3) nitrogen generators:
1. On-site delivery and installation at FDA/OSEL, Building 64, Room 4082, Silver Spring, MD 20993.
1. Installation must be performed by a manufacturer-certified field service engineer (FSE). Remote installation is not permitted.
1. Post-installation performance testing to verify nitrogen flow rate, pressure, and purity specifications for each unit.
1. Completion of an installation and verification checklist for each unit as documentation for Government acceptance.
1. Three-year warranty covering all defective parts, labor, and travel at no additional cost to the Government.
1. Technical support coverage Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, excluding Federal holidays.
1. Emergency service response within 24 hours; emergency repair completion within 72 hours.
1. Non-emergency repair completion within 148 hours of on-site visit.
1. Field service reports submitted to the FDA COR and Contract Specialist within 5 business days of each service event.
5. REQUESTED CAPABILITY INFORMATION
Interested vendors are requested to submit a capability statement addressing the following items. Responses should be concise and no longer than ten (10) pages.
| 1 |
| Company name, address, website, point of contact name, phone number, and email address. |
| 2 |
| Business size and socioeconomic status under NAICS 334516 (e.g., Large Business, Small Business, SDVOSB, HUBZone, WOSB, 8(a)). |
| 3 |
| GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract number, if applicable, and confirmation that nitrogen generators meeting the described requirements are available under your schedule. |
| 4 |
| Description of the nitrogen generator product(s) you can provide that meet or closely meet the specifications described in this notice, including manufacturer, model name/number, flow rate, purity, and key features. |
| 5 |
| Confirmation of whether your company can provide manufacturer-certified field service engineer (FSE) installation and performance testing at the FDA Silver Spring, MD facility. |
| 6 |
| Confirmation of whether you can provide a 3-year warranty covering parts, labor, and travel for all three units. |
| 7 |
| Any relevant past performance or experience supplying nitrogen generators to federal government agencies or laboratory environments. |
| 8 |
| Any questions, concerns, or recommended modifications to the technical specifications described in this notice. |
6. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Interested vendors must submit capability statements electronically no later than:
June 10, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time
