SOW for RFQ.pdf

Request for Quotation Number 1333ND20QNB640477

Statement of Work

TITLE: Helium Recovery and Liquification Systems for CSD

BACKGROUND

The Organic Chemical Measurement Science Group within the Chemical Science Division of the Materials

Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a critical need for

Helium Recovery and Liquification Systems. These are systems that capture helium exhaust from Nuclear

Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instrumentation and condense it back to liquid helium. A total of two systems are needed for helium recovery from NMR instrumentation in the following two groups: (1) the Organic Chemical

Measurement Science Group at NIST’s Gaithersburg, MD campus; and (2) the Marine Biochemical Sciences

Group at NIST-Charleston at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) in Charleston, SC.

The Organic Chemical Measurement Science Group’s efforts are directed toward applications in clinical chemistry, environmental chemistry, food and nutrition, and forensics and homeland security, and include sample types such as tissues and biological fluids, air particulate matter and sediments, foods and dietary supplements, energetic materials, and pure substances (i.e., reference standards). Measurement services are provided through the development of definitive and reference methods, Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), and quality assurance programs.

The Marine Biochemical Sciences Group’s mission is to perform state-of-the-art bioanalytical measurements, provide reference data and tools, develop standards, and advance the measurement sciences to support the nation’s needs for research on marine organisms. Activities comprise the development of bioanalytical methods to characterize, identify, and quantitate molecules pertinent to marine organisms using multi-omics techniques.

The helium recovery and liquification systems at each site will capture and condense the normal daily helium boil-off from NMR systems in use at these locations. This will result in an immediate reduction in helium consumption at these locations. In addition to conserving helium, the reserved helium in the capture dewar will provide a safeguard against periodic lapses in helium availability, which are often not predictable.

PURPOSE

The Contractor shall provide one helium recovery and liquification system, including installation, training and warranty, and meeting all requirements identified herein, for the NIST site in Charleston, SC. The Government has also included a separately priced option line for the purchase of a second system for the NIST site in

Gaithersburg, MD.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

-Delayed Manufacturing/Delayed Delivery

Due to COVID-19, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is currently closed with the exception of mission-critical staff. NIST sites are beginning to resume normal operations, however, the process is phased with the highest priority on the health, safety and well being of NIST personnel, Contractors and visitors.

In addition, NIST will be responsible for renovating the laboratory space relevant to power and water utilities, ventilation, and hooking up the primary SPS components based on instructions provided by the Contractor.

NIST is working with its internal colleagues to schedule the laboratory renovations, however, knows that renovations will not be completed prior to award.

The Contractor shall delay manufacturing or delay delivery for a period that may be as short as one month from the date of award up to six months from the date of award. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for

NIST will communicate with the Contractor regarding the status of the site and provide written notification to the Contractor when manufacturing should commence and when delivery, installation and training can be scheduled.

If the Contractor chooses to manufacture the equipment upon award, the Contractor shall be responsible for storing the equipment, at their sole expense, until such time that NIST can authorize delivery and installation of the equipment.

-Separately Priced Option Line Items

Line Items 0005, 0006, 0007, and 0008 are separately priced option line items for a helium recovery and liquification system, including installation, training and warranty, and meeting all requirements identified herein, for the NIST site in Gaithersburg, MD.

The Government may exercise these option line items, at its discretion, at the time of award, or, at any time prior to September 30, 2021. The requirements for delayed delivery/ manufacturing will be addressed at the time the option is exercised.

-Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses

The Contractor shall review and adhere to the requirements of Attachment I titled NIST Visitor and Contractor

Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses. Contractor personnel performing work in

NIST workspaces, must provide all information required by Attachment I, in advance of and throughout the period of performance of the contract. This document is subject to change and must be monitored by the

Contractor. Reference www.NIST.gov.

While working on the NIST campus, the Contracting Officer's Representative and/or Technical Point of Contact will ensure that Contractor personnel comply with the requirements in place to mitigate COVID-19 exposure.

The Government reserves the right to require that Contractor personnel attend a 1-2 hour training session dedicated to COVID-19 protocols.

-Compliance with NIST Rules and Regulations

While on the NIST campus, the Contractor shall abide by all NIST rules and regulations. The Contractor shall provide all information necessary for the TPOC to authorize entrance to the NIST campus in accordance with

NIST Security Policy and Procedures.

REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS

Each of the two-helium recovery and liquification systems shall meet all of the following specifications:

• The helium recovery and liquification systems must recycle the normal helium boil-off from NMR instrumentation and condense it back to liquid helium in a storage dewar.

• The systems must be able to accommodate the boil-off from one 600 MHz NMR spectrometer at the

Gaithersburg site and one 700 MHz NMR spectrometer and one 800 MHz pumped NMR spectrometer at the

Charleston site. Based on liberal boil-off estimates from the NMR systems at each site the liquefiers shall be capable of at least a 10 L/day liquefaction rate.

• The systems are NOT required to capture and recycle the boil-off liquid helium during the filling of the

NMR spectrometers.

• The system must not require a supplemental helium purification system other than a dryer for any residual moisture in recovered helium. If a dryer is required for continuous operation, the Contractor must provide a dryer that functions appropriately for the quoted system.

• The systems will be installed in (1) a service corridor directly adjacent to the room where the NMR is housed at the Gaithersburg, MD site and (2) a utility room directly adjacent to the room where the NMR instrumentation is housed at the Charleston, SC site. Existing ports (4” diameter or larger) through the walls will be available at both sites to permit passage of flexible gas transfer tubing from the NMR systems to the liquification systems. The Contractor will not be required to make any wall penetrations. Electric power and water connections will be available at the system locations.

Hardware:

• Helium Liquefier. The liquefier shall be capable of at least 10 L/day liquefaction rate. The associated compressor unit for the liquefier shall be water cooled.

• Helium Dewar with 150 L to 160 L capacity. The Helium dewar shall be able to operate between 1 and 3 psi. It must include:

o locking casters and handles for moving dewar to instrument for transfers;

o an electric pressure builder capable of generating 1 to 3 PSI within the dewar for helium transfer purposes; and o a differential pressure liquid level gauge.

• The helium dewar and liquefier shall be on a separate platform from the compressor unit such that the dewar can be disconnected from the compressor unit and transported to the NMR systems for helium fills. The dewar shall be able to fit through a doorway with a 34” opening.

• The footprint of the dewar with liquefier shall be no greater than 62” X 36”. The footprint of the compressor units (either water-cooled or air-cooled) shall be no greater than 36” by 30”.

• The helium recovery equipment shall have remote monitoring capability, through WIFI or Ethernet, to allow the system to be monitored for proper operation.

• The Contractor shall provide the connection from the NIST NMR to the liquefier for capturing boil-off gas including all necessary gas tubing and connectors.

INSTALLATION

The Contractor shall install one helium recovery system at each of the following locations:

1) Building 227, room B139 at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) located in

Gaithersburg, MD.

2) The NMR Laboratory, room N105 at the Hollings Marine Laboratory located in Charleston, SC.

Installation at both sites shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of all equipment, start-up, demonstration of specifications, and removal of all trash. The helium recovery and liquification systems shall meet all specifications identified herein upon completion of installation.

Installation shall take place during normal business hours, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays, and shall be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact

(TPOC) that will be identified at the time of award.

TRAINING

Training shall be provided on-site at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD site and the NIST, Charleston, SC site. The

Contractor shall provide training for up to two NIST personnel at each site. Training shall cover normal operation, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance. Training shall be provided during normal business hours, between 8:30am and 5:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays, and must be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ensure maximum availability of NIST personnel.

COMPLETION OF WORK

Delivery, installation and training shall be completed not later than 160 days from the date the Government provides written notification to the Contractor that manufacturing can commence.

WARRANTY

The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, a one-year warranty for the equipment. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor and travel. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, training and demonstration of all required specifications.

ACCEPTANCE AND PAYMENT

The demonstration of specifications must occur prior to training. Final acceptance by the Government will be given after successful completion of delivery, installation, training and demonstration of all specifications.