Statement of Need_1333MH20QNWWT0012.pdf

STATEMENT OF NEED

Hydrogen supplied to WFO Reno

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 Reno, NV launches weather balloons routinely twice a day at 4 am and 4 pm PDT. Each balloon requires approximately 65 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 (up to 2,990 CF and no less than 910 CF) to perform the weather balloon launches on schedule. The supply will be re-stocked on a bi-weekly basis.

3. SCOPE

The Contractor is responsible for supplying hydrogen to the NWS office located at 2350 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV. The total amount of hydrogen to be delivered for each separately priced period of this requirement (base plus four options) is a minimum of 47,450 CF, up to a maximum of 53,690 CF, achieved with bi-weekly deliveries of between 1,820 CF and 2,080 CF.

The option to increase quantity, not as a separately priced line item, is by up to 50% of the initial requirement and may be applied once to any line item, if needed, and advance notice is given no less than 15 days prior to exercising the option.

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance for this requirement is 12 months, beginning April 13, 2020 and ends April 12, 2021.

There are four separately priced option line items to increase the quantity and extend the period of performance:

Option 1: April 13, 2021 through April 12, 2022 for up to a maximum of 53,690 CF of hydrogen Option 2: April 13, 2022 through April 12, 2023 for up to a maximum of 53,690 CF of hydrogen Option 3: April 13, 2023 through April 12, 2024 for up to a maximum of 53,690 CF of hydrogen Option 4: April 13, 2024 through April 12, 2025 for up to a maximum of 53,690 CF of hydrogen

5. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All deliveries are to be made to the NWS office at 2350 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512. The point of delivery is to the east of the main office building on the east side of the back parking lot on the north side of the Upper Air building.

6. REQUIREMENTS

Site Storage and Usage: All hydrogen must be provided in individual cylinders containing a minimum of 195 CF of hydrogen each, as the facility is not arranged to allow for other configurations, such as six-packs. The Government has space at the delivery point to receive and store up to 15 cylinders of hydrogen at a time.

This site uses a minimum of 130 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 week, with no extra launches, we will use approximately 1,820 CF. However, we need to keep an additional store of 910 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 2,990 CF after each completed delivery.

Initial Delivery: The contractor shall supply 2,990 CF of hydrogen on or after April 13, 2020, 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 15 individual cylinders.

Delivery Schedule: After the initial delivery, the Contractor will replenish back to 2,990 CF of hydrogen every other week, 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 15 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 by going to the Weather Forecast Office building. A loading and unloading area is available at this location and individual cylinders can be rolled from a truck lift gate to its delivery point. Once inside the upper air building, the cylinders must be individually strapped/secured; the chains for securing are provided by the NWS. 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.

Prior to departure, the driver will get a signature for delivery and leave a copy of the receipt.

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 2,990 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 Reno, NV are:

Observation Program Leader – 775-673-8100 Administrative Support Assistant – 775-673-8100 x221 Meteorologist-in-Charge – 775-673-8100 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)

The invoices shall be sent to the following address:

National Weather Service 2350 Raggio Parkway Reno, Nevada 89512