Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for Liquid Nitrogen and Related Services to three NIST campuses

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking qualified contractors to provide bulk liquid nitrogen delivery and related services across three campuses located in Gaithersburg, Maryland; Boulder, Colorado; and Charleston, South Carolina. The procurement encompasses liquid nitrogen supply at specified purity grades, tank rental and maintenance, telemetry unit rental, vaporizer rental, and annual tank inspections using API Standard 653, along with 24/7 customer support and emergency delivery capabilities. The contract will be evaluated on a best-value basis, with non-price factors weighted more heavily than price, and vendors must demonstrate technical approach, past performance, relevant experience, and competitive pricing. Key qualifications include registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), pre-approval of delivery drivers with NIST Security, adherence to NIST Safety Guidelines, submission of Certificates of Analysis demonstrating compliance with purity specifications, and proper insurance coverage under FAR Clause 52.228-5. The proposal submission deadline is February 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with Amendment 03 issued on February 2, 2026, providing responses to vendor questions and revised pricing schedules.

This solicitation uses no set-aside designation and is open to full and open competition under NAICS code 325120 (Industrial Gas Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,200 employees. The estimated contract spans a 12-month base period beginning April 1, 2026, with four optional 12-month renewal periods, totaling potential contract performance through 2030. Annual liquid nitrogen consumption across the three campuses is approximately 1.075 million gallons, with the Gaithersburg campus requiring 620,000 gallons annually and utilizing 11 total tanks (3 rented), Boulder requiring 410,000 gallons annually with 1-2 tanks, and Charleston requiring approximately 160,000 gallons annually with 2 tanks. Delivery operations are restricted to Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time for Boulder), excluding Federal holidays. The performance locations are the NIST campuses at Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899; Boulder, Colorado; and Charleston, South Carolina, with contractors required to submit monthly invoices detailing all charges and delivery confirmations.