Dry ICE

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), operating under the Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research, has published a Notice of Intent to Award a sole source purchase order. This special notice, posted on January 30, 2026, pertains to the procurement of dry ice and is classified as a total small business set-aside. The government has determined that only one responsible source—CIRCUS ICE CREAM—can satisfy the agency's specific requirements. This procurement falls under NAICS code 325120 (Industrial Gas Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,200 employees, and utilizes Federal Supply Code 6810 for chemicals. The contracting action will proceed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13.106-1(b) for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold of $350,000.

The objective of this Notice of Intent is to solicit dry ice supplies totaling 15,600 pounds over one year to support two NRL buildings, with deliveries of 150 pounds per week to each location. Interested parties have fifteen calendar days from the publication date—until February 2, 2026—to submit responses demonstrating clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the government. Responses should be directed to Richard Key at richard.a.key2.civ@us.navy.mil and must reference the Notice of Intent number in the subject line. The government will evaluate all submissions solely to determine whether conducting a competitive procurement is warranted; however, the final decision to compete or proceed with the sole source award remains entirely at the government's discretion. Small businesses that believe they can meet this requirement are encouraged to provide capability information, though no reimbursement will be offered for response costs.