Dry Ice Supply Services

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a civilian agency within the Department of Commerce, is soliciting proposals for the supply and delivery of solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) in accordance with a detailed Statement of Work. The requirement calls for dry ice to be supplied in 50-pound double-walled cardboard boxes with a minimum burst test pressure of 275 lbs, delivered twice weekly to the NIST Gaithersburg campus. NIST estimates orders of 12-18 boxes per delivery, with orders placed by 12:00 PM EST for next-business-day delivery between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM EST, utilizing a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation approach. Evaluation criteria include technical capability to meet delivery and packaging specifications, as well as past performance assessed through CPARS records or a provided Past Performance Questionnaire. The proposal due date is February 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET, with solicitation questions due by 1:00 PM ET on February 2, 2026; Amendment A001, issued on February 3, 2026, incorporated responses to solicitation questions and clarified operational requirements such as order submission schedules and delivery driver badge requirements without extending the proposal deadline.

This procurement is designated as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) eligible set-aside under the Women-Owned Small Business Program, with Roberts Oxygen Co Inc identified as the incumbent contractor. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price award with a one-year base period running from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, followed by four one-year option periods and a six-month extension period, though no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents. The place of performance is located at 100 Bureau Drive, 301 Loading Dock, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Quality assurance provisions impose significant deductions for nonconformance, including a 100% deduction for nonconforming dry ice, up to 50% for packaging failures, and up to 25% for delivery failures. Contractor personnel requiring campus access must comply with HSPD-12 security requirements and provide full names, positions, phone numbers, and citizenship information for all delivery drivers, who must obtain facility badges in addition to presenting valid driver's licenses.