Helium-3
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
A newer special notice was posted. See the latest special notice from .
- Solicitation number
- NB687000-25-02129
- Agency
- National Institute of Standards and Technology Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 325120 Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- PSC
- 6835 Medical Gases
- Place of performance
- Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Lisa Stevens lisa.stevens@nist.gov (252) 422-2097
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), specifically the Quantum Sensor Group (QSG), is conducting market research to identify potential vendors capable of supplying gaseous Helium-3 isotope for scientific research purposes. The pre-solicitation notice seeks vendors who can provide 30 standard liters of Helium-3 with 99.9% atomic purity, to be used in refrigeration systems that reach milliKelvin temperatures for developing high-performance sensors. Interested businesses must submit a four-page electronic capability statement to Lisa Stevens via email by 11:00 a.m. MT on June 16, 2025, detailing their company information, product specifications, manufacturing origin, business status, and typical lead times. The evaluation will focus on vendors' ability to meet the technical requirements outlined in the attached specifications document. This is not a formal Request for Proposals, but rather a sources-sought notice to determine potential procurement strategies.
The procurement is classified under NAICS code 325120 for Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,200 employees, and no specific set-aside has been designated. The solicitation (NB687000-25-02129) indicates a required delivery timeline of 8 weeks after receipt of order, with shipping to NIST's facility in Boulder, Colorado. NIST will use the collected information to decide whether to pursue a competitive or non-competitive procurement process, potentially considering a sole-source award depending on the market research results. No specific contract value or budget range was disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice. The government emphasized that this document is draft and subject to change, and that submitting a capability statement does not guarantee future contract award.
Notice text
The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), Quantum Sensor Group (QSG) seeks information on vendors that can provide isotope Helium-3 in gaseous form. This isotope is used in refrigerators developed by the QSG to reach temperatures milliKelvin temperatures. The refrigerators perform a thermodynamic cycle on the Helium-3 cooling. These low temperatures enable sensors of unprecedented performance that the QSD uses for a mix of basic and applied science.
Please review the attached Requirements and Specifications document for specific details to meet all Government requirements. The purpose of this notice is to identify organizations capable of providing the necessary items and meeting the minimum contractor qualifications.
This announcement is not a Request for Proposals or Quote (RFP/RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The information contained in this notice is DRAFT only and, as such, is subject to change prior to the issuance of a solicitation. No solicitation is available currently.
After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive or non-competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. NIST will use the results of this sources-sought notice to determine whether to proceed on a sole-source basis or competitively if it is determined that other vendors could potentially meet NIST’s needs.
This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 325120, Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,200 employees.
Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirements should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to four (4) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:
- Name of the company that will service the product.
- County of origin or place of performance of product manufacturing.
- Business status of the organization.
- Spec sheets and examples of products that meet the specifications.
- Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of order
- Any other relevant information that is not listed above that the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.
Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contract Specialist, Lisa Stevens, via email at lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than 11:00 a.m. MT on 16 June 2025. No quotes will be accepted at this time and will not be considered.
REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW:
See the attached Requirements and Specifications document.
Attachments
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| NB687000-25-02129 Requirements and Specifications.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Intent to Sole Source Helium-3 | Special Notice | |
| Helium-3 | Pre-Solicitation |
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