helium gas recovery and liquefaction system

Sources Sought Notice

The National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is conducting a market survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of providing a helium gas recovery and liquefaction system.

BACKGROUND:
The study of the structure, dynamics, and interactions of proteins by observing their weak nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals provides key atomic level insights into biology at the molecular level, with strong impacts on a wide range of human diseases, ranging from HIV, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes, to molecular processes that are at the core of many types of cancers.

This work, carried out in the Sections of Protein NMR (Clore) and Biophysical NMR (Bax) in the Laboratory of Chemical Physics, NIDDK relies on the use of strong, superconducting magnets. These magnets require cooling to 4.2K (for 14.1 Tesla magnets) or 2.2K for 18.8 T magnets. This cooling is enabled by means of liquid helium. It is critical that this cooling is never interrupted as this would result in the loss of superconductivity, which can melt and thereby irreversibly damage the coils that provide the magnetic field. These superconducting magnets are extremely expensive (ranging from ca $500K for a small 11.7T system, to more than $2000K for a 18.8T magnet.

NIDDK has traditionally purchased its liquid helium from commercial vendors. However, due to a number of factors, including a disruption of the mining capabilities and export by Qatar, and the sharp recent increase in use of liquid helium as a coolant and propellant in the commercial space program, vendors are unable to deliver the helium they are contractually obligated to provide. Moreover, the near depletion of the large storage reservoir of the Bureau of Land Management is exacerbating this situation.

OBJECTIVE:
NIDDK needs to reduce its dependence on vendors for obtaining the liquid helium needed to operate the NMR magnets. This can be accomplished by recovery of as much of the boiled-off helium gas as possible, and re-liquify it for supplementing and partially replacing the need to purchase helium.

A number of vendors have developed suitable systems for recycling and reliquefying helium gas. Such equipment is complex and requires a substantial amount of physical space, but can be accommodated in the room (Bldg 50, Rm B204) where a number of the magnets are located. The equipment components include:

1) Helium Liquefier:
a) Must produce a minimum of 25 L of Liquid Helium per day.
b) Must be able to collect a minimum of 350 L of liquid in one liquefier unit prior to transfer to the storage tank used to fill the NMR magnets. Multiple units requiring multiple liquid helium transfers to the storage tank is not acceptable.
c) System must contain all parts / modules necessary to generate liquid helium and transfer to a 250 L storage tank (i.e. cold head & paired helium compressor, stainless high pressure flex lines of appropriate size, system controller, liquid helium level sensor, vacuum-jacketed liquid helium transfer line).
2) Helium Recovery System:
a) 800 Cubic Feet atmospheric recovery bag. Multiple bags are acceptable and may be necessary due to space restrictions.
b) Medium or high pressure gas storage tanks, including connection manifold and regulators, that can store Helium gas equivalent to 350 L of liquid helium.
c) Compressor to compress gas from the recovery bag into the Medium or high pressure gas storage tanks.
d) Sensors, cables, and a controller so that gas is automatically compressed to the Medium or high pressure gas storage tanks when the recovery bag becomes full.

3) Automatic helium purifier:
a) Sized to meet the capacity of the Helium Liquefier described above.
b) Must be able to efficiently remove Nitrogen gas.
c) Must contain a dryer to remove moisture from the recovered helium gas.
d) Any specialized parts necessary to maintain this system must be included.

4) Additional parts and accessories: NIH will provide the plumbing up to the helium recovery bag. Any additional cables, gas lines, and controllers that are required to connect the various components of the system to obtain a complete, fully functioning Helium recovery system must be provided.

5) Installation & Training: The vendor will be responsible for the installation of their equipment. The vendor will also provide training to NIH staff scientists on how to use and maintain the helium recovery / liquefaction system.

This request is for interested firms with the capability of providing the required supplies to submit a corporate capability statement along with projected pricing to assist the Government's adherence to Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 19.502-2(b). The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industrial Classification (NAICS) code 325120 with a Size Standard of 1,000. It is anticipated that this acquisition will be conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000) All respondents are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business.

Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice should adhere to the following:

(a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain enough sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities; however, the statement should not exceed 10 pages.

(b) The capability statement should include references, key personnel, and any teaming arrangements needed to fulfill the requirements.

(c) All capability statements must be submitted via email to amber.harris@nih.gov on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 no later than 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time. Responses will not be accepted via fax.

This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.

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