helium gas recovery and liquefaction system

INTRODUCTION
THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND- NAME).

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 intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to CRYOMECH, INC for the provision of a helium gas recovery and liquefaction system.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 325120 with a Size Standard of 1,000.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-98

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302- FAR 6.302-1-Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
90 days from award of Contract

Place of Performance
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases
50 South Drive
Bethesda MD 20892
 

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT
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.

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: CRYOMECH, INC 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.

CLOSING STATEMENT
This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: descriptive literature, delivery timeframe, warranties and/or other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all the foregoing requirements, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov."

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically by 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time, on Monday, August 20, 2018 to the Contract Specialist, Amber Harris, at amber.harris@nih.gov .

Assessment of Capability
Lowest Price Technically Acceptable

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