The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, is seeking a vendor to supply approximately 12,000 liters of liquid helium annually for cooling NMR superconducting magnets and supporting low-temperature experiments at their Bethesda, MD campus. The solicitation requires liquid helium with a minimum purity of 99.998%, to be delivered in vendor-owned dewars of 60L, 100L, and 250L sizes, with specific requirements for dewar construction, valves, and fittings. Vendors must adhere to strict helium loss rate specifications and provide weekly deliveries to multiple NIH buildings. The evaluation criteria will focus on technical factors and pricing, with vendors required to source helium from Federal helium suppliers and demonstrate the ability to provide priority service during potential shortages. Quotes are due by 11:00 AM ET on January 2, 2025, and must be submitted via email, with the contract period of performance spanning from February 25, 2025, through February 24, 2026.

While no specific small business set-aside has been designated, the solicitation appears to be open to various vendors across socioeconomic categories. The contract is categorized under NAICS code 325120 for Industrial Gas Manufacturing and PSC code 6830 for Compressed and Liquefied Gases. The total annual volume of 12,000 liters suggests a significant ongoing requirement for precise scientific research equipment cooling. The place of performance is specifically located at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland (ZIP code 20892), with delivery requirements spanning multiple campus buildings. Though the exact award value is not explicitly stated, the technical specificity and volume requirements indicate a potentially substantial contract for the selected vendor, who must demonstrate robust capabilities in high-purity liquid helium supply and management.

Liquid Helium

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