Liquid Nitrogen Deliveries & Microbulk System - Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) requires commercial sources for the repetitive procurements of the installation and leasing of a microbulk tank system along with an automatic dewar filling (ADF) station to fill smaller self-pressurizing vessels. CRREL seeks to lease a microbulk tank of approximately 5,500 liters or 1,500 gallons as well as four (4) smaller self-pressurizing vessels capable of holding between 230 liters to 265 liters of liquid nitrogen in addition of repetitive liquid nitrogen (LN2) of ultra-high purity (i.e., 99.999%) deliveries to CRREL’s campus. CRREL intends to establish Master Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPAs) in order to facilitate the procurement of these supplies and incidental services.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) – 325120 Industrial Gas Manufacturing was determined to best represent this requirement. The small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

A BPA is a simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services by establishing “charge accounts” with qualified sources of supply. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.303, Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), the Contractor agrees to the identified terms and conditions for a BPA to provide the required Microbulk Cryogenic Storage Tank, Deliveries of Liquid Nitrogen, Deliveries of Various Compressed Gases, and Associated Supplies to the Government in accordance with the specific requirements for each individual Call.

Requirement:  The primary aspect of this requirement shall include equipment installation and leasing, liquid nitrogen (LN2) deliveries, diagnostic and exploratory labor, corrective and preventive maintenance, repairs, report preparation, programming, and other supplies and incidental services as specified at the Call level. If and when requested, the vendor shall provide supplies and or incidental services in accordance with the specific requirements for each individual BPA Call which may include, but are not limited to, the following broadly encompassing categories:

• Microbulk Storage Tank Systems
• Self-Pressurizing Cryogenic Cylinders
• Automatic Dewar Filling Stations
• Preventative Maintenance, Service Calls, Repairs, & Replacement Parts for the Microbulk Storage Tank Systems, Self-Pressurizing Cryogenic Cylinders, & Automatic Dewar Filling Stations (ADF).
• Leasing Agreements for the Microbulk Storage Tanks & Self-Pressurizing Cryogenic Cylinders
• Replacement by procurement of Automatic Dewar Filling Stations (ADF) & replaceable components for ADF (i.e., solenoid valves, transfer hoses, etc.).
• Transfer hoses and all connectors
• Delivery of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) Liquid Nitrogen (no less than 99.999% purity) to CRREL facilities.
• Delivery of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) Nitrogen gas (no less than 99.999% purity) to CRREL facilities.
• Delivery of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) Oxygen gas (no less than 99.999% purity) to CRREL facilities.
• Delivery of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) Helium gas (no less than 99.999% purity) to CRREL facilities.
• Delivery of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) Argon gas (no less than 99.999% purity) to CRREL facilities.
• Delivery of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) gas mixtures (i.e., Helium in Argon) where both constituent components are of no less than 99.999% purity to CRREL facilities.
• Procurement of various gas regulators for nitrogen, helium, oxygen and other compressed gases
• Procurement of adapters and fittings to connect gas delivery systems.
• Installation of Microbulk Storage Tank Systems, Self-Pressurizing Cryogenic Cylinders, & Automatic Dewar Filling Stations (ADF)
• Emergency service calls for any liquid nitrogen spills or equipment malfunctions.
• Onsite training.
• See attached Request for Quote (RFQ) for full details.
• See attached Example Price List which may be used or Interested Vendor may provide their own price list.

Interested vendors need only provide a response (letter format) which verifies the company’s interest and capabilities in providing the needed supplies and services; confirmation the company can provide the requested supplies within the delivery guidelines identified in the Description of Requirement (DOR); and the following:

• Price list for the microbulk UHP liquid nitrogen. This shall be listed on a 100 cubic feet of gas equivalent volume of liquid nitrogen or per liter of liquid nitrogen basis. Please specific which is used. Please also include cost of COA certificate as well as hazmat and delivery fees. Responses shall also include example certificate of analysis attesting to purity.

• Price lists and description (i.e., pdf brochure) for the necessary microbulk tanks and self-pressurizing cryogenic cylinders including applicable costs for annual leasing, facility fees and telemetry service.

• Price lists and descriptions of two-stage gas regulators with CGA 540 (oxygen) and 580 (inert gases) fittings that feature delivery PSI ranges from 0-25PSI, 0-100 PSI, 0-250PSI.

• Price lists and descriptions of cryogenic transfer hoses with CGA 295 fittings at various lengths.

• Price lists and description for ultra-high purity compressed nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and helium gas cylinders including applicable annual leasing costs of cylinders as well as delivery and hazmat fees.

• Interested vendors response shall explain their approach/plan for fulfilling the requirements listed in the Description of Requirements (DOR), Section C.

• Interested vendors response shall include the company’s Cage Code and/or Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and a Point of Contact (POC) and alternate POC, including phone numbers and email addresses, who has authority to make decisions for the company.

• The response shall demonstrate the contractor has appropriate licenses, permits, insurance, and certifications that shall be kept current during the period of this BPA.

• The response shall demonstrate the contractor has appropriate licenses (i.e., Massachusetts Process Pipe Fitter License or New Hampshire Plumbing License) permits, insurance (i.e., Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s Liability, General Liability, Automobile Liability), and certifications that shall be kept current during the period of this BPA.

The interested vendors response shall provide sufficient information for the Government to determine its level of confidence in the ability of the Offeror to provide/perform the requirements of the RFQ based on an assessment of the Offeror’s approach.

Please reference the attached RFQ for instructions and applicable provisions and clauses.  The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers; 1) technical approach, 2) proposed price list, 3) demonstration of appropriate licenses, permits, insurance and/or other certificates, and 4) proposed delivery schedule of the Microbulk Cryogenic Storage Tank and Automatic Dewar Filling Station (ADF). Only one (1) vendor will be selected for the Master Blanket Purchase (BPA) Agreement. The Master BPA’s will expire in five (5) years from date of award or total purchases reaching the BPA limit, whichever is earlier.

Date and Time for Site Visits: Site visits will be conducted on October 2-4, 2023. Site visits can be requested by contacting Matthew Fort at Matthew.A.Fort@usace.army.mil, or (603) 646-4306 no later than September 29, 2023 with a list of all attendees (see attached RFQ, Section L, for full site visit details).

BPA Calls are FOB Destination: CRREL, 72 Lyme Road, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-1290.

BPA Calls’ Payment Terms: Net 30

Please provide response to this notice no later than Thursday, 5 October 2023, 12:00 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT) electronically to: Kim.D.Roberson@usace.army.mil and ERDC-CRREL-Quotes@usace.army.mil.

Telephone responses will not be accepted.

*Note: To be eligible for award of a Government agreement, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete representations and certifications. For more information, review the SAM website at https://www.sam.gov.