Liquid nitrogen

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation number is NICHD201800077 and is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-98. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 325120 and the business size standard is 1000 employees. This acquisition is being conducted using Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) intend to contract on a sole source basis with Airgas USA LLC, 6055 Rockside Woods Blvd N, Ste 500, Independence, OH, 44131-2337 to provide Nitrogen Industrial Bulk.

This will be Base + 4 option years, this is a critical resource for the NIDDK; The Liquid Nitrogen (LN) is converted into gaseous form; a lack of gaseous liquid nitrogen can cause a safety hazard by interfering with the supply of inert safety gas for chemical reactions that will explode if exposed to air. In addition to the safety issue, LN is central to our experiments and storage of biological research materials. This requirement calls for automatic sensing via telemetry unit, and automatic filling when our 3000-gallon tank reaches 50 inches. Due to the critical nature of this resource, contractors must be able to respond to emergency delivery calls, around the clock (24hours/day, 7 days/week) with delivery on site. This tank must never go be empty, because that could cause catastrophic risk to human life, and predicate large-scale equipment failure of our multi-million-dollar NMR, Mass Spectrometry units, and Cryo EM's units in the building.

Automatic reading of LN levels, and delivery within 24 hours of our inventory reaching a pre-determined minimum level. There is currently a Telemetry unit in use, which must be compatible with the contracted vendor's system. If our unit, which is owned by the NIDDK, is not compatible the contractor must supply, install, and establish monitoring with their own unit at no additional costs to the NIDDK. Our objective for building 8 is a constant supply of nitrogen gas. NIDDK has a 3000-gallon tank on site that holds the LN, which is converted to vapor, then pumped to the in-house line in vapor phase.

TASKS AREAS

Task Area 1
Delivery Schedule: Deliveries are to be made to 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 8, loading dock area, where the outside tank resides. This is an existing tank that is installed, functioning, and is mechanically sound. The tank contains the telemetry unit, which is a Bulk Asset Monitor, Model Y78BAMUNIT-500, Serial Number 3802760. At a minimum, deliveries to building 8 shall be made when our fill capacity is at 50 inches, or 50% of capacity. "Top Off" fills can be made in addition to the required fill at 50% capacity, if the vendor is already in the vicinity of building 8 and wishes to reduce their load prior to returning to their warehouse."

Task Area 2
Due to the critical nature of this resource, contractors must be able to respond to emergency delivery calls, around the clock (24hours/day, 7 days/week) with delivery on site within a minimum of 2 hours, and a maximum of 4 hours, of the call being made.

Task Area 3
The vendor must provide delivery tickets with the actual volumes delivered at the time of delivery. Building 8 has a dedicated mail box mounted on the wall at the loading dock of bldg. If physical tickets are not available from the driver, then the delivery ticket must be emailed within 24 hours of the fill. The Purchase Order awarded will reflect the unit of measure provided on the official quote, and therefore, the unit of measure must be consistent on the quote, PO, delivery ticket, and the invoice. This is critical to ensuring that there are no delays in payment on the Purchase Order.

Task area 4
Conversion calculations for the Tank Capacity: The tank has a 3000-gallon capacity and is considered full at 125 inches. This converts to 24 gallons per inch. With a pre-set fill level of 50 inches, we calculate that there should be 1200 gals of LN still the tank. Even if there were a breach of the tank security, we feel this level to be sufficient should we require an emergency repair or fill of the tank.

The offeror must include a completed copy of the provision of FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items with its offer. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items; and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items - Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions applies to this acquisition. The offeror must include their Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. The clauses are available in full text at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/. Interested vendors capable of furnishing the government with the all the products and or services specified in this synopsis should submit a copy of their quotation to the below address or via email to verne.griffin@nih.gov . The following factors will be used equally to evaluate offers: Technical Evaluation, Price, and Past Performance. The Government will make award based on Best Value.

Note: Past Performance Information: Vendors must submit a listing of the most recent contracts/awards (minimum of 3) which demonstrate similar work in nature to this Solicitation. Contracts/awards may include those entered with the Federal Government, state and local governments and commercial concerns. Include the following information for each contract or subcontract:
1. Name of Contracting Organization
2. Contract Number (for subcontracts provide the prime contract number and the subcontract number)
3. Contract Type
4. Total Contract Value
5. Description of Requirement
6. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number
7. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

Offers must also be accompanied by descriptive literature, delivery timeframe, warranties and/or other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all of the foregoing requirements. Quotations will be due August 27, 2018 by 11:00 am EST. via email or postal mail. The quotation must reference "Solicitation number" NICHD201800077. Quotations sent by postal mail or other mailing services must be submitted to the following address: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - 6710B Rockledge Drive, Room MSC 1159A, Bethesda, MD 20892. Note: Fed Ex/Ups/other courier use 20817. Attention: Verne Griffin, by the date and time mentioned above.

Any questions must be sent via email to verne.griffin@mail.nih.gov and must include solicitation# NICHD201800077 in the subject line of email. Faxed copies/responses will not be accepted. Note: In order to receive an award, contractor must be registered and have valid certification for all awards in the SAM database @www.sam.gov

.