NOAA Juneau Alaska Compressed lab gases

Special Notice: 24-0109

NOAA / NMFS / AKFSC

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AKFSC), intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Tyler Rental, Inc., of Juneau, Alaska, to procure the following:

Provide research-grade pressurized gas cylinders of various different gases for scientific instruments to the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute (TSMRI) at Lena Point in Juneau, Alaska.  Specific gases and minimum/maximum purity grades and sizes will be delivered as needed to the TSMRI lab, tanks that are empty and slated for return will be picked up in a timely manner, and monthly cylinder rental will be provided until returned.  Exact quantities and gas specifications are not known ahead of time, but at least one each of the gases is required to be available within 24 hours of our request so that laboratory instruments and research are not compromised.  The estimated need is up to 50 cylinder rentals on a monthly basis.

Required Gases

a.         Helium, Ultra High Purity (UHP), Grade 5.0-5.4, 300 cu. ft.

b.         Hydrogen, UHP, Grade 5.0-5.4, 300 cu. ft.

c.         Oxygen, UHP, Grade 4.4-4.5, 200 cu. ft.

d.         Oxygen, Welding Grade, 200 c. ft.

e.         Nitrogen, UHP, Grade 5.0-5.2, 300 cu. ft.

f.          Nitrogen, High Purity (HP), Grade 4.3-4.8, 300 cu. ft.

g.         Carbon Dioxide 50#

The various laboratories at the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute (TSMRI) in Juneau, Alaska, require a number of pure, research-quality compressed gases, at irregular intervals, to operate a number of sensitive, analytical instruments.  Some of these machines require a constant supply of a carrier gas within set purity limits, without which, they may suffer severe damage to their components or consumables, resulting in additional costs and possible repairs.  Contaminated tanks or unexpected gas losses may result in an immediate need for replacement to avoid catastrophic instrument failure, compromising our mission to research living marine resources in the coastal oceans off Alaska.

The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 325120, with a Small Business size standard of 1050 employees.

Tyler Rentals, Inc is the only source in Juneau, Alaska, that can provide the specific pure, research-quality compressed gases with required purity grades and sizes within the required delivery timeframe. Tyler Rentals has provided gases to TSMRI for the past 10 years. Due to the isolated location of the laboratory and irregular timing of usage, the need for quick response with gases is imperative to maintain full operation of sensitive, analytical instruments. Tyler Rentals,

Inc., is the only known source who can provide research-quality compressed gases on a routine and irregular interval basis to this location.

The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract.  This Special Notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.  However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing.  Submissions are due no later than May 10, 2024 at 5pm Eastern Time.  Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.  Responses may be emailed to Christie.Lang@noaa.gov. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis.  A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only can Tyler Rental, Inc., of Juneau, Alaska, canprovide the requirements stated above.

Attachment

Redacted Single Source Determination