Liquid helium in 500 liter dewars(UW-MAD)[20-0055]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, located in Dane County, is seeking bids for the procurement of liquid helium through a Request for Bid (RFB) numbered 20-0055. The procurement involves acquiring an estimated 6,000 liters of liquid helium in returnable dewars, with flexibility for either 250-liter or 500-liter containers, during the contract period from January 6, 2020 through June 30, 2020. Bidders must demonstrate three years of experience providing liquid helium products and services, and must be original manufacturers, authorized distributors, or manufacturer-authorized dealers. The evaluation criteria include the lowest extended net total bid judged to be in the best interest of the University, with pricing to be submitted as a net unit price per liter, inclusive of packing, freight, insurance, and delivery charges on an FOB Destination basis. Key submission requirements include three hard copies of completed bids or email submission to bids@bussvc.edu, with written questions due by December 12, 2019, and final bids due on December 19, 2019 at 2:00 PM Central Standard Time. The University requires acceptance testing within five days of delivery, with payment terms of net 30 days following acceptance.

The solicitation encourages supplier diversity with specific subcontracting goals, including 5% for certified minority business enterprises and 1% for woman-owned and disabled veteran-owned businesses where feasible. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability and automobile liability insurance with minimum coverage of one million dollars and agree to add the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System as an additional insured. While no specific award value is explicitly stated, the estimated 6,000-liter procurement suggests a significant contract opportunity. The University qualifies for governmental and educational discounts, which must be reflected in unit pricing. Bidders are required to certify compliance with competition requirements, confirm the absence of conflicts of interest, and attest that neither they nor their principals are debarred from federal participation. The University does not guarantee the purchase of any specific quantity or dollar amount, providing flexibility in the final contract implementation.