Medical/Lab Quality Gases

The County of Orange Sheriff-Coroner is soliciting competitive bids for Medical/Lab Quality Gases to supply the Crime Lab Division through Invitation for Bids (IFB #060-2997301-NB). The procurement encompasses fourteen line items including ultra-high purity gases (helium, nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon at 99.999% purity minimum), low and high-pressure liquid nitrogen cylinders in various sizes (160L to 230L), zero air, industrial-grade nitrogen, and demurrage charges. All gases must meet or exceed United States Pharmacopeia (USP) requirements, with delivery required Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM directly to the point-of-use within the Orange County Crime Lab facility at 320 N Flower Street, 5th Floor, Santa Ana, California. Deliveries must occur next business day for orders placed by 3:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, and unit pricing must remain firm for the entire contract term with all freight, delivery, shipping, and handling fees included under FOB Destination terms. The contract term is three (3) calendar years effective July 14, 2026, with two optional one-year renewal periods subject to mutual written agreement and Board of Supervisors approval. The bid submission deadline is April 6, 2026, at 4:00 PM via the County's online bidding portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/ocgov, with questions due by March 18, 2026, before 4:00 PM. Award will be made to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder based on firm fixed pricing with no price increases permitted during the initial three-year term.

The County offers a five percent (5%) preference deduction for certified Orange County Local Small Business (OCLSB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) bidders, with a maximum allowable preference deduction of $100,000; dual certification (OCLSB and DVBE) qualifies for an eight percent (8%) preference. No specific incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. The contractor must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance at $1,000,000 per occurrence and Automobile Liability at $1,000,000 combined single limit, and must provide Labor and Material Payment Bonds and Faithful Performance Bonds with amounts equal to or exceeding the estimated contract value. Within seven days of notification of award, the successful bidder must submit certificates of insurance, current W-9 forms (or 587/590 forms for out-of-state vendors), valid DUNS and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) numbers, and proof of active registration with the California Secretary of State. The contractor must maintain reasonable inventory of all commodities and provide inside delivery with responsibility for any facility damage during delivery, while complying with all California and federal regulations regarding employee eligibility verification, non-discrimination, and drug-free workplace requirements. The contract award value is not specified in available solicitation materials, though the total contract amount represents a three-year supply arrangement with per-unit pricing established through the bidding process and subject to a thirty-day demurrage-free period for cylinder retention with daily charges thereafter.