Specialty Gases and Liquids

The State University of New York at Buffalo is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) #24SCI0168 for specialty gases and liquids to support research facilities across its North, South, and Downtown campus locations. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to provide a comprehensive range of compressed gases, specialty items, liquids, and dry ice, including various grades of gases such as Acetylene, Argon, CO2, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Helium. Vendors must offer an electronic inventory control tracking system with detailed cylinder tracking, including bar coding, scanning at delivery and pickup points, and web-based access for inventory management. The contract requires vendors to demonstrate capabilities for emergency delivery, safety training, and cylinder management. Bidders must submit comprehensive proposals through the ShopBlue (Jaggaer) eProcurement system by Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 2:30 PM EST, with questions to be submitted by April 4, 2025. The university will evaluate bids based on responsiveness to all specified requirements, with proposals remaining valid for 15 days after opening and an anticipated contract award date of approximately June 1, 2025.

The contract includes specific participation goals for diverse businesses, with 16% for Minority-Owned Business Enterprises, 14% for Women-Owned Business Enterprises, and 6% for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses. The five-year contract allows for annual price adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, with increases not to exceed 5% per year. Airgas USA is noted as a business that has been awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years. The solicitation is open to businesses that can meet the comprehensive requirements, including providing detailed pricing for three distinct lots: Lot 1 covering a wide range of specialty gases, Lot 2 focusing on Helium products, and Lot 3 covering CO2 Dry Ice Nuggets. While specific total contract value is not explicitly stated, the bid includes estimated annual usage quantities ranging from small volumes of 70 cubic feet to large volumes of 96,000 cubic feet, suggesting a potentially significant procurement opportunity for the right vendor.