Cryogenic Maintenance Biddings - Procurement Opportunities

The project involves replacing the main liquid oxygen tanks at UConn Health, located at 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT. The existing tank system has been removed, and a temporary oxygen supply is in place. The parking lot will remain partially in use during construction. Close coordination with the owner and their vendors is required for the transition to the new permanent tank system.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks vendors to upgrade a SQUID magnetometer to a closed cryostat system, eliminating the need for weekly liquid helium refills. The upgrade must maintain existing technical specifications. The upgrade must be performed onsite, and the vendor must provide detailed information about the equipment, including specifications, manufacturing details, business status, and experience in meeting similar requirements. The vendor must also provide a capability statement, including relevant information and proprietary information, and must meet the minimum contractor qualifications. The deadline for submission of the capability statement is specified in the notice. The upgrade must meet factory acceptance standards and include a 12-month warranty. NIST will conduct performance tests, including measurements at the highest and lowest temperatures of the cryostat's range, and compare sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratios with pre-upgrade measurements. NIST reserves the right to reject the equipment due to defects or non-conformances. The upgrade must be completed within 12 months. The vendor must provide electrical and cooling requirements, and 45 working days prior to installation, if the onsite representative is not a US citizen, information required for them to get an onsite passport or green card must be provided 30 days prior to their arrival at NIST. The upgrade must include all necessary components, such as compressors, cold heads, vacuum equipment, pumps, cabling, hoses, and specialized equipment for regular maintenance. NIST will provide access to appropriate cooling water and electrical infrastructure.

This is a request for information (RFI) for potential sources to perform work at the Low Background Infrared (LBIR) facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The RFI seeks information on capabilities related to the calibration, operation, and maintenance of the LBIR facility, including cryogenic systems, vacuum chambers, and associated equipment. The RFI also requests information on recent contract history, technical capabilities, awards, teaming arrangements, socioeconomic status, and estimated pricing for a potential one-year basic contract with three one-year options. Responses are due by May 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET.

The contracting department in Groton, CT intends to award a firm fixed-price, sole-source purchase order to Messer, LLC for the delivery of liquid bulk nitrogen and the lease of a cryogenic storage tank with maintenance service for a base year plus 4 years and 6 months. The acquisition was procured using simplified acquisition procedures, FAR part 13, and awarded on March 28, 2025. The period of performance is from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2030.