Compressed Gases

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding specifications for compressed gases required for solicitation 1305M326Q0071.

• H2 Purity: The government requires Research Grade H2 (99.999% purity), and the Statement of Need (SON) has been updated.
• Research Grade He: The government requires this specification, but cylinders will be returned at no charge if GCMS testing specified in the SON does not meet government criteria.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Specification: The requirement should read (Sulfur Dioxide +/- 10% of Target) in Nitrogen. This has been updated in the "Copy of SON".
• CO2 in Air: The government requires a Certified Standard (+/- 10%) and has updated the SON to state 400 ppm.
• CO2 in Argon: The government requires a blend tolerance of +/- 10% of the target, using UHP (99.999% purity) components. Research Grade (99.999% pure) is required for the Argon.
• Nitric Oxide (NO) High Concentration: The mixture containing 10,000ppmv NO in Nitrogen Balance is not an EPA Protocol mixture due to the high NO concentration.

Several specifications within the SON have been updated based on these clarifications. Bidders should refer to the revised SON Table 2.1 and the "Copy of SON" for the most current requirements.

Amendment / Modification

• The due date and time for quotes has been extended. Quotes are now due on April 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM Mountain Time.

• Attachment 1, the Statement of Need (SON), has been revised.

• Government answers to industry questions have been posted.

• Section 4 - Attachments: The table listing attachments has been revised to reflect the updated "Attachment 1 - Statement of Need (SON) Revision 1".

• The proposal deadline has been extended to April 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM Mountain Time.

• An acknowledgment of this amended solicitation is required with the RFQ submission.

Statement of Need (SON) / Revision

This document outlines the requirements for the supply and delivery of compressed gases to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO.

• Provide compressed gases with specified minimum quantities, delivery, and other requirements.

• Contractor is responsible for all supplies, equipment, and labor for the supply and delivery of compressed gases.

• Contractor shall provide rental cylinders, except for balloon-grade helium cylinders owned by GML.

• Cylinder caps must be attached with tags indicating status (Full, In Use, or Empty).

• Specific gases required include:

  • Balloon-Grade Helium
  • Low-Grade Hydrogen
  • Research-Grade Helium
  • UHP Nitrogen
  • Ultra-Zero Air
  • Welding Grade Argon
  • Welding Grade Oxygen
  • CO2 in Air
  • CO2 in Argon
  • Oxidizer
  • UHP Research Grade Hydrogen
  • P5
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) in Nitrogen
  • Nitric Oxide (NO) High Concentration in Nitrogen

• Each gas has specific purity, fill pressure, cylinder capacity, and fitting requirements detailed in Table 2.1.

• Deliveries are on an as-needed basis, with authorized requests provided at least 2 weeks in advance.

• Regular deliveries occur weekly, Monday through Friday.

• Delivery lead time is within 2 weeks of receiving authorization.

• Pickup of empty cylinders is within 2 weeks of request.

• Deliveries are to Building 22 North Loading Dock or DSRC Building South Loading Dock at 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.

• All deliveries must be accompanied by a delivery ticket with specific information (supplier name, contract number, authorized individual, date/time, itemized description, cylinder pickup details).

• Delivery drivers require Government authorization to enter the Boulder Campus.

• Documentation for drivers must be completed within five days of receiving requirements from the Government.

• Any changes to driver documentation must be provided within three days before scheduled delivery.

• All federal property safety and security regulations must be followed; no smoking within 50 feet of the loading dock.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis and solicitation (RFQ) for compressed gases to be provided to the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO. The requirement is for a commercial item utilizing simplified procedures.

• The contractor shall provide all supplies, equipment, and labor necessary for the supply and delivery of compressed gases as outlined in Attachment 1 - Statement of Need (SON).

• Specific deliverables include:

  • Anti-Kickback procedures (upon contract award)
  • Delivery tickets (date of delivery)
  • Delivery driver documentation (within five days after receiving instructions)
  • Compressed gas samples (for pre-award verification, if requested)

• Contract Type: Time-and-Materials purchase order.

• Period of Performance:

  • Base Period: 05/01/2026 - 04/30/2027 (estimated)
  • Option Period 1: 05/01/2027 - 04/30/2028 (estimated)
  • Option Period 2: 05/01/2028 - 04/30/2029 (estimated)
  • Option Period 3: 05/01/2029 - 04/30/2030 (estimated)
  • Option Period 4: 05/01/2030 - 04/30/2031 (estimated)

• Total Contract Duration (including options): Not to exceed five years and six months.

• Estimated Ceiling Value: $1,250,000.00 (for CLIN 0001).

• Offer Due Date: 04/07/2026, 1000 MT.

• Quotations must be submitted electronically to Anthony Eubanks at anthony.eubanks@noaa.gov and Remo Dela Cruz at remo.dela-cruz@noaa.gov.

• Questions and inquiries must be submitted in writing by April 2, 2026, 10:00 am MST.

• Evaluation Factors:

  • Technical Capability and Approach
  • Past Performance
  • Price

• The Government intends to award to the responsible quoter whose acceptable quotation provides the Best Value.

• Proposed prices must be compatible with the technical quote.

• Pre-award gas sample verification may be requested.

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• Attachments include: Statement of Need (SON), Pricing Schedule, and Gas Sample Verification.

• The winning vendor must be registered in the Contractor Performance Assessment and Reporting System (CPARS).

• The contractor must utilize the FedConnect® web portal for contract administration.

Statement of Need (SON)

To outline the requirements for the ongoing supply and delivery of compressed gas cylinder mixtures to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) facility in Boulder, CO.

• Provide compressed gases with minimum specifications detailed in Table 2.1 (not provided in text).

• Supply rental cylinders, except for balloon-grade cylinders owned by GML.

• Ensure cylinder caps are attached with tags indicating status (Full, In Use, or Empty).

• Deliveries are on an as-needed basis, authorized by the Government at least 2 weeks in advance.

• Regular deliveries occur weekly, Monday through Friday.

• Contractor must coordinate with GML contacts before each delivery.

• Delivery lead time: within 2 weeks of receiving authorization.

• Pickup lead time for empty cylinders: within 2 weeks of request; no rental fees for waits beyond 2 weeks.

• Place of Delivery: Building 22 North Loading Dock or DSRC Building South Loading Dock at David Skaggs Research Center (DSRC), 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.

• All deliveries must be accompanied by a delivery ticket including supplier name, contract number, authorized Government individual, Government Group, date/time, itemized description of goods delivered, and full description of cylinders picked up.

• Delivery drivers must have required documentation for Government authorization to enter the Boulder Campus.

• Driver documentation must be completed within five days of receiving requirements from the Government.

• The Government will notify the contractor of any unauthorized drivers at least one business day prior to delivery.

• Changes to driver documentation must be provided no more than three days before the scheduled delivery.

• Contractor must provide revised documentation within five days of notification of any changes to entry requirements.

• All safety and security rules and laws must be followed on Federal property.

• No smoking during delivery or within 50 feet of the loading dock.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a pricing schedule for the opportunity. Bidders are instructed to fill in the cells highlighted in green. The sheet will automatically calculate the Total Evaluated Price.

• Instructions: Quoters must only fill in green cells, verify calculations, and ensure Unit Prices include all transportation charges.
• Estimated Quantities: These are for evaluation purposes only and do not represent future government requirements.
• Gas Types: The schedule lists various gases including Balloon-grade He, H2, Research-grade He, UHP N2, Ultra-zero air, Welding grade Ar, Welding grade O2, CO2 in air, CO2 in Ar, UHP H2, P5, Oxidizer, NO high, SO2, NO/N2, and Rent.
• Pricing Structure: Columns are provided for Unit Price and Total Price for the Base period and four Option Periods, along with a Grand Total.

This pricing schedule is critical for bidders to prepare their quotations. Bidders must accurately input their unit prices for each listed gas and service, ensuring all costs are inclusive of transportation. The estimated quantities provided are for evaluation, and bidders should focus on correctly calculating their total evaluated price based on the provided structure and instructions.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the specific requirements for gas samples that must be submitted as part of the procurement process. It details the criteria for acceptance, delivery timelines, and the verification process.

• Gas Sample Verification Instructions:
  • All submitted gases must meet specified criteria.
  • Gases must be delivered within one week of the Government's request.
  • Quotations cannot be revised after verification.
• Gas Requirements:
  • Research-Grade Helium: Must have N2 concentrations below 3% and O2 below 2% (measured by GCMS at NOAA lab). Requires 4 samples for testing.
  • UHP Nitrogen: Must meet 99.999% purity, be suitable for Nafion purge gas (tested by NOAA GCMS), supplied in a minimum 200 cu ft capacity cylinder, have a minimum fill pressure of 2000 psi, and standard CGA fittings. Requires 4 samples for testing.

This attachment specifies critical technical requirements for gas samples. Bidders must ensure their proposed gas products meet these exact specifications, including purity levels, composition limits, cylinder requirements, and pressure. Failure to meet these requirements may disqualify the submitted samples. The document also highlights the strict delivery timeline and the inability to revise quotations post-verification, emphasizing the need for accurate initial submissions.