Compressed Specialty Gas - Raleigh, NC

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing pricing schedules for gas and air cylinder rentals and associated services. It provides estimated annual quantities and unit costs for various types of gases and tanks across multiple locations, broken down by fiscal year including base year and four option years.

• Tank Description: Lists various gases (e.g., CO2, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Helium, Argon) and air, including specific grades (high purity, industrial grade, ultra-high purity) and cylinder types/sizes.
• Location: Specifies the delivery or service location for each gas type.
• Estimated Annual Quantity: The projected number of units needed per year.
• Cost Components: Includes columns for Equipment Rental/Lease/Demurrage Charges, Delivery/Pickup Fee, and Emergency Delivery Fee.
• Unit Cost: Provides pricing per unit for the Base Year (05/01/2026 - 04/30/2027) and four Option Years (05/01/2027 - 04/30/2032).
• Total Number of Cylinders: A summary indicating the total estimated cylinders across all types.
• Annual Cost: A section for total annual costs, which is currently listed as 0.0 for all years, suggesting this is a template for bidders to fill in.
• Seasonal Quote Sheet: A separate sheet provides pricing for Oxygen (OX 300) at a specific location (3908 Inwood Road) with estimated annual quantities for the same contract period.

This pricing schedule is critical for bidders to understand the expected quantities and types of gases required, as well as the structure for submitting their pricing proposals. Bidders must use this template to provide their unit costs for each item and service, which will be a key component in the evaluation of their offer.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the solicitation, specifically addressing requirements for gas rentals, delivery, and specific gas purities.

• Pricing Schedule for Rentals/Delivery: The government has added lines to the attached spreadsheet to accommodate quotes for rental, delivery, and emergency delivery of gases and cylinders, as these were not initially included in the pricing schedule.
• Cylinder Requirements: Rental cylinders and liquid Dewars must be in good condition, regularly inspected, certified, and compliant with DOT, OSHA, and industry standards. The government possesses its own regulators and accessories.
• Delivery Services: Routine delivery and pickup of gases and cylinders are required. Emergency or expedited delivery must be available with prior notice. The contractor must maintain logs of cylinder exchanges and track usage per location.
• Inventory Management: The contractor is responsible for maintaining an updated inventory of leased/rented cylinders and providing monthly or quarterly usage and demurrage reports to support inventory reduction efforts.
• Invoicing: Invoices are to be submitted monthly via IPP and must itemize gas usage, cylinder rental, delivery/pickup fees, and any demurrage or surcharges.
• Specific Gas Purity: For "Calibration Grade Zero Air," Airgas part # AI CZ200 is used. For "Calibration Grade CO2, 1500 ppm," Airgas does not stock a standard part number; this is a custom mix generated per order. The government confirms that high purity compressed gases are acceptable for pricing, acknowledging that some scientists will also use ultra-pure gases.

Bidders should ensure their quotes include pricing for rental, delivery, and emergency delivery services. The clarification on gas purity provides guidance for quoting specific calibration gases.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the procurement of specialty gas for the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Raleigh, NC. The government intends to make a single award.

• The core requirement is the provision of specialty gas.

• Technical data and specifications are detailed in Attachment 1 and Attachment 2.

• The contract will incorporate various Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and USDA Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses and provisions, including those related to commercial products and services, contractor employee whistleblower rights, combating trafficking in persons, and service contract labor standards.

• Specific attention should be paid to AGAR Clause 452.203-71 regarding Anti-Discrimination and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Compliance, which is a material term of the contract.

• The anticipated award type is not specified but will be a single award.

• The period of performance includes a base year and four option years.

• Submission: Quotes must be submitted via email only to jennifer.busbea@usda.gov in one document with the subject line “Quote for 1232SA26Q0488.”

• Questions: Due by April 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM CST via email to jennifer.busbea@usda.gov.

• Offer Acceptance: Quoters must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the receipt of offers.

• Evaluation: Award will be made to the quoter representing the best value to the Government, evaluated on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis. This involves evaluating Price, Technical Acceptability, and Past Performance.

  • Price: Includes all line items, discounts, shipping, and total quoted amount for the full period of performance.
  • Technical Acceptability: Based on the ability to provide a compliant approach meeting all requirements. Minimum documentation includes a completed Price Schedule (Attachment 2), verification of offeror location within 200 miles of delivery locations, and subcontractor information if applicable.
  • Past Performance: Assessed as Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable based on prior contract performance.

• Offerors must verify their location is within a 200-mile radius of the delivery locations.

• Specific small business provisions (e.g., HUBZone, Small Business Aside, Subcontracting Plan) are listed as applicable if checked.

• Attachment 1 (Specifications) and Attachment 2 (Price Schedule) are critical.

• Vendors must enroll in the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for electronic invoice submission.

• Agency protests should first be directed to the Contracting Officer or the USDA Ombudsman Program.

• The document includes numerous FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions that bidders must adhere to.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To ensure a reliable supply of high-purity compressed gases and associated cylinders for scientific research, laboratory, greenhouse, and field operations.

• Furnish labor, materials, equipment, transportation, and supervision for compressed gas and cylinder rental/lease.

• Supply of various compressed gases (e.g., nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, argon, specialty mixtures).

• Rental or lease of gas cylinders, including high-pressure and liquid Dewars.

• Delivery and pick-up services to specified locations.

• Cylinder tracking, inventory management, and maintenance in compliance with safety regulations.

• Emergency support and troubleshooting.

• Deliveries within 1-2 business days of order.

• No cylinders overdue for recertification or leak testing.

• Emergency service calls responded to within 24 hours.

• Damaged/defective equipment replaced within 48 hours.

• Monthly or quarterly usage and demurrage reports required.

• Base Period: 05/01/2026 – 04/30/2027

• Four Option Periods extending through 04/30/2031.

• Performance locations include multiple sites at 3908 Inwood Road, 3127 Ligon Street, and various addresses at NCSU in Raleigh, NC.

• Gases must meet or exceed purity specifications requested by USDA-ARS.

• Cylinders must be clearly labeled and color-coded per regulations.

• Containers must be inspected, certified, and compliant with DOT, OSHA, and industry standards.

• Appropriate regulators or accessories to be included.

• Contractor personnel must comply with site-specific safety protocols and be trained/certified for handling compressed gases.

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) required for all supplied gases.

• Invoicing to be submitted monthly in IPP, itemizing charges for gas, rental, delivery, and demurrage.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Specialty Gas for the USDA ARS in Raleigh, NC. The government intends to make a single award.

• The core requirement is for specialty gas. Detailed specifications are provided in Attachment 1.

• Pricing must be submitted according to the structure in the "Statement of Requirement" and Attachment 2.

• Technical Acceptability requires a sound and compliant approach, demonstration of understanding, and meeting salient characteristics.

• Offerors must verify their location or their subcontractor's location is within a 200-mile radius of the delivery locations.

• The contract type is not explicitly stated but implies commercial products and services.

• The period of performance includes a base period and four option years.

• Delivery is requested F.O.B. Destination, with early deliveries accepted.

• Questions Deadline: April 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST via email to jennifer.busbea@usda.gov.

• Quote Submission: Via email only to jennifer.busbea@usda.gov in one document, with the subject line "Quote for 1232SA26Q0488." Due date and time are as indicated on SAM.gov.

• Offer Acceptance Period: Offerors must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the receipt of offers.

• Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made on a best-value basis, using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria. This involves evaluating Price, Technical Acceptability, and Past Performance.

  • Price: Includes total quoted amount, discounts, and shipping.
  • Technical Acceptability: Rated "acceptable" or "unacceptable." Requires a compliant approach and specific documentation (Attachment 2, location verification, subcontractor agreement if applicable).
  • Past Performance: Evaluated as "Acceptable," "Neutral," or "Unacceptable" based on prior performance and available data (CPARS, etc.).

• The government will evaluate the lowest priced offer for Technical Acceptability and Past Performance. If unacceptable, the next lowest priced offer will be evaluated.

• Offerors must be located within a 200-mile radius of the delivery locations, or use subcontractors who meet this requirement.

• Various small business provisions and certifications may be applicable if checked.

• Attachments: Attachment 1 – Specifications, Attachment 2 – Price Schedule.

• FAR/AGAR Clauses: Numerous FAR and AGAR clauses are incorporated by reference, including those related to commercial products/services, whistleblower rights, combating trafficking in persons, service contract labor standards, Buy American, and specific USDA clauses on Anti-Discrimination and DEI Compliance.

• Invoice Submission: Vendors must enroll in the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) at https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/index.htm and submit invoices electronically.

• Agency Protests: The USDA Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) is available for resolving concerns before or during formal protest filing.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a price schedule for various compressed and liquid gas tanks. It outlines the estimated annual quantities, unit costs, and total costs across a base year and four option years.

• Tank Descriptions: Includes a variety of gases such as CO2, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Industrial Grade Nitrogen, Compressed Gas mixes, Helium, Air, Breathing Air, Hydrogen, and Argon.
• Locations: Specifies delivery or service locations for the tanks (e.g., 150 Scott, 328 Shaub, 219 Schaub, 226 Schaub, 2574 Thomas, 3127 Ligon St, 3105 Williams Hall, 840 Oval Drive, 3908 Inwood Road).
• Quantities: Lists estimated annual quantities for each tank type.
• Unit Costs: Provides columns for Unit Cost for the Base Year (05/01/2026 - 04/30/2027) through Option Year 4 (05/01/2031 - 04/30/2032).
• Total Cylinders: The "Yearly Quote" sheet indicates a total of 165 cylinders.
• Annual Cost: All annual cost fields are currently listed as 0.0, suggesting pricing is to be filled in by the bidder.
• Seasonal Quote: A separate sheet, "Seasonal Quote," lists "Oxygen, OX 300" at 3908 Inwood Road with an estimated annual quantity of 45, also with blank unit cost fields.

Bidders are expected to review this price schedule and provide their unit costs for the specified gas tanks, quantities, and locations. This document is critical for developing a competitive proposal and understanding the expected pricing structure for the duration of the potential contract.