Bulk Liquid Argon

The U.S. Department of Labor, through its Office of the Senior Procurement Executive on behalf of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, is seeking bulk liquid argon to support analytical laboratory operations at the Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center. The solicitation, numbered 1605C4-26-R-00025, is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 325120 and requires the monthly delivery of refrigerated liquid argon (UN1951) in a micro bulk tank format over a base period from September 1, 2028, to August 31, 2029, with two option periods extending through August 31, 2030. Deliveries must be completed within five days of order receipt, and all shipments are to be delivered FOB destination to Building 38 at 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. The argon is critical for conducting over 23,000 annual laboratory analyses related to mine health and safety enforcement, particularly in the detection of hazardous contaminants in mine dust. Proposals must be submitted by August 12, 2026, and must comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation provisions governing commercial products and services, including FAR 52.212-1 and FAR 52.212-4. The government will evaluate proposals on a best-value basis, with technical acceptability serving as a threshold requirement and price considered for reasonableness and completeness, but without numerical weighting. The solicitation does not provide pricing data, and the total estimated contract value remains unspecified. Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov, represent their small business status accurately, and disclose any use of covered telecommunications equipment. Compliance with the Buy American Act is required, and no foreign suppliers may be used unless exempted. The contract incorporates clauses on changes, payments, prompt payment discounts, subcontracting, and anti-inversion policies, along with DOL-specific provisions regarding the Contracting Officer’s Representative. A COR will be designated upon award, and the government will conduct acceptance at the delivery site. Packaging, preservation, and marking requirements for the cryogenic liquid argon are not fully detailed in the provided material and may be specified in an unattached schedule. Invoices must follow procedures outlined in FAR 52.232-1, and payment will be processed based on Block 18a information