Gas Cylinders & Liquid Nitrogen/Helium

The Ames Laboratory, a Department of Energy contractor, is soliciting a firm fixed price contract for the delivery of high-purity compressed scientific gases, liquid nitrogen, and liquid helium to support its fundamental research in chemistry, physics, and materials science. The contract, identified by solicitation number RFP-A27-0308 and NAICS code 325120, is open to unrestricted competition and requires suppliers to deliver all products F.O.B. destination to the laboratory’s warehouse at 2437 Kooser Drive, Ames, Iowa, 50011. The supplier must provide a full range of services including automated replenishment of laboratory-owned gas cylinders, on-demand delivery within one business day for expedited requests, and a secure e-commerce platform for purchase order placement. Delivery documentation must include pre- and post-fill product levels, unique supplier barcode numbers tied to PO releases, and compliance with strict tracking requirements, including the provision of two modern barcode scanners for internal billing of demurrage charges. Quality control is paramount, with suppliers required to certify that no cylinders are leaking prior to delivery, and all materials must conform to specified grades and purity standards. The contract will have a base period of performance from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, with four potential option years extending the term through September 30, 2031, for a maximum total duration of sixty months. Award will be based on the Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method, where proposals must pass mandatory technical and safety/quality assurance gates before price evaluation is considered. Key compliance requirements include full registration in the System for Award Management for any award over $15,000, adherence to all applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses and Department of Energy directives, and strict implementation of the Privacy Act and records retention standards per 36 CFR Chapter XII. Contractors must comply with federal labor standards including Service Contract Labor Standards, anti-trafficking provisions, veteran employment records reporting, and National Labor Relations Act notification obligations. Safety protocols require compliance with 10 CFR 851, 29 CFR 1910/1926, 40 CFR, 49 CFR, and NFPA 70E, particularly in areas involving hazardous materials, radioactive zones, or beryllium exposure. Invoicing must be submitted net 30 days following delivery, exclude taxes, include detailed item