Compressed Specialty Gas - Raleigh, NC

The contract involves the procurement of compressed specialty gases, specifically liquid nitrogen delivery and tank rental services, under solicitation number 1232SA26Q0349, issued by the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Acquisition and Property Division, with performance taking place at the U.S. Horticultural Research Lab in Fort Pierce, Florida. The contract spans a five-year period, including a base year from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, and four option years extending through April 30, 2031, with delivery occurring on a FOB DESTINATION basis. Award will be made on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis, where the government evaluates only the lowest-priced offer first, determining technical acceptability based on compliance with submission requirements and acceptable past performance, defined as including “Unknown” or “Satisfactory” ratings, with no numerical scoring or trade-offs between cost and technical merit. Pricing details for line items are not provided and must be submitted by offerors, resulting in an unestimated contract value. All contractors must comply with a comprehensive set of federal regulations and reporting requirements. Mandatory clauses include protections against human trafficking, whistleblower rights, ethical conduct, and prohibitions on sourcing equipment or software from restricted entities such as ByteDance and other covered supply chain providers under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act. Contractors must affirm compliance with Buy American and Trade Agreements Act requirements, with specific country-of-origin labeling for end products, even if using foreign components. Reporting obligations include disclosure of executive compensation, first-tier subcontract awards, greenhouse gas emissions if publicly reported, and use of the E-Verify system for employment eligibility. Invoicing is exclusively through the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform, and no WAWF submission is permitted. Proposals must be submitted via email to james.porter@usda.gov as a complete package including the signed SF-18, pricing schedule, Statement of Work, and acknowledgment of LPTA evaluation, with no page limits specified, and must include accurate Unique Entity ID (UEI) and CAGE codes, size status, and socioeconomic certifications where applicable.