NOAA Fisheries Special Notice of Intent to a Single Source_Liquid Nitrogen Generator
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Department of Commerce, through NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, plans to award a sole source contract to Rutherford & Titan, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, for the procurement of one liquid nitrogen generator. This equipment is essential for the nutritional ecology laboratory to facilitate cryogenic homogenization and various analyses of marine organism samples, including fatty acids, thiaminase, and stable isotopes. The existing liquid nitrogen generator is no longer operational, and since its manufacturer has gone out of business, repairs are not viable. Without this replacement, there would be significant delays in processing samples critical for research and reporting on fisheries and environmental conditions. The liquid nitrogen generator must meet several specific technical requirements: it should produce at least 10 liters of liquid nitrogen per day, have a storage capacity of roughly 55 liters, be air-cooled with an included air compressor, operate on a standard 120V outlet, and function quietly at less than 70 decibels. Additional criteria include portability, the ability to easily fill dewars, dimensions approximately 36”L x 25”W x 63”H or smaller, and a one-year warranty. This procurement will be a firm fixed price contract under NAICS code 335312, with the government inviting any other firms that believe they can meet the requirements to submit documentation by June 26, 2026, for consideration of a competitive procurement. However, the government currently believes only Rutherford & Titan, Inc. can fulfill the contract specifications.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Seattle, WA, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
Special Notice: ACQ-26-0770
NOAA / NMFS / AFSC
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Rutherford & Titan, Inc, of Houston, Texas, to procure the following:
One (1) liquid nitrogen generator to support the nutritional ecology laboratory in cryogenic homogenization of samples for fatty acids and thiaminase analysis, as well as compound specific stable isotope analysis of fish, plankton, marine mammal and other animal tissues.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducts fisheries and oceanographic research in Alaska’s marine waters, the AFSC is responsible for research on living marine resources in the coastal oceans off Alaska and off parts of the west coast of the United States. Collaborative research within AFSC and with external partners use data and samples collected during these surveys to determine how environmental variation affects survival and recruitment of commercially important fish, including salmon and groundfish. This new piece of laboratory equipment is necessary to provide critical data to meet our reporting requirements. The Program Office requires the purchase of a replacement liquid nitrogen generator as the existing generator is malfunctioning, the manufacturer is no longer in business and repairs are not feasible. Liquid nitrogen is utilized for many of chemistry laboratory processing procedures and without a functioning instrument, there will be significant delays in processing samples and providing critical data to researchers and stakeholders.
The liquid nitrogen generator must meet all of the following required technical specifications:
● The system shall be able to generate at least 10 liters of liquid nitrogen per day
● The system storage tank shall hold approximately 55 liters
● The system shall be air cooled
● The system shall include an air compressor
● The system shall run on a 120V power outlet
● The system shall be relatively quiet (<70 db)
● The system shall be relatively easy to move around, if needed (wheels or casters)
● The system shall be able to easily fill a dewar
● Footprint in the range of (roughly): 36"L × 25"W × 63"H, or smaller
● The system shall include a 1-year warranty
The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 335312, with a Small Business size standard of 1,250 employees.
The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract. This Special Notice of Intent to a Single Source is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing. Submissions are due no later than June 26, 2026 at 5pm Eastern Time. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses may be emailed to Christie.Lang@noaa.gov. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only can Rutherford & Titan, Inc, of Houston, Texas, can provide the requirements stated above.
Attachment
Redacted Single Source Determination