NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: USAFA Liquid Nitrogen Plant/Generator
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
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The U.S. Air Force Academy’s 10th Contracting Squadron intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price purchase order to Bluefors Cryocooler Technologies Inc. for two liquid nitrogen plants/generators, citing unique technical capabilities that only this vendor can satisfy. The equipment must generate at least 60 liters of liquid nitrogen daily at an altitude of 7,500 feet using a fully integrated air-cooled helium compressor, eliminating the need for external water-cooling infrastructure. The systems must fit within a strict 6.5 ft. by 6 ft. footprint, include a 210-liter integrated Dewar, produce nitrogen with 98% purity through an easily maintainable filter bank, and feature automatic safety controls such as level indicators and standby mode activation when the Dewar is full. Extraction must be handled via a cryogenically insulated line to minimize loss, and the entire system must be mounted on a floor stand. Bluefors is the only identified capable source due to its proven ability to meet these exacting performance standards under high-altitude conditions without facility retrofitting. Interested parties are invited to submit capability statements demonstrating they can meet all the salient technical requirements by August 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM MDT, though the government retains full discretion to proceed without competition regardless of submissions. Responses must include company details, UEI number, and verifiable technical specifications confirming compliance with each performance criterion, including altitude operation, purity, safety automation, compressor type, and physical dimensions. The acquisition is conducted under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, specifically Part 12 for commercial products and services, and the point of contact for submissions is Nathalieb Zepeda at Nathalieb.Zepeda@us.af.mil. Late responses will not be considered, and no solicitation for competitive bids is currently planned unless a suitable alternative is identified through this open notice process.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
USAF Academy, CO, 80840, USASet-Aside
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Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
Notice ID: FA700026LNPOG
NAICS: 333415 - Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing
PSC: 3655 - Gas Generating and Dispensing Systems, Fixed or Mobile
THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE
This notice of intent is published in accordance with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Subpart 5.2. This requirement is being conducted in accordance with the procedures in RFO FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
The 10th Contracting Squadron, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado, intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price purchase order to Bluefors Cryocooler Technologies Inc., a large business, for the purchase and delivery of two (2) Liquid Nitrogen Plants/Generators.
The identified sole source is:
Bluefors Cryocooler Technologies Inc.
6682 Moore Rd,
Syracuse, NY 13211 USA
CAGE Code: 9PAV7
UEI: M9FRKEA171L6
The following outlines the unique technical capabilities that exclusively qualify this vendor to provide the required liquid nitrogen plant systems:
- Sustained High-Altitude Production: The system maintains a continuous generation rate of at least 60 liters of liquid nitrogen per day at a facility operating altitude of 7,500 feet.
- Integrated Air-Cooled Architecture: The equipment achieves the required altitude-compensated yield utilizing a fully integrated, air-cooled helium compressor. This self-contained design entirely eliminates the need to retrofit the facility with external water-cooling infrastructure.
- Strict Dimensional Compliance: The system delivers full operational capacity and altitude-compensated performance within a strictly limited spatial footprint that does not exceed 6.5 ft. by 6 ft.
The Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances of the contract action deem Bluefors Cryocooler Technologies Inc. / Cryomech as the only known responsible source capable of satisfying the agency’s commercial requirement.
Instructions to Interested Parties
This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals or quotations. A solicitation any company that believes it can meet the unique salient characteristics may submit a capability statement for consideration via email before the deadline to the point of contact below.
Required Information
Capability statements must include the company name, address, point of contact, UEI number, and technical data or specifications clearly demonstrating the ability to meet ALL the following salient characteristics:
- Production Capacity: Each system must produce at least 60 liters of liquid nitrogen per day.
- Storage Capacity: Must have an integrated Dewar capacity of at least 210 liters.
- Footprint Restrictions: Overall footprint must not exceed 6.5 ft. x 6 ft.
- Altitude Operation: Must be designed for high-altitude operation and be fully capable of operating at an altitude of 7,500 ft.
- Gas Separation & Purity: Must include an integrated filter bank assembly to separate nitrogen from ambient air and produce a minimum of 98% pure nitrogen. The filter bank assembly must be easy and affordable to maintain.
- Safety & Automation: Must include an automatic liquid nitrogen level indicator. Must automatically enter standby mode when the product dewar is full.
- Extraction & Transfer: Must include a cryogenically insulated extraction line and valve designed for low loss of liquid nitrogen during transfer.
- Compressor: Must include an air-cooled helium compressor.
- Mounting: Must have a floor stand for the nitrogen generator assembly.
Deadline for Responses: Monday, August 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM (MDT)
Point of Contact: Nathalieb Zepeda, Nathalieb.Zepeda@us.af.mil
Any responses received after the deadline will be late and not considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.
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