# Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Helium 3

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/nb6860502402260

- Solicitation number: NB686050-24-02260
- Notice type: Special notice (first published as sources sought)
- Status: Awarded to Linde Gas & Equipment Inc.
- Department: Department of Commerce
- Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Contracting office: National Institute of Standards and Technology (n-NATIONALINSTITUTEOFSTANDARDSANDTECHNOLOGY)
- NAICS: 325120 Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- Product or service code: 6835 Medical Gases
- Place of performance: Boulder, Colorado
- County: Boulder County (FIPS 08013). https://abierto.us/counties/boulder-county-co-08013
- City: Boulder. https://abierto.us/cities/boulder-co-0807850
- First posted: June 10, 2024
- Last posted: June 18, 2024
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/091da267b9d34a33b0506b5b4964a2d2/view

## Description

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Linde Gas & Equipment Inc., located in Danbury, CT, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for Helium 3 Gas (He3). The NAICS Code is 325120 –Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,200 employees.

For this requirement, NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued by 08/09/2024. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein for this posting.

**JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:** The Advanced Microwave Photonics Group recently purchased cryogen-free dilution refrigerator cryostats, which require 44 liters of He3 for operation. Without this helium gas, the cryostats would be completely inoperable, and the group would not be able to test and measure the superconducting quantum devices required to meet NIST’s mission goals and outside agency milestones.

## Award on USAspending

- Recipient: Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. (UEI PBGNFLNFRWB9)
- Contract: 1333ND24PNB680263, purchase order
- Obligated: $45,697.29
- Competition: Competed Under SAP, 1 offers received
- Link: solicitation number NB6860502402260 equals the FPDS solicitation identifier; same sub-agency 1341 (high confidence)
- Record: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_1333ND24PNB680263_1341_-NONE-_-NONE-/


## Publications

- June 10, 2024: Sources sought, due June 17, 2024 at 1:00 PM EDT. Notice 729b4f12a4ae4eab8f5b4fbad8f2ecbe. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/729b4f12a4ae4eab8f5b4fbad8f2ecbe/view
- June 18, 2024: Special notice, due July 2, 2024 at 1:00 PM EDT. Notice 091da267b9d34a33b0506b5b4964a2d2. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/091da267b9d34a33b0506b5b4964a2d2/view

## Points of contact

- Lisa Stevens, lisa.stevens@nist.gov, 3034973272
- Angela Hitt, angela.hitt@nist.gov, 3034977305

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Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract and USAspending.gov award data. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/nb6860502402260.