NOTICE OF INTENT-Helium 3

The purpose of this administrative amendment is to change the computer to Helium 3 Gas (3He) in the 1st paragraph. All other terms and conditions remain the same. 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 (3He). Specific Requirements are as follows:

Helium 3 Gas (3He) 18 STP L at 99,9% Purity NAICS Code is 325120 –Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,200 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. for this requirement. 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 4/12/2024. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to angela.hitt@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein for this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: The Department of Energy Isotope Program (DOE IP) has the sole authority within the federal government to sell and distribute 3He. Linde Gas & Equipment, Inc. is DOE’s only authorized source for 3He. Failure to process this request would cause NIST not to be able to operate a dilution refrigerator to cool microcalorimeter sensors to mK temperatures,