The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Storeroom and Warehouse is an 11,500 square foot facility, with a 2,700 square foot sales floor, located in Building 301 on the NIST Gaithersburg Campus. The Storeroom is a part of the NIST Administrative Services Division, Logistics Storeroom Section. Their mission is to service customers better than anyone else could serve them and provide customers the highest quality, variety and convenience at a competitive price.

NIST currently owns a fleet of 85, 100 liter (L) liquid nitrogen dewars in sizes that range from 25L-300L. The NIST Gaithersburg Main Storeroom is responsible for pick up, fill and re-delivery of liquid nitrogen dewars to the end users that use liquid nitrogen throughout the NIST Gaithersburg Campus.

Filling of liquid nitrogen dewars can sometimes be slow due to the large size and older age of some of the dewars. Transport of dewars is also difficult due to the various shapes and sizes of the liquid nitrogen dewars currently in inventory.

The Government is contemplating an upgrade to the NIST owned liquid nitrogen dewar fleet to a universal- sized 180 liter liquid nitrogen dewar. This upgrade will allow faster filling, and safer and faster pick-up and redelivery of the liquid nitrogen dewars throughout the NIST Gaithersburg campus.

This sources sought notice serves to obtain additional information on sources that can provide 180 liter liquid nitrogen portable dewars meeting some or all the following specifications. These specifications are provided for market research purposes only. Final specifications shall be determined based on information received and NIST's minimum requirements. All equipment shall be new and not refurbished and must become the property of the government upon final acceptance and final payment.

Required Specifications:
-180 liter portable liquid nitrogen storage dewar;
-198 liter gross capacity;
-All Stainless Steel construction;
-Mounted on square base w/ pull handle;
-5"-6" casters (2) Fixed & (2) Swivel w/ wing style lock;
-24"o.d. x 53" height;
-Approximately 235-240 lbs. estimated empty weight;
-25 PSIG M.A.W.P. (Maximum Allowable Working Pressure);
-22 PSIG operating pressure;
-Standard plumbing package w/ DP level gauge;
-Top Vertical Withdrawal with Access Port;
-Liquid Fill and Vent arrow seems should be turned in opposite direction;
-Self-pressurizing system with regulator valve and pressure building coil;
-Lift rings or uses existing reinforced oblong holes;
-Less than 2.8 Lt per day static evaporation rate;
-½" male flare (CGA 295) on liquid outlet;
-Low pressure liquid service only.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, foreign, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 332420 Metal Tank, Heavy Gauge Manufacturing, as those domestic sources having 500 employees or less. Please include your company's size classification in any response to this notice.

Companies that can meet all of the above requirements are requested to email a written response documenting their capability to [email protected] no later than the response date for this sources sought notice.
The following information must be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice:

1. Name and business size of the company proposing to perform the work;

2. If subcontractors or distributors would be utilized, the name of company(ies), and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address);

3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery ;

4. Indication of whether any products and/or services are currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s);

5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in finalizing its market research.

All documentation must be sent to Carol A. Wood, Contract Specialist, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640. E-mail address: [email protected].

Submission must be received not later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday, January 18, 2012.