Helium Liquefier Development (HeLD)
ID: 80GRC025RFI001Type: Sources Sought
Overview

Buyer

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTERCLEVELAND, OH, 44135, USA

NAICS

Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120)

PSC

GAS GENERATING AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS, FIXED OR MOBILE (3655)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/d00b35d58f744db0bc8dce3cf3b13aaa/view
Timeline
    Description

    NASA's Glenn Research Center is seeking information from potential sources for the development of helium liquefiers/refrigerators to support space propulsion and cryogenic research activities. The procurement aims to identify capable vendors who can provide systems that meet specific technical requirements, including advanced gas-bearing helium turbo-expanders, operational capacities, and compliance with various engineering standards. This initiative is crucial for NASA's ongoing efforts in cryogenic technology, which plays a significant role in space exploration and propulsion systems. Interested parties are invited to submit their capability statements and relevant documentation to Ashlee Shaw at ashlee.b.shaw@nasa.gov by 5:00 PM ET on January 10, 2025, as no solicitation currently exists.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Ashlee Shaw
    ashlee.b.shaw@nasa.gov
    Hunter Butkovic
    hunter.c.butkovic@nasa.gov
    Files
    No associated files provided.
    Lifecycle
    Title
    Type
    Helium Liquefier Development (HeLD)
    Currently viewing
    Sources Sought
    Similar Opportunities
    Request For Proposal (RFP) for NASA Agency-wide Supply of Liquid and Gaseous Helium
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the agency-wide supply of gaseous and liquid helium, designated as Solicitation No. 80KSC024R0010. This procurement aims to establish an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to ensure a reliable supply of helium, which is critical for various scientific and operational processes within NASA, including cryogenics and aerospace missions. The contract will span five years, with a base period from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2027, and three optional periods extending through September 30, 2030. Proposals are due by February 3, 2025, and interested parties can direct inquiries to Victoria Hargrave at KSC-Helium-Info@mail.nasa.gov.
    Liquid Helium
    Active
    Health And Human Services, Department Of
    The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking suppliers for liquid helium through a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. The procurement aims to secure a reliable annual supply of approximately 12,000 liters of clean liquid helium, which is crucial for cooling NMR superconducting magnets and conducting low-temperature experiments. Interested vendors must demonstrate their technical capabilities, compliance with purity standards, and ability to deliver within a maximum lead time of one week. Proposals are due by January 2, 2025, with the contract period commencing on February 25, 2025. For further inquiries, potential bidders can contact Verne L. Griffin at verne.griffin@nih.gov or Michael L. Falzone at michael.falzone@nih.gov.
    Helium Recovery and Liquid Helium
    Active
    Dept Of Defense
    The Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Air Force, is seeking sources for a Helium Recovery and Liquid Helium Generation System at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee. This Sources Sought Notice aims to assess the capabilities of both small and large businesses to fulfill the government's requirements, which may lead to a firm-fixed-price contract. The helium recovery and generation system is critical for various defense applications, emphasizing the strategic importance of helium in military operations. Interested vendors must submit their responses, including company information and a proposed cost estimate, by January 10, 2025, and can contact Andrew Waggoner or Erica Anglin for further inquiries.
    Lunar Freezer System
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    NASA's Johnson Space Center is seeking proposals for the Lunar Freezer System (LFS), aimed at developing a robust system to transport temperature-sensitive scientific samples from the Moon and Gateway Space Station back to Earth. The LFS will support various payloads, including geological and biological research samples, and is critical for advancing lunar exploration and scientific research. This procurement will be conducted as a Full and Open competition leading to a single Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with a base period of 66 months and two optional one-year extensions. Interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft solicitation by January 6, 2025, with the final RFP expected to be released around January 22, 2025. For further inquiries, potential offerors can contact Linda Benitez at linda.b.benitezrivera@nasa.gov or Jonathan Anzures at jonathan.anzures@nasa.gov.
    Xenon gas, approximately 2,000 L of high-purity xenon
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking to procure approximately 2,000 liters of high-purity xenon gas for its electric propulsion testing initiatives. The gas must meet a minimum purity level of 99.999% and adhere to strict impurity limits, with each delivery requiring a certificate of analysis for verification. This procurement is vital for ensuring operational integrity and safety in NASA's aerospace applications. Interested vendors can submit their qualifications by 3:00 p.m. CST on December 23, 2024, and should direct inquiries to Laura Quave at laura.a.quave@nasa.gov or by phone at 228-813-6420.
    AFP for LEASE OF THE CRYOGENICS COMPONENTS LABORATORY at GLENN RESEARCH CENTER
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    NASA's Glenn Research Center is soliciting proposals for the lease of the Cryogenics Components Laboratory (CCL Complex) located at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The objective of this Announcement for Proposal (AFP) is to attract qualified entities to utilize this underutilized federal property for the development and qualification of cryogenic materials, components, and systems, while also supporting the local economy. The selected tenant will enter into a Model Enhanced Use Lease Agreement, which requires a detailed plan for facility use, adherence to environmental standards, and compliance with NASA’s policies, with proposals due by January 16, 2025. Interested parties can contact Carlos Flores at hq-realestate@mail.nasa.gov or by phone at 228-305-0007 for further information.
    USAFA Dilution Refrigerator Source Sought
    Active
    Dept Of Defense
    The Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Air Force, is seeking sources for a 3He4He dilution refrigerator to support research in solid state silicon quantum computing at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). The required dilution refrigerator must achieve temperatures of 10 mK or lower, provide a cooling power of at least 500 µW at 100 mK, and include specific features such as a cryogen-free solenoid magnet, vibration isolation, and a sample space volume of at least 30 liters. This procurement is critical for the department's research program, which focuses on creating and studying quantum computing qubits. Interested vendors are encouraged to submit a capabilities package to the primary contact, Aurora Santos, at aurora.santos@us.af.mil, or the secondary contact, Kristin Heikkila, at kristin.heikkila@us.af.mil, including relevant company information and product specifications by the specified deadline.
    Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Vertical Screw Compressor
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intends to award a sole source contract for a Frick rotary screw compressor to Johnson Controls Inc. This procurement involves the acquisition of one vertical screw compressor designed to replace Compressor B in the Ice Research Tunnel, with specific operational capabilities including cooling 594 tons of R507 refrigeration to -41°F and compatibility with existing systems and controls. The successful contractor will be responsible for delivering a commercial item that meets stringent technical specifications, with a deadline for interested organizations to submit capabilities statements by 1:00 pm EST on January 3, 2025. For further inquiries, interested parties may contact Stacy L. Hernandez at stacy.l.hernandez@nasa.gov or John A. Christel at john.a.christel@nasa.gov.
    liquid nitrogen (LN2) recirculating systems
    Active
    Energy, Department Of
    The Department of Energy, specifically the Argonne National Laboratory, is seeking proposals for liquid nitrogen (LN2) recirculating systems through a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation notice. The procurement aims to acquire systems that are essential for various research and development activities in the physical, engineering, and life sciences sectors. These systems play a critical role in laboratory environments, ensuring the efficient and safe handling of liquid nitrogen for experiments and processes. Interested vendors can reach out to Michael Oprondek at moprondek@anl.gov or call 630-252-7069 for further details regarding the submission process and any associated deadlines.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Cryogenic Selective Surfaces (KSC-TOPS-59)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is seeking inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market cryogenic selective surfaces. These surfaces, developed as thermal control coatings, have the potential to reflect essentially all solar radiation in the space environment. They can be used to keep cryogenic fuel and oxidizers cold enough for long-term storage in space and support the operation of low-temperature devices and systems on spacecraft. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). For more information, visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal. No follow-on procurement is expected from this notice.