Request for Information/ Sources Sought Notice for Providers/Suppliers of Liquid Nitrogen and Related Services
ID: AMD-SSN-26-00001Type: Sources Sought
Overview

Buyer

COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OFNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGYDEPT OF COMMERCE NISTGAITHERSBURG, MD, 20899, USA

NAICS

Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120)

PSC

GASES: COMPRESSED AND LIQUEFIED (6830)

Set Aside

No Set aside used (NONE)
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking information from potential providers and suppliers of liquid nitrogen and related services. The procurement aims to identify sources capable of delivering bulk liquid nitrogen, tank filling services, tank rentals, telemetry rentals, and inspection services across NIST's facilities in Gaithersburg, Maryland; Boulder, Colorado; and Charleston, South Carolina. These services are critical for cryogenic storage, biospecimen preservation, and various research programs, with an anticipated contract start date of April 1, 2026, and a potential duration of five years, including options for extension. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their capabilities and suggestions by the specified deadline to Nina Lin at nina.lin@nist.gov and Donald Collie at donald.collie@nist.gov.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    This Statement of Work outlines the National Institute of Standards & Technology's (NIST) requirement for on-demand liquid nitrogen supply, delivery, and filling services across its Gaithersburg, MD, Boulder, CO, and Charleston, SC campuses. The contract includes tank and telemetry unit rentals, vaporizer rental, and annual tank inspections. The contractor is responsible for procuring and delivering liquid nitrogen, filling tanks to specified levels, maintaining rented equipment, providing telemetry access, conducting annual API Standard 653 inspections on all tanks, and removing rented tanks. Specific liquid nitrogen purity levels are defined for each campus. The contractor must provide 24/7 customer service, emergency deliveries, and adhere to strict security, access, and delivery confirmation protocols. COVID-19 safety measures are also outlined.
    Similar Opportunities
    Dilution Refrigerator
    Buyer not available
    The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking information from industry regarding the procurement of a state-of-the-art dilution refrigerator to support its quantum sensor development and quantum information science research in Boulder, Colorado. The refrigerator must achieve a base temperature of 10 mK or lower, with specific cooling power and minimal vibration, and include advanced features such as automation via Python scripting and a fully automated gas handling system. This opportunity is crucial for enhancing NIST's capabilities in quantum research, and interested parties are invited to submit their responses by December 23, 2025, to Angela Hitt at angela.hitt@nist.gov, with a focus on their qualifications and compliance with relevant regulations.
    Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Roberts Oxygen Co.
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH), intends to award a sole source contract to Roberts Oxygen Co. Inc. for the provision of liquid nitrogen essential for maintaining safe and quality patient care at the NIH Clinical Center. This procurement involves the delivery of liquid nitrogen and rental of nitrogen tanks, which are critical for the manufacturing and storage of cell therapies, directly impacting patient treatment timelines and clinical trial efficacy. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, allowing for a sole source award due to the unique requirements and existing infrastructure that would make vendor changes prohibitively expensive and disruptive. Interested parties may submit their capabilities to Kristin Nagashima at kristin.nagashima@nih.gov by December 12, 2025, at 12 PM EST.
    Environmental test chamber
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking information from qualified vendors regarding the procurement of an Environmental Test Chamber and a Water Recirculation System as part of a Sources Sought Notice (NIST-SS26-CHIPS-29). The Environmental Test Chamber must meet specific requirements, including a workspace of over 1.5 cubic feet, a temperature range of -35°C to +175°C, and humidity control between 10%-95% RH, among other technical specifications, to support metrology research for semiconductor device manufacturing. This procurement is crucial for evaluating materials used in semiconductor devices, thereby enhancing device reliability and performance. Interested parties should submit their responses, including company information and product specifications, to Junee Johnson at junee.johnson@nist.gov, as this notice is for market research purposes and no solicitation is currently available.
    Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Pump Suppression Module
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking to noncompetitively acquire a Pump Suppression Module essential for a new Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) spectrometer as part of its CHIPS project. This module is critical for accurately measuring magnetic materials parameters, which directly supports advancements in magnetic random-access memories (MRAM) and enhances the semiconductor industry's product reliability and performance. The procurement is intended to be fulfilled by Light Machinery, Inc., the only vendor identified that meets the stringent specifications required for the module, including a suppression capability of at least 60 dB and high transmission rates. Interested parties must submit their responses by August 1, 2025, to the primary contact, Cielo Ibarra, at cielo.ibarra@nist.gov.
    System upgrades for Magneto-Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy
    Buyer not available
    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking sources for system upgrades to its magneto-Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy instrument, which is essential for evaluating 2D and wide band gap materials in the semiconductor industry. The procurement includes a new magnet power supply, a service contract, and compatible components such as low-temperature compatible, long working distance apochromatic objectives, titanium sample holders, and titanium screws for mounting electrical devices. These upgrades are critical for analyzing optical spectroscopy responses under magnetic fields at cryogenic temperatures. Interested vendors should contact Junee Johnson at junee.johnson@nist.gov for further details, as this notice serves market research purposes and does not guarantee a contract award.
    Sources Sought Notice for Continuous Wave Parametric Oscillator (CW OPO) Laser System
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking information regarding a Continuous Wave Parametric Oscillator (CW OPO) Laser System to fulfill specific technical requirements. The desired system must include a pump laser, signal and idler laser outputs with defined tunable ranges and power, control electronics compatible with U.S. power and Windows PCs, as well as a high-accuracy wavelength meter and stabilization controls. This procurement is crucial for advancing analytical laboratory capabilities, and interested vendors are encouraged to submit their company details, equipment specifications, and service offerings by email to Forest Crumpler at forest.crumpler@nist.gov by October 31, 2022. This notice serves as market research and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to award a contract.
    Request for Information: Supply of Liquid Argon to Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (Lead, South Dakota)
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Energy, through Fermilab, is seeking information from vendors regarding the supply of significant quantities of Liquid Argon (LAr) for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) project in Lead, South Dakota. The procurement aims to secure approximately 797 million standard cubic feet (scf) of LAr for initial neutrino detectors, with an optional supply of an additional 801 million scf for future detectors, totaling around 1.6 billion scf required between Q1 2029 and Q2 2035. This supply is critical for the LBNF/DUNE project, which plays a vital role in advancing neutrino research. Interested vendors should respond to the Request for Information by January 30, 2026, providing details on supply capability, purity, delivery logistics, and cost estimates to Jeremy R. Duncan at jeremyd@fnal.gov.
    Rental of one (1) Nitrogen Trailer
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Defense, specifically the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, is soliciting bids for the rental of one high-pressure nitrogen gas tube trailer. The procurement aims to secure a temporary rental solution that meets specific operational requirements for High-Pressure Nitrogen Flasks Charging Operations, with the trailer needing to supply nitrogen at pressures between 2000-4500 psig and volumes ranging from 27,000 to 81,556 scf. This equipment is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency at the shipyard located in Kittery, Maine. Interested small businesses must submit their quotations by December 12, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, with the rental period commencing on January 6, 2026, and an option for extension until August 10, 2026. For further inquiries, potential bidders can contact Christie Ashcraft at christie.j.ashcraft.civ@us.navy.mil or Alyssa Cress at alyssa.a.cress.civ@us.navy.mil.
    Electrochemical Liquid TEM Holder System with Heating/Cooling - Combined Sources Sought Notice and Notice of Intent to Sole Source
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking to procure an Electrochemical Liquid TEM Holder System with Heating/Cooling through a combined sources sought notice and notice of intent to sole source. This acquisition is part of the CHIPS R&D Metrology Grant Challenge Project 7.03, aimed at developing thermodynamic datasets and measurement platforms for critical material recovery from microelectronic waste. The system must be compatible with Thermo Fisher Scientific TEMs and X-ray scattering beamlines, featuring integrated electrochemical and temperature control capabilities, along with specific design requirements and comprehensive support services. Interested vendors should contact Nina Lin at nina.lin@nist.gov or Donald Collie at donald.collie@nist.gov for further details, as market research has indicated that Protochips, Inc. is the only capable source for this procurement.
    Sources Sought Notice for Mid-IR Optical Frequency Comb
    Buyer not available
    The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has issued a Sources Sought Notice for Mid-IR Optical Frequency Comb Systems to support its CHIPS Metrology Program's Grand Challenge 1. NIST requires three systems for applications in broadband spectroscopy, spectral reference databases, and new laser diagnostics in semiconductor processes, along with an additional system to fill a critical gap in long-wave infrared spectroradiometry and molecular spectroscopy for the space, defense, and satellite industries. Interested vendors are invited to provide information regarding their capabilities, including product specifications, customization options, and available services, while ensuring that proprietary information is not disclosed. Responses should be submitted via email to Forest Crumpler at forest.crumpler@nist.gov, as NIST seeks to gather market insights to inform future procurement decisions.