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STREAMLINED SOLICITATIONFOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION COMPETITIVE Title: Industrial standard grade liquid helium This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items p... STREAMLINED SOLICITATIONFOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION COMPETITIVE Title: Industrial standard grade liquid helium This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is NIH-NIMH-21002794 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5—Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2019-01, dated December 2018. The associated NAICS code 424690: Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers. This requirement is a full and open competition Purpose and Objectives: The Neurophysiology Imaging Facility (NIF) core maintains a 60 cm bore 4.7T vertical MRI scanner that has an absolute requirement for a steady supply of liquid helium to cool the superconducting magnet. We anticipate at least eight (8) delivery orders for 250L of liquid helium to fill the magnet from May 2021 to May 2022. Background: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is one of the most impressive tools of modern medicine, allowing for the visualization of normal and pathological tissues in the body. In no field has imaging impacted biomedical research more than in the study of the brain, for which MR allows one to visualize not only neural structures but also neural function. Functional MR imaging, commonly known as fMRI, is typically used for research to interrogate diverse aspects of brain function in humans such as the neural underpinnings of perception, action, reward, and decision making. At the root of all such advanced research is basic science research in which animal models serve a vital role in developing and understanding MR techniques before they can be safely applied to humans. The Neurophysiology Imaging Facility (NIF) is a centralized core facility that brings together a broad range of techniques to provide the most integrated and efficient study of brain physiology in nonhuman primates. The NIF core facility is a shared intramural resource contributed by three institutes at the NIH – NIMH, NINDS, and NEI – centering on a cutting edge 60 cm bore 4.7T vertical MR scanner. The superconducting magnet has an absolute requirement for cooling by constant replenishment of liquid helium. Improper maintenance of this instrument would result in catastrophic damage and an abrupt cessation of all associated research activities. Purchase Description: Liquid Helium, 250L, shipped in a single dewar container of 250L, each dewar outfitted with a pressure gauge and an electric powered pressure builder to maintain 4 psi pressure. Salient characteristics: Quantity: Eight (8) delivery orders Generic Name of Product: Industrial standard grade liquid helium Delivery Total Quantity (in liters) Delivery by May 13,2021 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by July 1, 2021 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by August 19, 2021 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by October 7, 2021 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by November 25, 2021 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by January 13, 2022 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by February 3, 2022 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Delivery by April 21, 2022 Liquid Helium: 250-liters Quantity: One (1) 250-liter capacity size Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder TOTALS Total Amount of Liquid Helium: 8 Deliveries of 250-liters with Dewars pressure gauge and electric pressure builder Anticipated Date of Delivery: The period of performance shall be for a base period of 12 months with two (2) optional successive 12-months option periods if available. Base year: 5/13/2021 to5/12/2022 – 8 delivery orders Option year 1: 5/13/2022 to 5/12/2023 – 8 delivery orders (If available) Option year 2: 5/13/2023 to 5/12/2024 – 8 delivery orders (If available) Delivery: FOB Point (Delivery/Pick Up) Neurophysiology Imaging Facility National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institute of Health Bldg. 49, B2-100 (Inside Loading Dock) 49 Convent Drive Bethesda, MD 20892 PACKAGING, MARKING AND SHIPPING All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked and shipped in accordance with Government specifications. At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the contract number and Contractor name. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition. Packaging and packing for all items delivered hereunder shall be in accordance with common commercial practices, adequate to insure protection from possible damage resulting from improper handling, inclement weather, water damage, excessive heat and cold, and to insure acceptance by a common carrier for safe delivery to its final destination. All deliverables shall clearly indicate the contract number and/or task (delivery) order number, as appropriate, on or adjacent to the exterior shipping. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided. For the purpose of this SECTION, the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is the authorized representative of the Contracting Officer. Inspection and acceptance will be performed at: Acceptance may be presumed unless otherwise indicated in writing by the Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative within 30 days of receipt. This contract incorporates the following clause by reference, with the same force and effect as if it were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make its full text available. FAR Clause 52.246-2, Inspection of Supplies - Fixed Price (August 1996). FAR Clause 52.246-16, Responsibility for Supplies (April 1984). The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is an addendum to 52.212-2. Responses received to this RFQ will be evaluated on the basis of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Offeror's submitting a response must provide a completed Price Quote to be evaluated and considered for award. Price quotes must indicate fixed unit pricing and total cost, including shipping cost and estimated time of delivery after receipt of order, and warranty and training considerations. Responses will be evaluated based on contractor's ability to meet the government's essential requirements stated in this notice and on ability to deliver required supplies. Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the Offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the essential government requirements stated in this solicitation. Under the lowest-price technically acceptable (LPTA) process, Offerors' will be determined to be "technically acceptable" or "technically unacceptable" based on the evaluation of responses to determine if, as submitted, the proposal is technically acceptable. Base year plus two (2) option years A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, with its offer. The FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders–Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the contracting officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices. There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition. The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include past performance; special features required for effective program performance; trade-in considerations; probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item; warranty considerations; maintenance availability; and environmental and energy efficiency considerations. In addition, the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.” All responses must be received by 5/4/2020 by 12PMEST and reference number NIH-NIMH-21002794. Responses may be submitted electronically to thien.nguyen2@nih.gov and valerie.whipple@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted. The name and telephone number of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation. Thien Nguyen Thien.Nguyen2@nih. gov 301-827-0914 Attachments Attachment 1 – Purchase Description Attachment 2 – 52.204-24 and 52.212-3 Clauses Attachment 3 – Invoice Instructions