Helium-3 NB687000-25-02129

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), Quantum Sensor Group (QSG) seeks information on vendors that can provide isotope Helium-3 in gaseous form. This isotope is used in refrigerators developed by the QSG to reach temperatures milliKelvin temperatures. The refrigerators perform a thermodynamic cycle on the Helium-3 cooling. These low temperatures enable sensors of unprecedented performance that the QSD uses for a mix of basic and applied science. Please review the attached Requirements and Specifications document for specific details to meet all Government requirements. The purpose of this notice is to identify organizations capable of providing the necessary items and meeting the minimum contractor qualifications. This announcement is not a Request for Proposals or Quote (RFP/RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The information contained in this notice is DRAFT only and, as such, is subject to change prior to the issuance of a solicitation. No solicitation is available currently. After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive or non-competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. NIST will use the results of this sources-sought notice to determine whether to proceed on a sole-source basis or competitively if it is determined that other vendors could potentially meet NIST’s needs. This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 325120, Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,200 employees. Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirements should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to four (4) pages or less. Responses should include the following information: - Name of the company that will service the product. - County of origin or place of performance of product manufacturing. - Business status of the organization. - Spec sheets and examples of products that meet the specifications. - Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of order - Any other relevant information that is not listed above that the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research. Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contract Specialist, Lisa Stevens, via email at lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than 11:00 a.m. MT on 16 June 2025. No quotes will be accepted at this time and will not be considered. REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW: See the attached Requirements and Specifications document.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Linde Gas & Equipment, Inc., (CAGE: 649M0), located in Danbury, CT, on a sole-source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source to obtain Helium-3 Gas. The NAICS for this requirement is 325120, Industrial Gas Manufacturing, with a small business standard of 1,200 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price contract to Linde Gas & Equipment 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 July 01, 2025. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist at lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to the Contract Specialist at lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the submission deadline of this notice.