Amendment 0001 is hereby issued to remove item 0001 (Helium) and item 0007 (Liquid Helium) from the original requirement consisting of eight items.  The time and date to submit offers is extended to 12:00 pm EST on Tuesday, July 8, 2008. 

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 and 13.5, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. Solicitation number EA133C-08-RQ-0565 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-25.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) and the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) both located in Charleston, SC require specialty and bulk gases of appropriate quality and volume for a twelve-month base period and four twelve-month option periods as identified below:

Item 0001: Helium
Description: Ultra High Purity (5) Helium (99.999%)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 20 / 266 cf cylinders
Due Date: As requested*
Deliver To: CCEHBR or HML as directed

Item 0002: Electron Capture Mix
Description: Electron Capture Mix P5 (95% argon; 5% methane)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 10 / 310 cf cylinders
Due Date: As requested*
Deliver To: CCEHBR or HML as directed

Item 0003: Nitrogen
Description: Ultra High Purity (5) Nitrogen (99.999%)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 4 / 279cf cylinders
Due Date: As requested*
Deliver To: CCEHBR or HML as directed

Item 0004: Argon
Description: Ultra High Purity Argon (99.999%)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 6 / 302 cf cylinders
Due Date: As requested*
Delivery To: CCEHBR or HML as directed

Item 0005: Liquid Argon
Description: Liquid Argon (99.996%)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 13 / 4864 cf dewars
Due Date: As requested*
Deliver To: HML

Item 0006: Compressed Air
Description: Air, Compressed (Breathing Quality, 99.5%)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 3 / 310 cf cylinder
Due Date: As requested*
Deliver To: CCEHBR or HML as directed

Item 0007: Liquid Helium
Description: Liquid Helium (Non-magnetic)
Estimated Quantity per Year/Volume of Gas: 4 / 30 liter dewar
Due Date: As requested*
Deliver To: CCEHBR or HML as directed

Item 0008: Bulk Facility Cryogenic Nitrogen and Rental of a 900 gallon tank
Description: Nitrogen (at least 99.998%) and 900 gallon tank capable of holding and delivering nitrogen
Due Date: Scheduled delivery of every 2 weeks to ensure adequate pressure remains in the nitrogen tank
Delivery To: Tank to be installed at CCEHBR

*Items to be delivered within 7 days of receiving a formal request.

Delivery Addresses:

Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR)
219 Fort Johnson Road
Charleston, SC 29412

Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML)
331 Fort Johnson Road
Charleston, SC 29412

Delivery must be made during regular loading dock hours (8:00 AM until 4:30 PM) and must be signed for by the Facility's receiving staff.

The C&A requirements of clause 73 do not apply and that a Security Accreditation Package is not required.

The following provisions and clauses apply to this solicitation:
FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (NOV 2007) with addenda:
CAR 1352.215-73 Inquiries (MAR 2000)
CAR 1352.233-71 Service of Protests (MAR 2000) {Fill-in: Department of Commerce, NOAA, ERAD, Attn: Margaret Rankin, 200 Granby Street, 8th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510}
FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items (MAY 2008). NOTE: Offerors may include paragraph (b) through (k) with quote OR enter electronically at https://orca.bpn.gov/ and submit paragraph (l) with quote.
FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (FEB 2007), with addenda:
FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999)
FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000)
FAR 52.223-3 Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data (JAN 1997), Alternate I (July 1995)
CAR 1352.201-70 Contracting Officer's Authority (MAR 2000)
CAR 1352.208-70 Printing (MAR 2000)
CAR 1352.209-73 Compliance With The Laws (MAR 2000)
CAR 1352.215-70 Period of Performance (MAR 2000) a. The period of performance of this contract is from August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009. If additional terms are provided for, the period of performance shall be extended through the end of that term. b. The term periods that may be exercised are as follows: option period one 08/01/2009 - 07/31/2010, option period two 08/01/2010 - 07/31/2011, option period three 08/01/2011 - 07/31/2012, and option period four 08/01/2012 - 07/31/2013.
CAR 1352.216-70 Contract Type (MAR 2000) This is a firm-fixed price type contract for supplies. It consists of a twelve-month base period from August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009 and four twelve-month option periods.
CAR 1352.233-70 Harmless From Liability (MAR 2000)
CAR 1352.252-71 Regulatory Notice (MAR 2000)
FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (MAY 2008) {Fill-in: Part B, Check items 1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, and 36}

In order to comply with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, ALL CONTRACTORS must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) to be considered for an award of a Federal contract. For information regarding registration in CCR, contact the CCR website at www.ccr.gov/index.cfm. Additionally, each offeror must obtain, and provide with the quote, their nine-digit Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number.

All responsible sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Offers must be submitted in writing to the Eastern Region Acquisition Division, 200 Granby Street, Room 815, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 by 12:00 pm EST on Friday, June 13, 2008. Offers may be faxed to 757-664-3655 or sent electronically to Sandie.Wallace@noaa.gov. Anticipated award date is on or about Tuesday, July 8, 2008. Contractors are encouraged to register with the FedBizOpps Vendor Notification Service. Potential offerors may direct all inquiries pertaining to the solicitation in writing to Sandie Wallace at Sandie.Wallace@noaa.gov or faxed to 757-664-3655. Telephonic requests will not be honored.