SOURCES SOUGHT
68 -- LIQUID NITROGEN FOR THE NATIONAL TRANSONIC FACILITY
- Notice Date
- 2/20/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- SS-LN2-2nd
- Archive Date
- 2/20/2004
- Point of Contact
- Roberta I Hollifield, Contracting Officer, Phone (757) 864-2521, Fax (757) 864-6966, Email r.i.hollifield@larc.nasa.gov - David H. Jones, Contracting Officer, Phone (757) 864-2421, Fax (757) 864-8863, Email D.H.JONES@larc.nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Roberta I Hollifield
(r.i.hollifield@larc.nasa.gov)
- Description
- Note that a previous sources sought synopsis for Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) for the National Transonic Facility was posted May 15, 2002. (SS-LN2) Due to a possibility that NASA, Langley Research Center may be able to provide on-site housing for Contractor LN2 production, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is hereby soliciting additional information from potential sources to provide Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) on or after April 1, 2004 for use in the National Transonic Facility, a research wind tunnel at LaRC and the 0.3m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. The following is a description of these facilities, NASA's LN2 requirements, and historical usage: The National Transonic Facility (NTF) and the 0.3M Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3M-TCT) are closed circuit, fan driven cryogenic pressure wind tunnels. The both operate at cryogenic temperatures by injecting LN2 in to the tunnel circuit. More information about these facilities can be found at www.larc.nasa.gov or http://wte.larc.nasa.gov . The NTF has two large capacity on-site LN2 storage dewars. The small size LN2 storage dewar (built in 1979) can hold approximately 800 tons of LN2 and the large size dewar (built in 1997) can hold 3000 tons of LN2. Both dewars are constantly maintained at a positive pressure (~5psig) and require a minimum liquid level of 6% for the 800 ton dewar and 2% for the 3000 ton dewar. The 3000 ton dewar provides the main LN2 storage for the NTF. This dewar receives LN2 directly from an off-site commercial LN2 production facility via an external 4.0 inch ID vacuum jacketed pipeline. The 800 ton dewar is the NTF "Run" dewar and provides all LN2 prior to injection into the tunnel. The NTF can empty this dewar at a maximum rate of 32.4 tons per minute (9400 gallons per minute (GPM)), using three different size LN2 pumps. This dewar is primarily filled by a pipeline coming directly from the 3000 ton dewar at a maximum rate of 4.2 tons per minute (1250 GPM). Additionally, the 800 ton dewar can receive LN2 directly from an off-site commercial LN2 production facility via an external 4.0 inch ID vacuum jacketed pipeline (however, this pipeline typically is used to supply the 3000 ton dewar). There are also four trucking off-loading stations capable of filling the 800 ton dewar at 0.84 tons per minute (250 GPM). The 0.3M TCT has two on-site 94 ton LN2 storage dewars. These storage dewars (built in 1960, modified in 1990) are maintained at a positive pressure (~10 psig) and have no required minimum liquid level. These dewars are primarily filled directly from an off-site commercial LN2 production facility via an external 2.0 inch ID vacuum jacketed pipeline. There is also one truck off loading station capable of filling the 94 ton dewars at 0.34 tons per minute (100 GPM). NTF Testing Scenario A typical test sequence will start on Monday (with 3800tons available on-site storage) and run through the following Friday using LN2. During this 5 day period the contractor will be required to replenish the NTF onsite storage at a delivery rate of 700ton/day. For the next 9 days (4 weekend days and 5 business days) the contractor will re-fill the NTF on-site storage (3800ton). The next Monday the NTF will start and run through the following Friday using LN2. During this 5 day period the contractor will be required to replenish the NTF onsite storage at a delivery rate of 700ton/day. Below is a table of the NTF's historical annual usage of LN2: FY-Year LN2 (tons) LN2 (gallons) 1991 41,773 12,386,360 1992 46,014 13,643,884 1993 57,051 16,916,531 1994 56,372 16,715,196 1994 63,765 18,907,339 1996 73,696 21,852,039 1997 48,613 14,414,529 1998 36,837 10,922,758 1999 63,689 18,884,804 2000 30,262 8,973,165 2001 60,136 17,831,282 2002 42,271 12,534,025 Avg. 51,707 15,331,949 Table 1 - NTF Historical LN2 Usage LN2 Conversions from gallons (gal) to pounds (lb) One (1) gallon of LN2 = 6.745 pounds, One (1) ton = 2000 pounds Required Amount of LN2 Delivery Based on the desired NTF testing scenario the Contractor shall provide 700tons/day for five consecutive days. It is conceivable that the actual demand per day will vary depending on the type of testing conducted at the NTF. This variation will allow the contractor to supply more LN2 per day if available or as a method to avoid losses during delivery. A SITE VISIT AT THE NATIONAL TRANSONIC FACILITY WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR INTERESTED PARTIES ON March 10, 2003 AT 10:00AM. Visitors shall meet at NASA, Langley Research Center at the front door of Building 1236. TO ATTEND YOU MUST PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO r.i.hollifield@larc.nasa.gov NO LATER THAN 3 March 2003 (Due to security issues, only U.S. Citizens will be allowed to attend): ? YOUR FULL NAME ? THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY ? YOUR COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP ? YOUR BUSINESS ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER (Note: You will need to provide a photo ID when you pick up your visitor badge at the NASA Langley badge and pass office. Please arrive at the badge and pass office no later than 9:30am to ensure adequate processing time for your visitor badge.) ALL INTERESTED SOURCES ARE REQUESTED TO RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING BY 4:30 PM ON 17 March 2003: 1. For those firms that did not provide brochures of their capability in response to the last sources sought synopsis, please provide brochures or a capability statement that details your experience in providing LN2 in quantities similar to those in NASA Langley's requirement description. It is requested that any capability statement developed specifically in response to this request be limited to no more than three pages. There is no page limitation on existing brochures on your firm, but you are requested to limit the submission of such brochures to those that are directly applicable to this requirement. Please provide four (4) copies of all materials requested in this paragraph. 2. How could the lowest cost of LN2 to the government be achieved - off-site production, on-site production, or a combination of the two? 3. There is a possibility of housing LN2 production equipment within existing on-site structures. What on-site structures, space, and resource (e.g. power, water, staff) requirements would be necessary for production and storage? 4. What would be a cost effective delivery/production rate to match current standard production capabilities (i.e. if 700 tons per day is not practical, what is?). 5. How long would it take to reach 50% capacity for meeting delivery requirements? 100% capacity? 6. How would the ability to sell excess nitrogen and other by-products affect the cost of LN2 to the Government? 7. What is the preferable process and minimum notification lead-time needed for placing a delivery order for LN2 (of up to 700 tons per day, or, if different, practical delivery rate from Question 2)? 8. How would an option for the Government to purchase the LN2 production equipment at the end of the contract affect your company's proposal? No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Responses must include the following: name and address of firm; number of employees; ownership; number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phone number). Questions should be directed to Roberta I. Hollifield, the Contract Specialist. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. All responses shall be submitted to Roberta I. Hollifield no later than 17 March, 2003 In responding reference SS-LN2-2nd. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html
- Web Link
-
Click here for the latest information about this notice
(http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=23#104446)
- Record
- SN00262423-W 20030222/030220213713 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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