TEAD - Helium Inspection Services

What they want

• Helium leak testing of 100 newly built one-metric-ton containers, plus a retest line for 10 in case of failure
• Install a custom 3-inch NPT test plug in each container and pressurize it to 15.0 PSIG (pounds per square inch gauge) plus or minus 0.2 psi with a helium mixture of at least 50% helium
• Run pressure hold checks (readings at start, 5 minutes and 35 minutes; pressure may not drop 0.1 psi or more) and scan all welds and seals with a calibrated leak detector
• A container passes only if helium detection is below 1.0E-5 std cm3/sec after correction for gas concentration
• Submit a Leak Test Inspection Procedure before work starts, a final report listing every container serial number with pass/fail, and the detector's calibration certificate
• Provide all personnel, helium gas, calibrated detector, test plug, pressure gage, hoses, regulators, fittings and vehicles; the government supplies the containers, a forklift and operator, facilities and utilities
• Report contractor labor hours in SAM.gov each year under the Service Contract Report requirement

What they'll judge offers on

• Price: total evaluated price of the whole pricing matrix (each unit price times the listed quantity). Technical approach and past performance are not evaluated

What to include when you submit

• Complete every blue cell of the Pricing Matrix (Attachment 0001, Excel) without altering the locked matrix; prices in U.S. dollars to two decimal places
• Quote all items; award is all or none, and an incomplete matrix may make the quote ineligible
• The submitted quote must contain working formulas; quotes without them may be eliminated
• Include the proposed Work Plan (Deliverable A.001) and the quality control plan (QCP: how you check your own work, Deliverable A.002) with the quote
• Put the company name in every file name, for example: TEAD - FY27 Helium Leak Inspection Services - RFQ - Price Matrix - Company Name
• Use the email subject format: TEAD - FY27 Helium Leak Inspection Services - RFQ - Company Name
• Send files in English as Microsoft Word or Excel, virus-checked first
• Acknowledge receipt of any amendment by the date and time it sets and in the quote
• Quotes stay valid for 60 days after the RFQ closes
• Confirm that the government received your email by the response due date
• Make sure your CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is current

After award, you must have

• Installation access and local background checks for all employees who work on the depot; the contractor must replace anyone with an unfavorable result

Current contractor

No incumbent is named; the RFQ calls this a new firm-fixed-price commercial order.

Not in the notice text

• The pricing matrix (Attachment 0001) and the questions-and-answers spreadsheet are attached but not read, so line items, units of issue and answers to bidder questions are not shown here. Check them on SAM.gov.
• Part of the middle of the PWS and of the clauses attachment (environmental and clause text) was cut from the text read here.
• The security level (DD Form 254) and any facility clearance needed are not stated.
• The PWS attachments (performance requirements summary, deliverables schedule, inspection checklist) are listed but not included in the text read.
• Whether holding the CHESS ITES-3H blanket purchase agreement is required to quote is not stated.
• Quantity unit of issue is not given in the text read (100 containers plus a 10-container retest line).