SAM #142082-26-0361

NOAA Sole Source Procurement of Proton/NEL HOGEN Series 3 Hydrogen Generators

NOAA's National Logistics Support Center requires replacement hydrogen gas generators for weather balloon operations. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Acquisition and Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Kansas City - National Logistics Support Center, Grandview, MO - OEM Highlight: - Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL Hydrogen) is the sole manufacturer and distributor - Products Requested: - HOGEN Series 3 Replacement Generators (S10 and S20 models) - Proton/NEL S20 hydrogen gas generator platform (Series 2 and Series 3) - Quantities and part numbers are not specified in the summary - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Generators must be compatible with NOAA's Upper Air Inflation Buildings and existing hydrogen generation/storage systems - Embedded control software required for operational compatibility - NOAA field support personnel are trained specifically for these units - Only Proton/NEL products meet NOAA's operational, physical, and software requirements without significant risk or cost - No alternative OEMs or vendors are considered due to standardization and support needs

Description

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Kansas City intends to negotiate and award a purchase order, on a sole source basis, under authority of RFO FAR 6.103-1, with Proton Energy Systems in Wallingford, CT for HOGEN Series 3 Replacement Generators (S10 and S20) to be delivered to the National Logistics Support Center in Grandview, MO.

The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s Sole Source Justification.  The National Weather Service (NWS), under NOAA, operates and maintains a network of Upper Air (UA) observing stations with some sites that rely on on-site hydrogen generation and storage systems to support routine weather balloon launches. These stations are standardized on the Proton/NEL S20 hydrogen gas generator platform, specifically the Series 2 and Series 3 models, manufactured and distributed exclusively by Proton Energy Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of NEL Hydrogen. This standardization is critical to maintaining consistency, reliability, and operational efficiency across the national network.

The Proton/NEL S20 generator has a unique footprint and performance profile that is fully compatible with the physical and functional design of the existing Upper Air Inflation Buildings. It meets the generation requirements necessary to support balloon launches and maintain up to a 350-gallon (200psig) tank of on-site hydrogen storage. These characteristics are not only important from an operational standpoint but also avoid the need for costly modifications to NOAA facilities or significant disruptions to ongoing meteorological operations.

Equally important is the software integration associated with these systems. The control software for the generators is embedded directly into the HOGEN units themselves, and support personnel at the Sterling Field Support Center (SFSC) are trained and equipped to interface specifically with this system. If NOAA were to deploy a different hydrogen generation system, SFSC would be unable to provide technical support or troubleshooting assistance, as they do not have access to compatible software platforms for alternative units. This lack of interoperability would represent a significant gap in field support and reduce system availability.

Given these factors, including the need for physical and software compatibility, standardized operations, and uninterrupted field support, the Proton/NEL S20 hydrogen generator is the only known product capable of meeting NOAA’s requirements without incurring significant risk or cost.

This pre-solicitation notice is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government’s requirements may submit substantiating documentation or a request for additional information in writing to Abigail Green within 15 days after publication of this pre-solicitation notice. Such requests and documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this pre-solicitation notice.

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