Helium-3 Auction in Summer 2013
Bidding is Now Closed for this Auction. Additional Submittals Will Not be Considered.
General Information
The U.S. Department of Energy (Department) participates in government-wide
assessments of Helium-3 required for federal missions. Because numerous important
activities requiring Helium-3 are outside of the federal mission, the Department
has identified 4,000 liters of purified Helium-3 gas for competitive sale.
The Department wishes to sell the Helium-3 to multiple Bidders who submit high
bids in a competitive process. Bidders may submit bids on amounts up to the
4,000-liter maximum available. Each bid shall designate only one lot of gas.
Each lot shall be designated in 25-liter multiples up to 100 liters, or in
100-liter multiples for lots larger than 100 liters. Each accepted bid will
be considered up to a 400-liter initial award. If any Helium-3 remains after
all initial awards are completed, then remaining gas will be awarded to highest
bids larger than 400 liters, if any.
Stakeholders whose Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Helium-3 needs will be met by the
federal allocation process, or who submitted requests for Helium-3 gas through a
U.S. federal agency in anticipation of participating in the FY 2014 federal
allocation process, should not participate in this auction.
Schedule
August 9, 2013
DOE's Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the purchase of He-3 gas is
scheduled to be posted for viewing and downloading from this web page.
August 23, 2013 (5:00 PM EDT) Questions are No Longer Being Accepted for this Solicitation.
Last time for questions regarding the Auction. All questions must be submitted to
He3auction@science.doe.gov by this deadline.
August 28, 2013 (5:00 PM EDT)
DOE will respond to all submitted questions, and post the answers on this web page.
The identity of the stakeholder posing the question will be kept anonymous and
will not be posted on the website.
September 17, 2013 (5:00 PM EDT) Bidding is Now Closed for this Auction. Additional Submittals Will Not be Considered.
All valid bids to purchase Helium-3 gas must be received by the U.S. Department of
Energy no later than 5 PM, local prevailing time (Washington, DC). All valid bids
to purchase Helium-3 gas must be submitted as a cover letter and completed order
form (below) and sent electronically by email to
He3auction@science.doe.gov. A confirmation of receipt will be sent
electronically the next business day. Bids will not be accepted via U.S.
Postal Service mail.
More Information
He-3 Auction Bid Solicitation
Notice and Bid Submittal Provisions
Feb Biz Opps Announcement:
"Invitation for Bids to Purchase Helium-3 Gas"
He-3 Auction Overview from US DOE
Isotope Program
He-3 Order Form (MS Word)
He-3 Order Form (PDF)
Questions on He-3 Auction
Answers to all submitted questions on the He-3 Auction Invitation for Bids will be
posted here. The deadline for submitting questions is 5:00 pm EDT, August 23, 2013;
all answers will be posted by 5:00 pm EDT, August 28, 2013.
Questions and Answers
Q1. What are some examples of lot sizes that comply with the provisions
of the Helium-3 Auction Solicitation?
A1. Smaller bids that comply with the Solicitation would include bids
that designate a lot of 25, 50, 75, or 100 liters. Larger bids that comply with
the Solicitation would include lots sizes of 200, 400 or 4,000 liters. Noncompliant
lot-size examples include 20, 85, 125, and 650 liters.
Q2. May bids be submitted designating multiple lots?
A2. No. Each bid may designate only one single lot and one bid price.
However, a Bidder may submit multiple bids.