NASA Awards Helium Contract

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has selected five companies to provide
liquid and gaseous helium for 17 agency locations, including centers
and facilities.

This new fixed-price requirements contract with economic price
adjustment is for the acquisition of approximately 12.5 million
liters of liquid helium and 235.7 million standard cubic feet of
gaseous helium during a five-year period of performance starting Oct.
1. It has a maximum potential value of approximately $56.5 million.
The awardees are:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. of Allentown, Pa., has been awarded
about $18.7 million of the base contract plus options.

Linde LLC of Murray Hill, N.J., has been awarded $80,000 of the base
contract plus options.

Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., of Basking Ridge, N.J., has been awarded $3.8
million of the base contract plus options.

Praxair Distribution Inc. of Austin, Texas, has been awarded $553,000
of the base contract plus options.

Praxair Inc. of Danbury, Conn., has been awarded $33.4 million of the
base contract plus options.

NASA uses helium as a cryogenic agent for cooling various materials,
precision welding applications, lab use, as an inert purge gas for
hydrogen systems, and as a pressurizing agent for the space shuttle's
ground and flight fluid systems.

The total period of performance for all awards is five years, with a
three-year base period plus two one-year options. The base contract
period ends Sept. 30, 2012. Option 1 would extend the contract is
from Oct. 1, 2012, to Sept. 30, 2013. Option 2 would extend the
contract from Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014.

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is responsible for the
acquisition of helium on behalf of the agency.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov