NIST Administrative Manual, Subchapter 2.04
Transmittal Date - 8/10/06

STOREROOM SERVICES

Sections

2.04.01  Purpose

2.04.02  Scope

2.04.03  Policy

2.04.04  Delegation of Authority

2.04.05  Storeroom Operation

2.04.06  Storeroom Customer Services

2.04.07  Cryogenic Liquids

2.04.08  Stocked Compressed Gases

2.04.09  Non-Stock Compressed Gases and Liquids (Special Order)

2.04.10  Cylinder Return and Demurrage/Rental Charges

2.04.11  Return/Exchange of Stock
 

2.04.01
PURPOSE
This subchapter describes services, supplies, and equipment provided by the NIST-Gaithersburg storerooms.
 

2.04.02
SCOPE
The provisions of this subchapter apply to NIST-Gaithersburg.  Information on the NOAA Corporate Finance and Administrative Services Offices operated storerooms for NIST-Boulder is available at the following website: http://www.masc.noaa.gov/.
 

2.04.03
POLICY
The Logistics Group, Administrative Services Division, orders and stocks supplies for which there are recurring demands.  The code of Federal Regulations, Title 41, Chapter 101, Federal Property Management Regulations, Subchapter E, Supply and Procurement, specifies the criteria used in determining which items are stocked in the storerooms.  These criteria include demand or rate of use, shelf life, and price advantage.
 

2.04.04
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
Authority to operate the NIST storerooms has been delegated to the Chief, Administrative Services Division.  This authority includes the receipt and acceptance of stock, authorization of payments, establishment of appropriate inventory management records, stocking, issuing, performing physical inventories, and deleting and requisitioning replenishment stock.
 

2.04.05
STOREROOM OPERATION
To meet the various demands of the NIST staff, the Administrative Services Division operates the Main Storeroom in Building 301 at Gaithersburg.

In addition, the Fabrication Technology Division operates a metals storeroom.  The NIST storerooms stock a wide variety of items including electronics, tools and hardware, electrical, plumbing, metals and chemistry items, office supplies, building materials, compressed gases, forms, and letterhead.  Storeroom Hours are Monday – Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm (Closed from 12 to 1pm for lunch).

a.  301 Self-Service Storeroom - Customers are free to walk through the self-service storeroom and select items for purchase.  The customer brings the selected items to the checkout counter, before leaving the storeroom, and provides the storekeeper with the project task number and, when applicable, work order numbers.  A receipt is given to each customer.

(1) Telephone, On-Line, and Mail Orders – All  telephone, on-line, and mail orders are filled at the 301 Storeroom.  For cryogenic liquids and compressed gases, hazardous material, see Sections 2.04.07 and 2.04.08 for instructions on ordering cryogenic liquids and compressed gases.

(a) Telephone Orders - Customers can telephone the Building 301 Storeroom and request material.  This service includes delivery to the customer.  Name, telephone number, project task number, stock number/description of item required, quantity, and delivery information (building and room) are required to fill an order.  Orders are pulled and issued within 2 – 3 days of order.

(b) On-Line Orders  - Customers may submit orders on-line using our catalog, which is available at the following website:
http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/fsd/Logistics/stcatalog/storeroom_welcome_new.shtml

(c) Mail Orders - Customers can send Form NIST-293, Storeroom Requisition, to the Logistics Group to request delivery of stocked items.  Form NIST-293 is filled by storeroom staff and delivered to the delivery point listed on Form NIST-293.

Form NIST-293 must include stock number(s), description of ordered item(s), quantity ordered, project task, and delivery information (name, building, telephone and room number).

b.  Metals Storeroom (Building 304), The Metals Storeroom stocks a variety of metals and plastics.  This is not a self-service storeroom; customers must complete Form NIST-293 to purchase stocked items. Customers must provide a project task, a work order number (as applicable), stock number, and dimensions as required on Form NIST-293.  Except for unusually large orders, this service is provided while the customer waits.  Storeroom staff are available to provide advice and assistance about the various metals and plastics stocked.  Telephone orders are accepted.  Customers must provide a project task, stock number, dimensions of piece required, name, and telephone number.  Delivery is not provided; customers must pick up their orders when complete.
 

2.04.06
STOREROOM CUSTOMER SERVICES
a.  Staff from the Logistics Group meet regularly with storeroom customers to discuss customer suggestions, concerns and problems with new, current, and deleted storeroom items.  Interested NIST employees can assist the staff of the Logistics Group in evaluating stocked items for specific purposes.  The Logistics Group has established Commodity Committee panels for the following commodities: electronics, tools and hardware, electrical, plumbing, building materials and metals, and office supplies.  A memorandum or e-mail indicating interest in participating on a panel can be sent to the Logistics Group.  A schedule of Commodity Committee meetings is available upon request.

b.  A catalog of items maintained in the NIST storerooms is available at the following website: http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/fsd/Logistics/stcatalog/storeroom_welcome_new.shtml

c.  An employee or organizational unit can recommend that a new item be added to the storeroom by submitting Form NIST-42, Suggestion for New Item in Storeroom, or by sending a memorandum to the Logistics Group.  Form NIST-42 is available in the Building 30l Storeroom and at the following website: http://www-i.nist.gov/admforms_online.htm. Each request for a new item is evaluated in accordance with Section 2.04.03 and must contain the following information:

 --Description of item (attach literature, if available);
--A potential vendor or manufacturer’s name and part number;
--The monthly usage in the requestor’s office;
--The advantage to NIST, if the item is stocked in the storerooms (i.e., price advantage);
--Other organizational units at NIST that would benefit from the item being stocked in the storerooms;
--Information on whether other stock items should be discontinued as a result of stocking the new item;
--The requester’s name, organizational unit number, and telephone extension.
 

2.04.07
CRYOGENIC LIQUIDS
a.  Liquid Nitrogen - The Logistics Group maintains a 6,500-liter storage container of Liquid Nitrogen in the back of the Building 301 Storeroom. The staff of the Logistics Group transfer the liquid from the bulk tank to small dewars used at NIST.  Dewars belong to organizational units and/or the storeroom.  To minimize storage problems and the number of liquid nitrogen dewars held in the container pool, users should empty and return storeroom-owned containers as quickly as possible.  Users should place orders with the Building 301 Storeroom.  Regular, recurring orders (standing orders) can be set up for automatic delivery by contacting the Building 301 Storeroom.  Organizational unit-owned dewars in safe condition will be filled; those that cannot be filled and/or delivered safely will not be filled until repaired or replaced by the owning organizational unit.

b.  Liquid Helium - Liquid helium is provided by an independent contractor.  Users may place orders with the Building 301 Storeroom.  All orders should be placed by 11:30 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday call x6052 to ensure next-day delivery.  Orders for next-day delivery not placed within these timeframes cannot be guaranteed for next-day delivery, and, if delivered, the contractor may impose additional charges.  Regular, recurring orders (standing orders) can be set up for automatic delivery by contacting the Building 301 Storeroom.  To minimize storage problems and minimize rental/demurrage costs, users should empty and return containers as quickly as possible.
 

2.04.08
STOCKED COMPRESSED GASES
a.  Cylinders of stocked compressed gases can be ordered from the Building 301 Storeroom by telephone x6349, on-line at http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/fsd/Logistics/stcatalog/storeroom_welcome_new.shtml, or by submitting Form NIST-293.

b.  Cylinders are delivered to the loading dock/receiving areas of each building and users pick up from that point.  Cylinders can only be delivered if storage rack areas are available in order to secure the cylinders.  To keep the number of cylinders stored in the loading dock/receiving areas to a minimum and thus reduce safety hazards, cylinders that remain in the receiving areas over thirty (30) days will be picked up and returned to the Building 301 Storeroom for reissue.  Customers will not be credited for returned cylinders.
 

2.04.09
NON-STOCKED COMPRESSED GASES AND LIQUIDS (SPECIAL ORDER)
a.  Customers order special cylinders through the Acquisition Management Division.  Delivery is made to the main receiving area in Building 301 where the cylinders are recorded and then delivered by the Logistics Group staff.  Cylinders can only be delivered if storage rack areas are available in order to secure the cylinders.  To keep the number of cylinders stored in the loading dock/receiving areas of each building to a minimum and thus reduce safety hazards, those cylinders that remain unclaimed in the loading dock/receiving areas over thirty (30) days are subject to being picked up and returned.  Customers are not credited for returned special-order cylinders.  Customers should ensure that cylinders are claimed within thirty (30) days, or place a note with a current date or a note indicating the date by when the cylinder will be used in order to justify continued storage.

b.  These cylinders carry a rental/demurrage charge.  In order to minimize these charges, it is important that organizational units track the cylinders in their possession and that they return them to the loading dock/receiving areas, cylinder rack as soon as they are empty and no longer needed.  This will allow the Logistics Group to make arrangements to have them returned to the contractor so no additional demurrage or rental charges will be incurred.  In most cases, gases requiring special handling and customer signature because of their high toxicity or other special characteristics will be delivered by the outside contractor directly to the end user.  If these cylinders are only partially used and/or require special handling when the end user is finished using them, the end user must contact the Building 301 Storeroom (x6052) to make arrangements for pick up.
 

2.04.10
CYLINDER RETURN AND DEMURRAGE/RENTAL CHARGES
a.  Compressed-gas cylinders not owned by NIST carry a rental or demurrage charge that accrues daily.  When no longer required, these cylinders should be returned promptly to the loading dock/receiving areas cylinder racks for pick-up to avoid continued accrual of these charges.  The cylinders should be placed in the EMPTY racks marked for cylinders to be returned.  Customers must secure cylinders in the racks properly, ensuring that cylinder valves are closed and that caps are properly affixed.

b.  Cylinders owned by NIST should be returned promptly to the loading dock/receiving areas and placed in the EMPTY cylinder racks for pick up so that they can be refilled and issued.  Customers must secure cylinders in the racks properly, ensuring that cylinder valves are closed and that caps are properly affixed.  Company owned cylinders are marked and NIST-owned cylinders are tagged with a NIST sticker or have NIST stenciled on them.
 

2.04.11
RETURN/EXCHANGE OF STOCK
Items that are in new condition and active in the storeroom system may be exchanged or returned to the storerooms for credit.  The original receipt must accompany the item.


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5/2008