SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Optical Frequency Comb
- Notice Date
- 8/31/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-1640
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1640
- Solicitation Number
- SB1341-05-Q-0993
- Response Due
- 9/12/2005
- Archive Date
- 9/13/2005
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6-streamlined procedures for evaluation and solicitation for commercial items-as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR Subpart 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued. This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-05. The Solicitation number is SB1341-05-Q-0993. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516 with a small business size standard of 500 employees. This procurement is a total small business set-aside. THE TWO (2) CONTRACT LINE ITEMS FOR THIS RFQ, AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM, ARE AS FOLLOWS: ITEM NO. 0001, SYSTEM THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS ALL MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS BELOW; QUANTITY: 1; UNIT: EACH. MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR ITEM NO. 0001: The U. S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland required an optical frequency comb system to be used for optical frequency metrology, providing a comb of optical frequencies at multiples of the frequency of a radio frequency (RF) reference (at nominally 10 MHz). Note: the RF reference source is not part of this procurement, but all other components necessary to generate a stabilized comb of optical frequencies are required. 1. The comb system shall be capable of providing optical frequencies, at integer multiples of the reference frequency, with uncertainties at the 10 to the minus 12 level or better for averaging times in excess of 1 second (s). (This assumes that NIST provides a correspondingly stable and accurate 10 Megahertz (MHz) RF reference.). 2. The system shall include a mode locked femtosecond (fs) laser along with all optical, optoelectronic, and electronic components needed for stabilization of the carrier offset frequency and stabilization of the repetition rate. 3. The basic femtosecond laser, along with an included pulse compressor, should be capable of providing pulses with less than 100 fs width at an average power in excess of 160 milliwatt (mW). 4. The carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency will be stabilized via a self-referencing technique, in conjunction with generation of an octave-spanning output, a frequency to twice the frequency (f to 2f) interferometer, and a servo system to control the CEO frequency. 5. The repetition rate of the laser (hence the spacing between individual frequencies of the output comb) shall exceed 90 MHz. 6. Mechanisms shall be provided for adjustment of the length of the laser cavity, so that the repetition rate may be changed by at least 0.2 MHz. It shall be possible to change the length of the reference cavity, make a corresponding change in the RF reference frequency, and re-establish locked operation (of the repetition rate and the CEO) without the need for additional adjustments of the system (such as realignment). 7. The system shall be capable of providing a source for frequency metrology in both the visible and near-IR regions of the spectrum: 7a. The octave-broadened output of the laser shall cover a range of 1000 nm to 2000 nm. (The exact values are not important: the two end points may differ from these values by as much as 15 %.) 7b: Second-harmonic generation shall be included to provide a frequency-doubled output in the visible, giving an output that can be adjusted over the spectral range from 530 nm to 700 nm. Within this spectral range, the second-harmonic output shall be capable of providing a power exceeding 30 nanowatt (nW) per comb element (that is, 30 nW per frequency component). ITEM NO. 0002, ACCEPTANCE TESTING OF ITEM NO. 0001: Within seven days after delivery of the system to NIST, the Contractor shall send a representative to NIST to set up the system for acceptance testing and then perform acceptance testing in the presence of the NIST COTR to demonstrate that the system at least meets all specifications. The COTR and, if applicable, their designees, may also verify that the system is capable of generating a comb of stable frequencies when locked to an appropriate RF source. Frequency differences between a comb component and a NIST stabilized laser will be observed by the COTR to verify that the system establishes a servolock. The stability of the servolock will be tested by the COTR and, if applicable, their designees to confirm its stability to at least specification #1 above. In addition, other aspects of the system will be tested and shall conform with specifications noted above. NIST will only accept Item No. 0001 and Item No. 0002 if Item No. 0001 meets or exceeds all specifications, as verified through acceptance testing procedures noted above. The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.204-7; 52.212-1; 52.212-3; 52.212-4; 52.212-5, including subparagraphs: 52.203-6; 52.219-6; 52.219-8; 52.219-14; 52.222-3; 52.222-19; 52.222-21; 52.222-26; 52.222-35; 52.222-36; 52.222-37; 52.225-13; 52.232-30; and 52.232-33. QUOTATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Offerors shall read FAR 52.212-1 and submit their quotation by email to Joseph.Widdup@nist.gov in accordance with paragraph (b) of that provision. Each quote shall include items (1) through (11) of FAR 52.212-1(b), TO INCLUDE PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION NOTED IN (10). SPECIFICATIONS MUST NOT INCLUDE ANY PRICING INFORMATION; PRICING MUST BE INCLUDED AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT FROM ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS. Quotes must be received at Joseph.Widdup@nist.gov by 12:000p.m. Eastern Time on September 12, 2005. If any portion of the quotation cannot be transmitted by email, then it may be faxed to Joseph Widdup at fax (301) 975-8884. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD NIST intends to award a purchase order to the Offeror whose quote represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government will evaluate quotations based on the following factors: (1) Extent to which the offered system meets or exceeds the minimum specifications listed in this RFQ; (2) Past Performance Information; and (3) Evaluated Price. Factors (1) and (2) are equally important and, when combined, are significantly more important than Factor (3). NOTE: Payments for Item No. 0001 will be made either (a) pursuant to FAR clause 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (which is incorporated by reference in clause 52.212-5 and applies to this acquisition) or (b) after the system is delivered and thereafter accepted. Pricing for Item No. 0001 and Item No. 0002 shall be based on this policy. QUESTIONS REGARDING RFQ All potential Offerors that wish to ask questions shall submit them in writing to joseph.widdup@nist.gov by Friday, September 2, 2005. NIST will provide written responses to all questions received by that date via an amendment to the solicitation no later than Wednesday, September 7, 2005. NIST will not guarantee responses to questions received after that date.
- Record
- SN00883514-W 20050902/050831211903 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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