SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MICROFABRICATED ATOMIC CLOCKS
- Notice Date
- 10/19/2005
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mountain Administrative Support Center, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, CO, 80305-3328
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Point of Contact
- Kelly Rima, Purchasing Agent, Phone 303-497-3779, Fax 303-497-3163,
- E-Mail Address
-
Kelly.Rima@noaa.gov
- Description
- The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Time and Frequency Division proposes to negotiate on a sole source basis under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) with the University of Notre Dame for the development of advanced microfabricated atomic clocks. The NIST Optical Frequency Measurements group has a program on chip-scale atomic clocks (CSAC) to design, build and characterize miniature vapor-cell atomic frequency references based on fabrication techniques traditionally used in the field of microelectronics and micro-electric-mechanical systems (MEMS). The NIST Optical Frequency Measurements group is currently building structures that are the size of a grain of rice (V < 10 mm3) and could run on an AA battery (dissipate < 75 mW). These atomic clocks are stable enough that they neither gain nor lose more than ten millionths of a second over the course of one day and are paving the way for atomic-level timekeeping in portable, battery-operated systems such as global positioning receivers and wireless communications. The specific tasks to be carried out by the Notre Dame researchers will be as follows: 1. Construction of a chip-scale atomic clock physics package based on existing NIST technology with a size below 20 mm3, a power dissipation below 100 mW and a fractional frequency instability below 10-11 at one hour of integration. This task is expected to be carried out in close collaboration with researchers at the NIST-Boulder facility. 2. Evaluation of the performance of chip-scale atomic clock devices developed by NIST with regard to long-term frequency instability, power dissipation and reliability. 3. Implementation of chip-scale atomic clock physics package designs modified based on the evaluation of initial structures to achieve lower power dissipation and improved long-term frequency stability. Because of the advanced and collaborative nature of the work, the contractor must be familiar with the following: 1. Design, fabrication and testing of alkali vapor cells based on lithographically-defined structures etched in Silicon wafers. 2. Assembly of vertically-integrated atomic clock structures based on microfabricated vapor cells including knowledge of relevant bonding techniques, alignment processes and thermo-mechanical properties of the structural components. 3. Control parameters affecting the long-term stability of chip-scale atomic frequency references. 4. Operational details of microfabricated atomic clock physics packages including the connection between changes in the cell fabrication process and changes in the long-term frequency instability of the atomic clocks. 5. The use of coherent population trapping in the implementation of compact atomic frequency references and the knowledge of optical pumping techniques in atomic physics. The research group at the University of Notre Dame is uniquely qualified in this area as demonstrated by the collaborative research throughout the last two years. The contract period is December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2006. This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100K). This synopsis is issued for information only. No competitive solicitation is planned. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether or not use of competitive procedures to fulfill this requirement would be in the Government's best interest and must address qualifications pertinent to this requirement. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing to the attention of Ms. Rima (e-mail preferred). Anticipated award date is November 1, 2005. NOTE: THIS NOTICE MAY HAVE POSTED ON WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (19-OCT-2005). IT ACTUALLY APPEARED OR REAPPEARED ON THE FEDBIZOPPS SYSTEM ON 15-NOV-2005, BUT REAPPEARED IN THE FTP FEED FOR THIS POSTING DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/MASC/NB847060021KAR/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00932575-F 20051117/051115213002 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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