NASA Langley Research Center, Bid Distribution Office, MS 126 Hampton, Va. 23681-0001

60 -- FIBER OPTICS MATERIAL SOL 1-084-DIH.1211 DUE 041596 POC Mary J. Corbitt, Contract Specialist, (804) 864-2434. Category 60 -- Fiber Optics Material -- SOL 1-084-DIH.1211 DUE 4-15-96 POC Mary J. Corbitt 804-864-2434 or e-mail m.j.corbitt@larc.nasa.gov. NASA Langley Research Center intends to procure the following goods or services subject to the Simplified Procurement Procedures. SPECIFICATION - Double Clad Neodymium Doped Optical Fiber: This procurement is for the acquisition of neodymium (Nd) doped double-clad optical fiber (DCOF) for use in developing an optical fiber amplifier and/or an optical fiber laser with an emission wavelength in the 940-945 nanometer (NM) region. The DCOF shall provide for efficient pumping at 810 NM and shall also provide sufficient gain at 940 NM so the fiber can be used as: 1) a single pass amplifier of injected CW or pulsed light in the 940-945 NM region, and 2) a multiple pass laser cavity emitting CW or pulsed light in the 940-945 NM region. Specifications: The double-clad optical fiber (DCOF) consists of several concentric layers: a) a circular central core doped with neodymium, b) a rectangular primary or first cladding, c) a circular second cladding, d) and any additional protective coatings. The following specifications cover each of these specific regions and shall be a consistent and integrated part of the deliverables to provide the function as described in the scope above. (The term ''X'' denotes specifications to be supplied by the bidder in response to satisfying the technical response of this procurement and will be used in the quantifying and qualifying the neodymium doped DCOF proposed by the bidder). A. Core of Double Clad Optical Fiber: 1) Shall be a high purity/MOCVD type material silica type glass fiber (Impurities ( ''X'' parts per million (PPM)). 2) Shall be silica with neodymium doped core with doping concentration in the range of 5000-10,000 PPM or higher or a doping concentration outside this range in which the bidder can supply evidence of better amplifier and/or laser performance at 940 nanometers. Bidder shall state what method they use to measure this doping concentration. 3) Shall have a core with co-dopant of aluminum of ''X'' PPM to reduce clustering of the neodymium in the DCOF, while, at the same time, not significantly reducing the fluorescence intensity at 940 NM, or shall supply an alternate doping technique to further enhance the fluorescence of the 940 NM spectral line and reduce the fluorescence of other spectral lines. 4) Germanium dopant shall be ''X'' PPM to facilitate the placement of optical fiber Bragg gratings in the DCOF or an alternate doping technique to be specified by the bidder. 5) Shall have minimal or no phosphorous doping, ( ''X'' PPM or other scheme to reduce the effects of phosphorous, namely that which reduces the fluorescence intensity in the 940 NM region of the optical spectra, to be specified by bidder. 6) Shall have core diameter of in the range of 4-6 micrometers or other dimension that can be substantiated by bidder to be a better choice. 7) Shall have cut off wavelength of less than 920 NM or other range in which the bidder can show that single spatial mode can be maintained. 8) Shall have a numerical aperture in the range of 0.15-.21 or a design in which the bidder can show leads to better overall performance of the fiber. 9) Shall have ''X'' core dopant profile (similar to that used erbium doped optical fiber amplifiers for telecommunications) or other doping profile that bidder can show that leads to better performance. Bidder shall state what the core dopant profile is and the method of measuring this profile. 10) The absorption at 810 NM of the neodymium doped core shall be in the range of 300-500 dB/meter or greater (or other number where the bidder can show that leads to sufficient absorption of the pump of a 10 meter length of fiber when the fiber is cladding pumped), while at the same time satisfying a fluorescence intensity at 940 NM which is great enough to support amplification and lasing as described in the introductory paragraph of this procurement. Bidder shall state the method by which they make an accurate measurement of the fluorescence of the optical fiber when pumped at 810 NM, and shall state the height of the fluorescence at 940 NM with respect to the fluorescence peak at 1060 NM, in dB. B. First Cladding of Double Clad Optical Fiber. 1) Shall have rectangular shape with dimensions in the range of 40-60 micrometers by 150-180 micrometers or other configuration that will improve optical pump power coupling and overall pumping efficiency of amplifier or laser design. 2) Shall be silica-type glass optical fiber with similar purity specifications as stated in the core, or other material that the bidder can show will provide better performance. 3) Shall have a numerical aperture in the range of 0.38-0.6 or a design in which the bidder can show leads to better optical power coupling into the core of the DCOF. C. Second Cladding of Double Clad Optical Fiber 1) Shall have circular shaped second clad of ''X'' micrometers diameter, which shall serve to confine the pump light in the first cladding. 2) Shall have soft silicone-type second clad or other suitable second clad material, whether ''hard'' or ''soft'', which shall be described in detail by bidder. D. Outer coating/buffer 1) Shall have a hard acrylic or polymer coating or other suitable coating/buffer which shall be described in detail by bidder. 2) Shall be ''X'' micrometers in diameter. F. Items to be supplied 1. Shall supply a total of 50 meters of neodymium doped DCOF as described above, and the associated data describing the optical fiber including: a) The fluorescence curves (when pumped at 810 NM) and absorption curves of the DCOF showing absorption and emission bands from 700 NM to 1200 NM. b) Data showing the neodymium dopant profile of the core shall be supplied. c) Data showing purity of silica fiber and associated values of significant dopants other than the ones specified above. d) Specifications relative to the amount of dopants placed in the core of the fiber (i.e. quantity in PPM per species). e) Data concerning the index of refraction of core, first clad and second clad the delivered fiber. f) Instructions/directions for polishing angles on ends of fiber, especially if a ''soft'' second cladding such as silicone is used. g) Instructions/directions for stripping silicone, or other non-glass claddings and coatings, and outer shell coatings from fiber. 2. Shall supply 4-8 ounces of silicone, or other material used for second cladding if second cladding is not a ''hard'' cladding, in a liquid form of the type that can be used to reform the second cladding of the DCOF, in case the fiber clad is stripped for reasons such as splicing and polishing. Shall also supply instructions for applying coating and curing as required. Specifications identifying the material supplied and its purity shall also be supplied. F. Optional items to be bid upon and purchased also if price falls within budget of purchaser: 1. Greater than 10 meters of DCOF as described in procurement above, except with no doping in the core, or no core at all, whichever is more feasible, while at the same time providing an accurate simulation of the DCOF for the purpose of experimentally investigating how well 810 NM pump light is coupled into the first clad. 2. An additional 50 meters of neodymium doped DCOF as described in procurement above. This notice constitutes a complete Request for Quotations (RFQ). No additional RFQ is available. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The proposed contract is 100 percent set aside for small business concerns. Quotes may be mailed to NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 126, Hampton, VA 23681-0001, or faxed to 804-864-7709, solicitation number must be cited in either case. The quote must: be for the item(s) described above, contain a CERTIFICATION that the offeror is a small, small disadvantaged, or small woman-owned business, include Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), be FOB destination to this Center, include the proposed delivery schedule and discount/payment terms and warranty duration (if applicable), and be signed by an authorized company representative. Quotes are due by 3:00 p.m. local time 4-15-96. All timely quotes received from small businesses will be considered, and award will be made to the responsive, responsible offeror(s) with the lowest overall price and acceptable delivery schedule. Quotes must include adequate information and submittals to determine whether the proposed item(s) will meet the requirement described above. Evaluations will be per line item, and award(s) will be for the lowest aggregate cost to the Government. Award is anticipated within 7 days of the date quotes are due. An ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and contractors during the preaward and postaward phases of this acquisition. The purpose of the ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the contracting officer, the Source Evaluation Board, or the selection official, but to communicate concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations of interested parties to the appropriate Government personnel and to work to resolve them. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of formal contract disputes. Interested parties are invited to call the installation ombudsman Belinda Adams at 804-864-8989. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations which cannot be resolved at the installation may be referred to the NASA ombudsman Tom Luedtke at 202-358-2090. Before consulting with any ombudsman, interested parties must try to resolve their concerns with the contract specialist or the contracting officer. DO NOT CALL THE OMBUDSMAN FOR SOLICITATION REQUESTS/INFORMATION. (0088)

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