58 -- TI:SAPPHIRE LASER SYSTEM

Notice Date

March 5, 2001

Contracting Office

DOC; Mountain Administrative Support Center; Acquisition Management Division; 325 Broadway, MC3; Boulder, CO

ZIP Code

00000

Solicitation Number

NB847-100DT

Response Due

March 23, 2001

Point of Contact

Doris Turner, Purchasing Agent, 303-497-3872 or FAX:303-497-3163

E-Mail Address

NOAA; MASC Acquisition Management (Doris.P.Turner@noaa.gov)

Description

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Time and Frequency Division has a requirement for a Titanium Sapphire laser system to be used in the new type of atomic clock, the NIST-F1. This is a laser-cooled clock developed and operated for the purpose of keeping primary frequency standards for the United States. In the absence of other qualified sources, it is the intent of the Government to negotiate a sole source contract under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) with Coherent, Inc. 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054 as this source is considered to be the only responsible source and no other source will satisfy agency requirements. The product which meets our requirements is a demo unit under full warranty, MBR-110-MW-V10 Ti:Sapphire laser system. The following specifications must be met: 1) The laser must be extremely low-noise, single frequency, linewidth less than 100 kHz, to ensure that atoms in the clock do not interact with undesired frequencies; 2) The system must have high power output, greater than 1.2 Watts when pumped by a 10 Watt solid state laser at 532 nm in order to achieve high atomic densities within the laser cooled sample of atoms; 3) The laser must be tunable from 780 nm to 870 nm without change of optics, and must be upgradeable to 700nm to 990 nm with additional optics sets for clock research on other atomic species; 4) Reference cavity: a Fabry-Perot interferometer with finesse of greater than 25, temperature stabilized and with Invar cavity; 5)External Lock: the laser system must allow direct control of the reference cavity (bypassing the scan controller) for locking. 6) Scan Properties: the laser system must be able to scan (30GHz continuously) without mode hops. The system must be reliable in order to achieve long uninterrupted periods of continuous clock operation. Interested sources proposing to supply the specified system must submit a written qualification statement clearly establishing the capability to meet the above requirements within 15 days from the date of this synopsis. The qualification statements will be used to determine the need for competitive bids. . Responses are due via mail or FAX by March 23, 2001. No RFQ package is available. This procurement is being conducted per Simplified Acquisition Procedures FAR Part 13 (NTE $100,000). FAR Clauses in full text are at http://www.ARNET.gov/far Terms and conditions and agency level protest procedures are referenced at http://www.doc.gov/oam/conops/#reference

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010307/58SOL008.HTM (D-064 SN50F2X8)