ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: SPECIAL NOTICE CLASSIFICATION CODE: 6640 LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: NB3050002402156 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE for electro acoustic pulsed laser. Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Electro Acoustic Pulsed Laser NIST has developed a new type of laser interferometry that is used to measure microwave vibrations with high sensitivity. In particular, the interferometer is capable of measuring the vibrations of microwave acoustic resonators, and their associated materials, which are ubiquitous in mobile communications, where they are used to filter radiofrequencies. A femtosecond pulsed laser is needed for this interferometer, which makes it possible to downsample vibrations from gigahertz frequencies to megahertz frequencies, where they can be measured with higher sensitivity and lower uncertainty. This laser will be used in a typical laboratory environment. The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division to supply and install a femtosecond pulsed laser. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516–Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the size standard is 1,000 employees. In order to meet the project a pulsed laser from Menlo Systems is required. The pulsed laser is used in a novel laser interferometer that can measure extremely small vibrations at microwave frequencies. This directly supports the CHIPS Act. The pulsed laser must be highly stable, have a large repetition rate tuning range, have optical power of at least 100 mW, and be able to synchronize to stable frequency sources. Our laser interferometer currently uses a Menlo Systems femtosecond pulsed laser and has achieved best-in-the-world performance in terms of noise floor, bandwidth, and stability. It is critical for our CHIPS project that we procure a second laser that is nearly identical so that we can maintain these specifications in the event of an equipment failure. The requested laser has the same control electronics as the current laser that we own. Menlo Systems has numerous patents that protect their designs, which provide world leading repetition rate stability and constant optical frequency content from pulse to pulse. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number in https://sam.gov; details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements; whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied. The Government will consider responses received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern on August 21, 2024. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to
[email protected]. No telephone requests will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.