The National Institute of Standards and Technology issued a purchase order to Infleqtion Quantum, LLC for optical atomic clocks to upgrade official US time on September 22, 2026, with a ceiling value of $418,750. This is a Total Small Business set-aside award.
Performance occurs in Superior, Colorado. The order requires portable optical atomic clocks that discipline an oscillator to an atomic or molecular spectroscopic transition, with radio frequency outputs at 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 100 MHz, or 1 GHz and short-term frequency instability below 3E-13 at 1-second intervals. Systems must deliver optical output in the C-band exceeding 0.1 mW, fit within 19-inch rack enclosures per EIA-310-D standards, dissipate under 500 W, and include stabilized femtosecond-laser frequency comb output with full remote operation via serial or network interfaces. Vendor technician on-site support for installation and startup is required, along with a 5-year manufacturer warranty. Delivery, installation, and training must complete within 12–18 weeks. The order is due to close February 12, 2027. The originating market research opportunity was posted June 9, 2026, with a June 23 response deadline.