A18 Sources Sought - Dilution Refrigerator for NIST.docx

Sources Sought

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division Sources Sought for Commercial Item Purchase

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION.

It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that can provide the product described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition.

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide a Cryogenic Dilution Refrigerator (DR) measurement system which operates dry (cryogen-free) with a pulse tube refrigerator and a passive, supplemental cooling circuit. The DR will be used to host and operate two microwave-optical quantum transducers representing separate nodes of a quantum network testbed. The testbed will be used to demonstrate remote entanglement distribution with continuous variables quantum states.

This announcement is not a Request for Quotation (RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is currently available. Additionally, The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this sources sought announcement. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-aside categories will be considered. In addition, this market research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation.

Because of this Sources Sought announcement, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement on SAM.BETA.GOV formerly known as FBO.gov and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage that can fulfill the requirement, in accordance with the requirement descriptions and technical specifications indicated in the Specification Document, then this acquisition shall be solicited as a small business set aside. However, NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses (SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB and VOSB). This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334515 for, with a small business size standard of 750 personnel. The specific purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is to determine if there are small businesses, within the parameters identified above, that can provide the specialized equipment identified in the Specifications Document.

Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirement should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to three (3) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:

1. Company Profile to include number of employees, office location(s), DUNS number and Cage Code.

2. Name of company that will provide the product.

3. Name of company that will manufacture the product.

4. Specification sheets and examples of products that meet the Specifications attached herein.

5. Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of award to include installation time and any necessary training that is provided.

6. Identification and verification of the company’s small business status.

7. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing our service requirement and finalizing our market research.

(Company sales brochures or marketing packages will not be considered).

REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW:

See below Specifications.

TITLE: Cryogenic Dilution Refrigerator Helium Battery System

Requesting Lab/Division/Group: CTL 672

Background:

The High-Speed Measurements Group of the RF Technology Division (672) within the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) has a requirement for a dilution refrigerator (DR) measurement system which operates dry (cryogen-free) with a pulse tube refrigerator and a passive, supplemental cooling circuit. The DR will be used to host and operate two microwave-optical quantum transducers representing separate nodes of a quantum network testbed. The testbed will be used to demonstrate remote entanglement distribution with continuous variables quantum states. For these studies, we require a multi-stage vacuum cryostat with a base temperature stage which reaches below 10 mK and a cooling power of at least 400 microwatts at 100 mK. Because of the mechanical sensitivity of the quantum transducers, a passive, supplemental cooling circuit (e. g. helium battery) is necessary to operate the DR for periods of experimental time while the noisy pulse tube refrigerator is turned off. Electrical wiring for both RF and DC operations at 4 K and at the base temperature are required to support the transducers and characterize their operation. Optical access to the transducers on the base temperature stage is required in the form of free-space line-of-sight and optical fiber ports. The frame supporting the refrigerator must have vibration isolation with active damping. Since this system will be operated frequently by users with a wide range of experience (novice to expert), it is critical that this system is simple to operate and robust. For sustainability, the cooling system must operate dry and not require replenishment of liquid helium, which is now a restricted resource.

1) Minimum Specifications:

a. Physical dimensions and unique parameters

i. Stand-alone operation, i.e., no excess equipment such as additional vacuum pumps shall be needed to operate the DR.

ii. The supporting structure such as the floor mount must be included.

iii. Vibration management must include an isolation stage for the frame supporting the vacuum can, with active damping to minimize mechanical motion within the 0.1 Hz to 200 Hz range.

iv. Additional vibration isolation to include a remote, rack-mounted turbo pump with bellows and a pulse tube bellows damping stage.

b. Performance of the DR system

i. Cryogen-free operation, i.e., a pulse tube cooler is used instead of liquid helium to cool down to 4 K.

ii. Base temperature stage of below 10 mK.

iii. Cool-down time of less than 24 hours.

iv. Cooling power of at least 400 microwatts at 100 mK.

c. DR vacuum system

i. No membrane pump shall be used in the 3He - 4He mixture circulation because of a reputation for short service periods. The rupture of the membrane can lead to loss or contamination of the mixture.

ii. The dilution unit shall not have any soft solders, which are known to develop micro-fractures and cold leaks over time.

d. Operation

i. Heat-exchange gas-free operation, i.e., the DR shall have only a single vacuum feedthrough stage at room temperature, which implies that no heat exchange gas can be used in the large vacuum can.

ii. DR system must maintain a 10 mK base temperature for a period of at least 3 hours with the pulse tube cooler turned off. This operating mode must enable low-vibration operation via a supplementary cooling mechanism (e.g. helium battery).

iii. Fully automated operation with computer-controlled valves and pumps.

iv. Press-of-a-button cool-down operating option.

v. Possibility to control the DR system with user-written software (e.g. Python, LabView, or MATLAB) running on an additional user-supplied computer.

vi. A control panel with the possibility to override the automation and to fully control the DR system manually.

e. Specialty supplies and accessories

i. Must include temperature measurement and control equipment, such as thermometers and a high-level resistance bridge with a PID controller (e. g. Lakeshore 372S/AC). The resulting temperature stability at the mixing chamber plate must be accurate on a sub-millikelvin level below 100 mK. Thermometers for all plates at different low temperatures must be included.

ii. Must include seven or more line-of-sight ports at least 40 mm in diameter to accommodate all current and future RF wiring, DC wiring, and optical fiber needs.

iii. Must include four optical windows on the sides of the vacuum can and one on the bottom which allow line-of-sight access to the base temperature stage plate. Window material must be fused silica with broadband anti-reflection coating and clear aperture of at least 25 mm.

iv. Must include a warm-up heater, installed, for faster warm-up of the refrigerator. The warm-up heater must include at least one heating element on the 4 K plate and a programmable power supply. Using the heater, the warm-up time for the refrigerator must be 13 hours or less.

v. Must include cool-down lines for the liquid nitrogen.

f. Other detailed specifications and/or line items:

2) Delivery and installation

a. The DR system shall be delivered 8 months ARO to 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.

b. According to the contract draft (Annex 4 to the Invitation to tender). The performance of the Device must be demonstrated by the supplier on-site after installation. He3 will be provided by NIST for the on-site installation and testing. Physical characteristics of the installation location

c. The DR system will be installed in an experimental laboratory room.

i. Installation will be in Building 1, room 4655.

ii. Installation shall be completed within 9 months ARO.

iii. The pumps and gas handling systems will be installed in an adjacent service galley with pipe extensions of no more than 20 feet.

iv. The installation location is situated on the ground floor of the building.

v. The dimensions of the installation space for the frame, vacuum can, and controls are approximately 3 meters by 4 meters with a height of 3 meters. The service galley space is approximately 2 meters by 2 meters with height of 2.5 meters, divided in two, nearby locations.

vi. The installation site can be examined by the manufacturer or vendor beforehand delivery and installation. Requirements for the site to be supplied at least 3 months beforehand. The supplier must check before signing the contract that the installation location fully corresponds to the requirements (electromagnetic noise, vibration level, etc.).

d. Available utilities at the installation location

i. Standard USA electric power of 60 Hz, 110 V / 220 V and 200/230 VAC, 3 Phase, 60 Hz available in the laboratory and/or service galley.

ii. Regulated cooling water is available at the installation location.

iii. Gas supply: building-wide pressurized nitrogen and pressurized air are available at the installation location.

e. Special Material Requirements

i. Government-furnished materials: at least 18 liters of He3.

3) Testing

a. Factory tests with the full DR system to be provided must be carried out before delivery and installation. The optimization of the helium mixture specification and the operation of the automated cool-down must be included and carried out in this configuration.

b. Onsite tests after installation at the NIST-Boulder site of the DR system must be demonstrated to meet all minimum specifications.

4) Training

a. Training will be provided at the NIST-Boulder site for 2 days immediately after acceptance of the installation.

5) Documentation

a. Baseline operating parameters (recorded at the factory) must be included in supplied documentation, including cooling powers at mixing chamber and 2nd stage pulse tube, typical temperatures of all stages (1st and 2nd stage pulse tube, still, intermediate cold plate between still and mixing chamber, and mixing chamber), and helium gas mixture flow rates.

b. The values of all dilution refrigerator circuit impedances as well as the user/operator procedures for measuring their room temperature and low temperature values.

c. Required Helium-3/Helium-4 mixture ratio and total volume.

d. Commercial subsystem manuals, i.e., manuals for all included pumps, compressors, and instrumentation (pressure, temperature).

e. The vendor must provide documentation for thermometry setup and configuration, including all lead resistances, pin assignments, and calibration data.

f. The vendor must provide documentation for all other wiring, including pin assignments and part numbers for commercial mating connectors if applicable.

g. Operating procedures for the end user in the event of power failure, computer failure, or mechanical failure must be outlined and documented.

h. Operating procedures for starting (“cooldown”) and stopping (“warmup”) the system must be documented for the end user.

i. Maintenance intervals for all pumps, compressors, and the pulse tube must be documented by the vendor.