Attachment 1 SOW.pdf

NIST Statement of Work Ultra-Stable Telecom Laser

I. Background

The quantum measurement division explores fundamental aspects of the quantum nature of light and develops applications relating to metrology and other areas of NIST’s mission including measurements at and below the standard quantum limit and quantum information. As a part of these efforts, NIST develops phase-stabilization methods such that certain states of light can interfere even if the sources are physically separated by large distances. These methods rely on ultra-stable sources of coherent light at a telecom C-band, such as the laser to be purchased here.

II. Scope

The Quantum Measurement Division requires one Ultra-Stable Telecom Laser to serve as a source of coherent light with long coherence length in support of the quantum measurement division’s mission to explore the basic capabilities of quantum communication systems to develop critical future quantum technologies for quantum information. The ultra-stable laser is required to probe and stabilize the phase instabilities in long optical quantum communication links on the one hand and to generate coherent states with long coherence length to use as data carrier on the other, so NIST can meet its mission in distributing light states over long distances while maintaining high coherence.

To fulfill its mission, the NIST Quantum Measurement Division requires a ultra-stable source of laser light. It is important that the laser light has a superb frequency stability and, as a consequence, long coherence length, so that the light that traveled over a long fiber link is still coherent with the light from the same source that did not. The NIST Quantum Measurement Division will use the laser to probe phase stability in different types of optical fiber links, to interferometrically stabilize such links and to create light states with long coherence lengths for quantum-assisted data distribution. The applications of the technology under development range from advancing classical and quantum telecommunication networks to research in distributed classical and quantum sensors.

III. Minimum Requirements The system shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, first-article, or custom items will not be considered. The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Contractor is not acceptable. All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

The Contractor shall provide one Ultra-Stable Telecom Laser that meets the following minimum specifications:

• Operating Ambient Temperature: from 18C to 30C, maintaining all performance specs in this entire range

• If an outside electrical power source is needed, the laser or its controller should be compatible with 100-120V/60Hz, 1-phase input.

• Operating Wavelength: single-frequency, 1550.12nm with the accuracy of 0.1nm

• Linewidth measured over 1s or longer: 1Hz or narrower

• During the operation, the laser must be frequency-locked to an optical cavity.

• The laser should be able to be locked to a frequency that is offset from the cavity resonance by a user-selectable offset frequency. The offset frequency range should be -1.5 GHz to +1.5 GHz, but may exclude the narrow frequency band around the cavity mode, not to exceed a range of -50 to +50 MHz.

• If frequency lock to a cavity is lost, the system should relock automatically, and the user should be able to log unlock events.

• Optical output power: 10mW or more when frequency stabilized

• Output frequency stability:

o Allan deviation measured as ADEV at 1s: 4 x 10-15 or less, no removal of drift, if any drift is present o Allan deviation measured as ADEV at 10s: 1 x 10-14 or less, no removal of drift, if any drift is present

• Output frequency long-term drift: 25 kHz or less per 24 hours

• Fully automated system with all user controls accessible through the front panel and the

GUI via USB on a user-provided laptop. The user should be able to select front panel or GUI operation, as required.

• Remote control (via get and set commands) using the http interface through the network connection.

• If the system requires vacuum, the vacuum pump should be included

• All auxiliary equipment required for meeting specs should be provided. This includes vibration isolation hardware, temperature controller(s), FPGA electronics.

• Optical cavity should be included, and o Cavity length: 50mm – 130mm o Surface quality (scratch/dig) of its mirrors: 20-10 or better o Finesse at 1550 nm: 550000 or higher o Cavity’s zero-crossing temperature should be determined by measurement o Must be housed in a temperature-controlled environment that can be tuned to the zero-crossing of the cavity

IV. Delivery Delivery shall be FOB Destination and shall occur not later than (NLT) 6 months ARO.

FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The contractor shall deliver all Line Items to:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology 100 Bureau Drive, Building 220 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640

V. Inspection and Acceptance In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the system is to be operated. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if performed, at the Contractor’s expense.

Upon installation, the following tests will be performed:

• The average optical power will be verified using a power-meter.

• The wavelength will be verified with a spectrometer.

• The linewidth will be assessed by measuring interference visibility with a long

(50KM fiber spool), unbalanced fiber interferometer.

Other testing methods may be acceptable, upon the vendor’s request with a detailed description of the proposed acceptance method.

The Government will test, inspect, and accept the equipment on site within 7 business days of the receipt and installation of the tunable picosecond laser. A visual inspection of the tunable picosecond laser will be performed by the NIST TPOC to identify surface defects or any form of indication that the tunable picosecond laser was damaged during transport to NIST. The Government shall have sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance shall reject the tunable picosecond laser due to defects and/or nonconformance.

VI. Installation If the system requires professional installation, the system shall be installed by the Contractor and meet contract specifications no later than 2 weeks after delivery and shall be done at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD- Building 221. Installation, at a minimum, shall include uncrating/unpackaging of all equipment, rigging, set-up and hook-up of the system, and removal of the trash. If the system does not require professional installation, installation support should be provided online as needed; online demonstration and training should also be provided.

VII. Warranty The contractor shall warrant the entire system for a period of a minimum of one year after receipt of the equipment and shall be in accordance with terms in FAR 52.212-4

VIII. Payment Schedule The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 100% after installation and acceptance of the fully installed system

2. The Government anticipates inspection will occur upon:

a. After the testing procedures set forth in this document have been completed