26q33 - justification_and_approval_document - Digitizers_REDACTED.pdf

Department of the Air Force: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

CUI

March 2026 Page 2 of 3March 2026 Page 2 of 3

I. Agency and Contracting Activity (RFO 6.104-1(a)(1)):

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL – Rome Research Site AFRL/RIKO, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved (RFO 6.104-1(a)(2)):

This document approves the award of a firm fixed price contract on a sole source basis to Spectrum Instrumentation Corporation for analog-to-digital converters (ADCs / digitizers) in support of the program. This justification is made on an Individual basis.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (RFO 6.104-1(a)(3)):

The products to be acquired are essential to the Government's requirements and other companies' products do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet the Government's needs. The Government requires the specialized analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for the research and development of a testbed quantum sensor network. AFRL/RITQ's fiber-optic quantum network testbed at the site requires high-performance ADCs for integration within protoype quantum homodyne measurement modules. AFRL/RITQ has developed these protoype quantum homodyne measurement modules for applications in quantum-enhanced RF sensor networks. The modules require high-performance ADCs to accept analog optical signals output from specialized photodetectors. Therefore to perform their intended function, the ADCs required need to simultaneously have: high bit-depth, high speed digitization with as many samples per second (S/s) as possible, as high a measurement bandwidth as possible with a minimum of 50 MHz, control software and firmware included with updates provided, BNC microwave connectors to connect to our photodetectors, ethernet interface for computer and network connectivity, must accept a 10 MHz frequency input clock, have controllable input impedance that is either 50 Ohms or high-impedance, and is a standalone/portable module that doesn't require an additional chassis.

The most important specification is the bit depth, which needs to be as high as possible to resolve the low-power quantum signals that the Government intends to measure. It is also important to avoid using chassis cards as much as possible, by purchasing a standalone digitizer unit, since chassis drive up cost and limit portability.

The Spectrum Instrumentation Digitizer NETBOX is the only available product meeting the Government's requirements that offers the combination of 16-bit depth, modular housing with a networkable interface, and a high sampling rate.

The estimated cost of this requirement is in which Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E, 3600) appropriations were provided on Purchase Request

IV. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(4)):

10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

V. Rationale for Use of Authority (RFO 6.104-1(a)(5)):

Spectrum Instrumentation Corporation is the only known manufacturer of the required analog-to-digital converters with the specifications required by the Government. Spectrum Instrumentation Corporation's products are available solely through themselves, as they do not offer resellers.

VI. Integrated Market Analysis and Efforts to Solicit Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(6), (8), and (10)):

The requirement is not available through any mandatory or strategic sources. A Pre-Solicitation / Notice of Proposed