SAP CI Sole Source Justification Final.pdf

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Document Number: 24-056

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity.

The requiring activity is the United States Naval Observatory (hereinafter, “USNO”), located in Washington. DC; the contracting activity is NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk, Contracting Dept., Fleet Directorate.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This sole source action is to award a firm, fixed-price purchase order to Menlo Systems, Inc.

(hereinafter, “Menlo Systems”), a small business. This sole source action is for the provision of a frequency-comb system that will lock to a narrow 1315 nm laser and transfer the stability to the detection laser systems supporting USNO’s calcium clock.

This action is considered a new requirement as the frequency-comb system required by USNO is essential to a recently procured laser in support of the calcium clock.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The USNO seeks to procure a frequency-comb system with the following required specifications:

Turn-key, robust, fiber frequency comb centered at 1560 nm that automatically mode-locks and remains mode locked for >6 months in a well regulated environment. Repetition rate of 125 MHz. Supports fractional frequency stability below 10-15 at 1 second (s). Rack-mounted, taking up 3RU or less space.

Input, beat-detection unit (BDU) and all locking electronics to stabilize frequency comb repetition rate to external, user-supplied narrow (approximately 1 Hz linewidth) 1315 nm laser.

Faithful transfer of frequency stability of 1315 nm laser to frequency comb and divided down RF outputs. Back-reflection port (reflecting 10% of input light) enabling fiber-noise cancellation on 1315 nm input fiber.

Microwave/RF generation, providing signal outputs of 1 pulse-per-second (PPS), 10 MHz and 100 MHz. The frequency stability of the 100 MHz output must be better than 10-14 at 1 second and the stability of the 10 MHz output must be better than 2 10-14 at 1 second, and the power levels >7 dBm. The phase noise at 1 Hz offset from carrier must be below -140 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz and below -125 dBc/Hz at 100 MHz.

The system must include frequency-comb extensions at 846 nm and 862 nm, with inputs for external user-supplied lasers at these wavelengths and high-signal to noise ratio (SNR) balanced beat detection unit (BDU) for generating locking signals with less than 100 microWatts ( W) of external laser power. The system must support long-term frequency stability and linewidth narrowing to below 100 Hz for these external lasers.

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this Justification is fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, FLCN has no plans at this time to compete future contacts for the types of supplies/services covered by this requirement. If another potential source emerges, FLCN will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

In accordance with DFARS 206.303-2(b)(i) and PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)), a sources sought notice was issued on 21 February 2024. See paragraph 6 for details regarding SSN.

To date, no other sources expressed an interest in the requirement

USNO will continue to stay apprised of the latest developments in frequency-comb technology that is applicable to the research and development of atomic clocks at USNO. USNO will consider other vendors of this technology if they become available.

9. Contracting Point of Contact. The point of contact at NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Fleet Directorate, is Shere C. Reese, Code 220.2, who may be contacted at 757-443-1387 or by e-mail at shere.c.reese.civ@us.navy.mil.