NB675020-26-01170 - RFQ.pdf

Dynamic Frequency Comb Applications Support Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

(NB675020-26-01170)

(I) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(II) The solicitation number is NB675020-26-01170 and this solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This acquisition is being solicited as unrestricted. The Government intends to issue a single award Firm Fixed Priced Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract as the result of this solicitation. The IDIQ minimum amount is $100,000.00 and the maximum amount is not-to-exceed (NTE) $7,500,000.00. Quantities below are estimated amounts based on the Government’s anticipated needs.

(III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2026-01 dated 03/13/2026. This document includes references to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Per Procurement Memorandum (PM) 2026-06, the Department of Commerce has issued a class deviation to implement the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) and adopt the RFO model deviated text.

(IV) The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541511 – Custom Computer Programming Services with a small business size standard of $34.0M.

(V) All quoters shall provide a firm-fixed-price quotation for the following line item(s) on a firm fixed price hourly rate basis:

CLIN Supplies/Services Description Est.

QTY

Unit of Issue

Unit Price Total

0001 Standard Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Base Year

500 Hours $ $

0002 Accelerated Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Base Year

1500 Hours $ $

0003 Standard Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Base Year

800 Hours $ $

0004 Accelerated Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Base Year

2400 Hours $ $

0005 Standard Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Base Year

200 Hours $ $

0006 Standard Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Base Year

Hours $ $

0007 Travel in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation.

(To be identified per task order) Base Year

1 Lot NTE. NTE.

(Amount will be identified per task order)

0008 Contract Minimum Funding Only

1 Lot $100,000.00 $100,000.00

1001 Standard Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 1

600 Hours $ $

1002 Accelerated Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 1

1800 Hours $ $

1003 Standard Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 1

1000 Hours $ $

1004 Accelerated Rask 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 1

3000 Hours $ $

1005 Standard Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 1

400 Hours $ $

1006 Accelerated Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 1

1200 Hours $ $

1007 Travel in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation.

(To be identified per task order) Option Year 1

1 Lot NTE. NTE.

(Amount will be identified per task order)

2001 Standard Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 2

600 Hours $ $

2002 Accelerated Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 2

1800 Hours $ $

2003 Standard Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 2

1000 Hours $ $

2004 Accelerated Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 2

3000 Hours $ $

2005 Standard Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 2

400 Hours $ $

2006 Accelerated Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 2

1200 Hours $ $

2007 Travel in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation.

(To be identified per task order) Option Year 3

1 Lot NTE. NTE.

(Amount will be identified per task order)

3001 Standard Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 3

600 Hours $ $

3002 Accelerated Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 3

1800 Hours $ $

3003 Standard Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 3

1000 Hours $ $

3004 Accelerated Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 3

3000 Hours $ $

3005 Standard Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 3

400 Hours $ $

3006 Accelerated Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 3

1200 Hours $ $

3007 Travel in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation.

(To be identified per task order) Option Year 3

1 Lot NTE. NTE.

(Amount will be identified per task order)

4001 Standard Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for

600 Hours $ $

(VI) The requirements for the line items to be acquired above are in the attached Performance Work Statement. Each task contains two Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) versions per ordering period year, Standard and Accelerated. Based on the Governments’ needs during the performance period of the IDIQ, the Government may issue a task order under either CLIN. The Government will not issue a task order which contains both the Standard and Accelerated CLIN of the same task within the same task order. Quoters should ensure their resource availability and pricing reflect the possibility of each type of task and CLIN.

dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 4

4002 Accelerated Task 1: Algorithms and digital implementation for dynamic, arbitrary real-time control of the comb phase/time output and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 4

1800 Hours $ $

4003 Standard Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 4

1000 Hours $ $

4004 Accelerated Task 2: Long-range Optical Time Transfer through phase-controlled combs and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 4

3000 Hours $ $

4005 Standard Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 4

400 Hours $ $

4006 Accelerated Task 3: Phase-stepped dual-comb spectroscopy and associated sub tasks.

Option Year 4

1200 Hours $ $

4007 Travel in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation.

(To be identified per task order) Option Year 4

1 Lot NTE. NTE.

(Amount will be identified per task order)

Total Value: $

Attachment #1: Performance Work Statement Attachment #2: Provisions and Clauses Attachment #3: IDIQ Ordering Procedures Attachment #4: First Task Order Statement of Work

(VII) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance and FOB point are required in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement document.

(VIII) Quoters/Contractors must possess an ACTIVE registration in the System for Award Management system, www.SAM.gov, when submitting a quotation and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. The Contracting Officer shall confirm that quoters have an “active” registration at the www.sam.gov website upon receipt of the quotation. If the SAM.gov registration is not active, the quotation will not be considered for award

(IX) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Quoters—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION Jan 2026), applies to this acquisition. See Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 below.

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Quoters – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION Jan 2026):

DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS

Quoters shall submit their electronic quotations, via email, so that NIST receives them not later than 5:00 PM Mountain Time, 8/11/2026. E-mail quotations shall be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer at Daniel.kent@nist.gov.

Please reference the RFQ number in the subject line of all email communications. Quotations shall not be deemed received by the Government until the quotation is received in the e-mail inbox set forth above.

INQUIRIES:

Quoters must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing to the Contracting Officer, Daniel.kent@nist.gov. Questions should be received no later than 5:00 PM Mountain Time, 7/31/2026. All responses to timely submitted questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner and will be posted with the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will be deemed as the Government’s formal response and govern performance of the contract.

QUOTATION PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

All quotations shall conform to solicitation provisions/clauses and be prepared in accordance with this section. The quotation shall be clearly and concisely written as well as be neat and logically assembled. All pages of the quotation shall be appropriately numbered.

The quoter’s quotation shall be clearly divided into the following distinct volumes:

Volume I – Technical Quotation Volume II – Price Quotation Volume III- Terms and Conditions

Volume I - Technical Quotation:

The quoter shall submit one (1) copy of their technical quotation, electronically, via E-mail to the Contracting Officer identified above. The technical quotation shall address the following:

Technical

Sub Factor 1: Technical Approach Sub Factor 2: Key Personnel Sub Factor 3: First Task Order Quote

Sub Factor 1 Technical Approach:

The quoter shall submit technical approach and capability documentation which may include a narrative, charts, graphs, tables, drawings, product / service literature, and as applicable, demonstrated authority to perform the required services identified in the PWS document (Attachment 1). The quoter shall detail the execution of all listed tasks and requirements of the Government’s PWS and describe the technical approach to performing each task, demonstrating the quoter’s understanding of the requirements and the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach. The quotation shall also include clear, concise, technical capability of the items or services offered to meet the Government requirement identified in the PWS. The quoter must not simply state they will meet or exceed the requirement.

Sub Factor 2 Key Personnel:

The quoter shall submit key personnel resumes detailing the proposed key personnel’s qualifications and ability to meet the minimum qualification standards identified in the PWS.

Sub Factor 3: First Task Order Quote

The quoter shall submit a quote for the first task order based on the requirements of Attachment #4, First Task Order Statement of Work in accordance with Attachment #3: IDIQ Ordering Procedures and the quoter’s proposed IDIQ CLINs and pricing.

Volume II - Price Quotation:

The quoter shall submit one (1) copy of their entire quotation, electronically, via E-mail to the Contracting Officer identified above. The price quotation shall address, at minimum, the following information.

a) The solicitation number

b) The name, phone number, and email address of the quoter's/contractor’s point of contact;

c) Unique Entity Identifier # for quoter's/contractor’s active SAM.Gov registration.

d) A firm fixed price for each required line item, including a unit price and total amount where applicable, and the aggregate quoted firm fixed price for the requirement. Where the Government has identified a line item as requiring a Not to Exceed price, quoters shall comply with this.

e) Shipping and Delivery costs must be included in the quotation either as a separate line item or contained in the total price of the quote. The quotation shall include a total firm fixed price for the requirement that includes all shipping/delivery costs

f) Any applicable discount terms.

Volume III – Terms and Conditions:

The quoter shall review the provision and clauses attachment and complete any required information via a separate volume response to this solicitation.

Note: System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in this solicitation. Contracting officers will rely on representations from offers based on provisions in the solicitation. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM.

Acceptance of Terms and Conditions:

If the contractor objects to any of the terms and conditions contained in this solicitation, the contractor shall state "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:" [Contractor shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)]. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to identify in their quotation any exceptions to the terms and conditions of the solicitation. If the contractor does not include such a statement, the submission of a quotation in response to this solicitation will be regarded as the Contractor's acceptance of the Government's terms and conditions for inclusion into the resultant purchase order (PO). The Contractor certifies that the proposed terms and conditions, including any exceptions, deletions, or additions to the terms and conditions in the solicitation, are consistent with Federal law, are consistent with the commercial practice of contracting with the Federal Government, and are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions in any other Government contract for the same supplies and/or services.

Note: This procurement is not being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If a quoter submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the proposed price. However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant purchase order, not the terms and conditions of the Quoter’s FSS or GWAC contract, and the statement required above shall be included in the quotation.

(End of provision)

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION Jan 2026)

The Government intends to award a single award Firm Fixed Priced Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite- Quantity (IDIQ) contract from this solicitation utilizing simplified acquisitions procedures in accordance with FAR part 12 of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul. The Government reserves the right not to award a contract and to make an award without discussions based solely upon initial quotes.

Basis for Award:

The Government will make an award to the quoter with the proposed solution that is most advantageous and represents the best value to the Government, price and non-price factors considered.

The evaluation factors shown below will be used to evaluate quotations.

A quoter's failure to address any factor may be considered indicative of the quoter's lack of understanding of the Government's requirements and may result in the quotation being determined unacceptable.

Evaluation Factors:

Technical

Sub Factor 1: Technical Approach

Evaluation of this sub-factor is a subjective evaluation of the quoter’s technical approach for performing each task in the PWS and the quoter’s demonstrated resources, capability, and methods to meet all requirements. The quoter’s submittals will be evaluated in terms of demonstrated understanding of the requirements and demonstrated capability to meet or exceed the requirements.

This may include the authority to provide the required items and services (i.e. authorized dealer/seller/reseller), authority to provide maintenance and repair services, and the capability and method to successfully meet all the requirements including but not limited to item specifications, delivery schedule, warranty, etcetera.

Sub Factor 2: Key Personnel:

The Government will evaluate the extent to which the resume submitted for the quoter’s proposed key personnel demonstrates the proposed individual meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications detailed in the PWS, and has the appropriate education, qualifications, and experience to efficiently and effectively address requirements in accordance with the PWS. As the work involves algorithm development in addition to firmware implementation it is important that the proposed key personnel have sufficient background to fully understand the system and the system requirements. Potential key personnel will be evaluated on demonstrated backgrounds in laser frequency control and time transfer.

Sub Factor 3: First Task Order Proposal:

Evaluation of this sub-factor is a subjective evaluation of the quoter’s technical approach, proposed IDIQ task selections, and proposed hours for performing the first task order’s requirements based on Attachment 4 – First Task Order Statement of Work. The quoter’s submittals will be evaluated in terms of demonstrated understanding of the requirements and demonstrated capability to meet or exceed the requirements. The quoters will also be evaluated on their ability to select the appropriate IDIQ tasks and accurately estimate the numbers of hours required to perform the tasks indicating their understanding of the requirements and ability to accurately propose on future task orders.

Based on the evaluations of each technical subfactor, the Government will assess its level of confidence that the Quoter will successfully perform the contract requirements with the following ratings:

Each quoter will be assigned a single confidence rating for the technical factor based on the combination of the technical sub-factor evaluations.

Price: The proposed price will be evaluated. The evaluation will determine whether the proposed prices are reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements. Prices must be entirely compatible with the technical portion of the quotation.

Options: The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. The evaluation of options does not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

Notice of award. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer furnished to the successful Quoter within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)

High Confidence

The Government has high confidence that the quoter understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, has qualified key personnel, and will be successful in performing the work.

Some Confidence

The Government has some confidence that the quoter understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, has qualified key personnel, and will be successful in performing the work.

Low Confidence

The Government has low confidence that the quoter understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, has qualified key personnel, and will be successful in performing the work.