NB688000-25-02005 STATEMENT OF WORK.pdf

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STATEMENT OF WORK

Title: Physicist Support Services for the Time Scale, Primary Frequency Standards, and Two-Way and GPS Time Transfer

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Time Realization and Distribution Group of the Time and Frequency Division in NIST’s Physical Measurement Laboratory maintains the primary frequency standard, the time scale, and the transfer operations for the U.S. standards of time and frequency. The primary frequency standard for the U.S. is our cesium fountain standard, NIST F4. The time scale is a weighted average of multiple hydrogen masers whose frequencies and linear frequency drifts are regularly measured against NIST F4. Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer is used for comparing our clocks with standards around the world for our participation in the generation of international atomic time (TAI and UTC). GPS common-view time transfer is the back-up method for participating in TAI, as well as a method for disseminating UTC (NIST) at state-of-the-art accuracies.

II. PURPOSE

The contractor will provide analysis of NIST time scale, frequency standard, and time-transfer performance and communicate the analysis through formal meetings and reports. The analysis will include the operation of a post-processed time scale, determination of maser drift rates, calibration analysis of the NIST atomic fountains, and evaluation of time transfer data. As a result of this work, NIST will be assured of the continued successful operation of the NIST Time Scale.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Work will be performed at the contractor’s site with remote access to NIST IT resources for data access, analysis and virtual meeting attendance with NIST staff.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The contractor shall complete the work within 12 months from the date of award.

III. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

TASKS

The Contractor shall complete the following tasks:

Task 1 – TIME SCALE OPERATIONS

1. Maintain the post-processed time scale 182.

2. Monitor maser performance and update maser drift rates each month.

3. Provide analysis results monthly to NIST staff in emailed reports.

Task 2 – PRIMARY FREQUENCY STANDARD ANALYSIS

1. Provide emailed monthly calibration information for NIST-F3 (and NIST-F4 if needed) based on data from Circular T.

2. Attend weekly fountain meetings.

TASK 3 – TIME TRANSFER ANALYSIS

1. Monitor and analyze TWSTFT and GPSCP time/frequency transfer systems, including making weekly recommendations on the steering of UTC(NIST).

2. Attend weekly time-scale steering meetings.

3. Provide results of time-transfer analysis in weekly emailed reports.

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TASK 4 – HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE (HSPD)-12

The Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) and its employees who require physical access to NIST facilities or logical access to NIST IT networks or systems must comply with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12, Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors; OMB M-05-24; OMB M- 19-17; FIPS 201, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors; NIST HSPD-12 policy; and Executive Order 13467, Part 1 §1.2.

The Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) must submit a roster by name, position, e-mail address, phone number and responsibility, of all staff working under this acquisition where the Contractor will develop, have the ability to access, or host and/or maintain a government information system(s).

The roster must be submitted to the COR and/or CO within 14 days of the effective date of this contract. Any revisions to the roster as a result of staffing changes must be submitted within 14 days of the change. The COR will notify the Contractor of the appropriate level of investigation required for each staff member. If the employee is filling a new position, the Contractor must provide a position description and the Government will determine the appropriate suitability level.

Safety This award does not involve on-site work. A safety plan for working on the NIST site is not required for this contract. There is also no requirement for safety-related equipment for this contract. This award only includes analysis and reporting work performed by computer. There is no requirement for safety-related training for this contract.

Position Sensitivity Designations Requirement All Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) employees must obtain a background investigation commensurate with their position sensitivity designation that complies with Parts 1400 and 731 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The following position sensitivity designation levels apply to this solicitation/contact: NA

IV. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Government Responsibilities Contingent upon the contractor’s compliance with all relevant IT security training and requirements, the Government will provide IT access and computing resources to the contractor so that they may access the data and analysis tools needed to perform the work under this contract. The Government will also schedule meetings with the contractor to discuss and act on the results of the contractor analysis.

Government Furnished Property The government will provide:

• The data required for the tasks listed above.

• A laptop computer with which the contractor can log into NIST network to perform the tasks of this contract remotely.

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All property, data and information provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government.

Upon award of this requirement, the Government will provide the Contractor with all access to all equipment and resources needed in the performance of this requirement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

This work requires a contractor who, as a minimum, has a PhD degree in Physics and extensive experience with atomic time scales, atomic time and frequency transfer operations and analysis of ultraprecise time scales. In addition, said contractor must possess demonstrated research capabilities in time and frequency measurements and time scales, be familiar with primary frequency standards, and have an advanced post-doctoral education in time and frequency metrology. Contractor should have a minimum of 20 years of experience and at least 40 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of advanced time and frequency measurements.

Safety: The Contractor employee must be responsible for knowing and complying with all safety regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Identification Badges: Contractor employees must comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each Contractor employee must wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

V. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

Task Description Format Due Date Quantity

1 Maintain the post-processed time scale 182. Monitor maser performance and update maser drift rates each month.

Maintain flicker level of Δf/f better than 1e-15 and provide monthly analysis results.

Monthly within 10 days of Circular T publication.

2 Perform primary frequency standard analysis.

Attend all fountain meetings and provide emailed monthly calibration information for NIST- F3 (and NIST-F4 if needed) based on data from Circular T.

Monthly within 10 days of Circular T publication.

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Standards of Acceptance: The NIST TPOC or COR shall review all the above deliverables and respond with an acceptance or request for revision email to the Contractor Point of Contact (POC) within 14 days/weeks of receipt of deliverable. This section applies to deliverables which must be reviewed and approved for acceptances (e.g., draft plans, drawings, etc.)

The NIST TPOC or COR will provide comments on each deliverable within 14 calendar days from receipt of a given deliverable. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the reports within 14 calendar days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the TPOC or

COR.

VI. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

After receipt of weekly and monthly reports, the Contractor will be paid, in accordance with the payments clause in the contract and as otherwise noted in this document, upon receipt of a proper invoice.

3 Monitor and analyze TWSTFT and GPSCP time/frequency transfer systems. Attend weekly time-scale steering meetings and make weekly recommendations on the steering of UTC(NIST).

Provide results of time-transfer analysis in weekly emailed reports and updated data files.

Weekly each Wednesday.

4 The contractor shall comply with Homeland Security Presidential Directive

(HSPD)-12.

Compliance with directive allows for continuous facility and IT access.

As directed based on NIST security policies.

As directed.