317nm laser and 461nm Lasers

The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Toptica Photonics, 5847 County Rd. 41, Farmington, NY 14425 for the purchase of a 317nm laser and 461nm Lasers for NIST's Quantum Measurement Division (QMD). The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

NIST requires a Toptica 317nm laser and 461nm Lasers for studying Rydberg interactions in ultra-cold strontium atoms for the purposes creating enhanced interactions for improved metrology. The Laser Cooling and trapping group in the Quantum Measurement Division (QMD) is building a new capability to study these interactions. To meet this mission and generate the necessary ultra-cold gases of strontium atoms, a 461nm laser system of a sufficient power, narrow linewidth and stability is required to laser cool the strontium atoms. In order to generate the necessary Rydberg interactions in ultra-cold gases of strontium atoms, a 317nm laser system of a sufficient power, narrow linewidth and stability is required.

Toptica Photonics is the sole source Contractor for this product. The reason is they are the only company capable of providing lasers with the required specifications needed for the research. These specifications include that the 461nm laser must be able to trap and cool the strontium atoms via also providing a single-frequncy laser system with 800mW of light, narrow linewidth. To ensure longterm stability the SHG cavity should have a monolithic design, with auto-alignment of the fundamental beam into the doubling cavity. The 317nm laser must be capable of exciting the Rydberg excitation. For this system we require a single-frequncy laser system with 300mW of light, and narrow linewidth. To ensure longterm stability the SHG and FHG cavities should have a monolithic design, with auto-aligment of the SHG beam into the FHG doubling cavity. Toptica Photonics does not provide these lasers through any of their resellers, so there is only one responsible vendor.

Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 and the size standard is 1,000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 5, 2018. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to tracy.bisson@nist.gov . No telephone requests will be honored.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.