32 Channel Upgrade for Photon Detection System

Added: Jul 12, 2016 1:39 pm This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

AFRL requires an upgrade to the cryocooled superconducting nanowire detection system from 8 to 32 channels. The current system to be upgraded is comprised of a Photon Spot Freeze4 4he sorption fridge operating at 0.8K with QTY8 tungsten-silicon (WSi) single-element nanowire detectors and associated electronics currently installed. The upgrade consists of adding an additional 24 identical (WSi) nanowire detectors and associated electronics as well as upgrading the cryostat with a breakout box for 32 channel (maximum) capability.

Procurement includes 1 year warranty against defects in parts and workmanship and on-site training and installation.

The following items comprise the requirements:

(QTY 1) P/N 32CH-UPG

- Upgrade existing PhotonSpot Freeze4 4hecryostat to 32 channel capability
- 32x RF channels inpur via breakout box (32 per KF40)
- 32x SMF28 fibers. FC/PC terminated at cryostat
- Fiber management system

(QTY 24) P/NW1FC1.5

- Nanowire detector fiber-coupled to SMF28 detector (9 um core)
- System detection efficiency at 1550nm: 85% plus or minus 5%
- Recovery time < 100ns
- Dark Counts <1 kcps
- Jitter <100 ps FWHM
- Detector Biasing Electronics
- Room temperature Low Noise amplifiers
- Sharp positive or negative pulse output

Photon Spot is the only company that can upgrade the current system because of its proprietary software code. Use of a different system would require purchase of a new cryostat, associated hardware, and electronics. Therefore, the Government has determined that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

The Government intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Photon Spot, 142 W Olive Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016

This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to Brooke.Hoffman@us.af.mil

Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.

Responses received will be evaluated; however a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 10 Aug 2016.

A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.