Fiber optic interrogator system

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting quotations for a single 4-channel fiber optic interrogator system designed for high-resolution temperature measurements in microfluidic environments. The system must meet stringent technical specifications, including a wavelength scanning range of 1500-1600 nm, wavelength resolution and stability of 1 pm or less, a 1000 Hz scanning rate, and response times of approximately 50 ms, with capabilities to measure Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), Fabry-Perot (FP), and Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometers. The procurement requires software with real-time output, plotting, and visualization capabilities compatible with Windows 11, along with Matlab and Python interfaces, and must not require internet connectivity for control software installation. The Government will award to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quotation, meaning vendors must demonstrate technical acceptability against the minimum specifications while offering competitive pricing. The offer due date is May 15, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET, with no separate question deadline specified in the available documentation.

This solicitation is a 100% small business set-aside restricted to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) under the Women-Owned Small Business Program, with NAICS code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) and a 1000-employee size standard. The procurement quantity is one fiber optic interrogator system with delivery required within 8 weeks of award on an FOB Destination basis to NIST's facility at 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, during normal business hours (7:30 am to 3:30 pm EST, Monday-Friday, excluding federal holidays). No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation notice. A 12-month limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship is required, and vendors must provide firm-fixed pricing, maintain active SAM registration, and document product manufacturer location and technical acceptability. The solicitation incorporates commercial item procedures per FAR part 12, requiring submission of the completed SF 1449 form with acknowledgment of all applicable FAR provisions and clauses.