High Quantum Efficiency Balanced Homodyne Detection Systems
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA875126Q0024
- Agency
-
Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- Not on record
- Place of performance
- Rome, New York 13441, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Air Force Research Laboratory, under the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command, is procuring High Quantum Efficiency Balanced Homodyne Detection Systems for use in distributed quantum sensing demonstrations within a fielded quantum network. This pre-solicitation notice, issued January 22, 2026, indicates the Government intends to pursue a sole-source award under FAR Parts 12 and 13, meaning this notice is for information purposes only and no formal solicitation will be issued. The required detectors must operate at 1550 nm wavelength with 28 MHz bandwidth and must achieve superior performance specifications including greater than 95% detection efficiency, integrated low pass signal filtering, an error signal port, and integrated transimpedance amplification. The Government has determined that Noisy Labs GmbH is the only vendor commercially offering systems that meet these stringent technical requirements and can ensure equipment uniformity with previously purchased quantum sensing hardware. The deadline for this pre-solicitation notice is February 6, 2026.
This procurement carries no small business set-aside, and Noisy Labs GmbH of Hamburg, Germany is the identified incumbent and proposed sole-source awardee. The requirement stems from the Government's 2025 purchase of a Squeezed Light Laser and Balanced Homodyne Detector from Noisy Labs, with the current procurement obtaining additional matching detectors necessary to complete the assembly of a quantum network based on squeezed light distribution. No specific contract value or quantity has been disclosed in this notice, though the technical specifications indicate this is specialized scientific instrumentation for advanced quantum sensing applications. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 334413 (Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,250 employees. The sole-source justification emphasizes the critical importance of equipment compatibility and performance uniformity in this highly complex experimental quantum network setup.
Notice text
This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, 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 QUOTATION. 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 334413 (Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,250 employees.
The Government requires the procurement of High Quantum Efficiency Balanced Homodyne Detectorsand intends to negotiate a sole-source award for this requirement with Noisy Labs GmbH, Luruper Hauptstrasse 1, DE-22547 Hamburg/Germany. The applicable Noisy Labs part is as follows:
- High Quantum Efficiency Balanced Homodyne Detectors
The Government has determined that other companies’ products and services do not meet or cannot be modified to meet the Government's needs. Noisy Labs is the only known vendor that commercially offers a High Quantum Efficiency Balanced Homodyne Detection Systems, operating at 1550 nm wavelength with 28 MHz bandwidth, to use within distributed quantum sensing demonstrations in a fielded quantum network. In 2025, RITQ purchased a Squeezed Light Laser and a Balanced Homodyne Detector from Noisy Labs. The additional Balanced Homodyne Detectors are needed to complete the assembly of a quantum network based on squeezed light distribution. For equipment uniformity across this highly complex experimental setup, the same exact Balanced Homodyne Detectors are required. These detectors are guaranteed to work with the previously purchased Noisy Labs hardware. These detectors also have superior performance, including >95% detection efficiency, integrated low pass signal filtering, an error signal port, and integrated transimpedance amplification. Interchanges with Noisy Labs have yielded that they do not maintain a network of resellers for their products and are the sole-source provider. Accordingly, as aforementioned, the Government intends to make a sole source award to them for this requirement.
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 leenawattie.budhu.1@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 27 February 2026.
A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.
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