NOTICE OF INTENT - Dual-Comb Gnd-to-Air Link Support

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Redgarden Engineering LLC located in Boulder, Colorado on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for Dual-Comb Ground-To-Air Link Support.  The contractor is to develop control systems for a ground to UAV laser link to include specific capabilities of control systems and electronics development expertise, printed circuit board design and assembly, C++ and python software development, and a rated UAV pilot to conduct FAA-compliant testing flights as required.

Specific Requirements are as follows:

 Item 1: Control Algorithms and Implementation for a Ground to UAV

Quantity: 1

Specifications: Contractor will design and implement a system allowing the telescope to communicate to a UAV over distances of up to 1 km and to calculate its orientation and the relative position of the UAV. The system would then provide feedback the gimbal to establish coarse pointing (within 20 mRad) from the telescope to the UAV.

Item 2: Frequency Comb Field Hardware and Control Systems

Quantity: 1

Specifications: The Contractor will work with NIST staff to develop a micro-controller, mechanical housing, power supply and electrical interconnects for controlling an array of low noise COTS pump diode drivers as specified by NIST. The Contractor will write and document control code and develop a robust interface between the COTS diode drivers and the contractor provided micro-controller to be provided to NIST along with the assembled system.

This shall be provided and accomplished in accordance with the attached Statement of Work.

NAICS Code is 541330 – Engineering Services, with a Size Standard of $25.5M. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Redgarden Engineering LLC for this requirement.

Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued 4th Quarter of FY23. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov . All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION:

Market research resulted in Redgarden Engineering LLC being the only vendor to provide Dual-Comb Ground-To-Air Link Support by developing and providing control algorithms and systems for a ground to UAV laser link consistent with the Statement of Work requirements provided herein to include testing of this system will require local interaction and UAV commercial flights in compliance with FAA regulations.  No other vendors possessing the specific capabilities of control systems and electronics development expertise, printed circuit board design and assembly, C++ and python software development, and a rated UAV pilot to conduct FAA-compliant testing flights as required are known or found to be available.  Without this capability the project risks unreasonable delays or cancellation.