Notice of Intent- Three (3) Laser Systems

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division, intends to negotiate with Toptica Photonics, Inc., located in Farmington, NY, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for three (3) Laser Systems to be able to continue NIST's study on the use of highly accurate optical clocks based on trapped aluminum ions.

The unique technical specifications for these laser systems are the following:
The 1120-nm tapered amplifier light source is unique in that it allows for a large wavelength tuning range (1115 to 1130 nm) with a 2-W output power. Both of these features are required to access an optical pumping and Doppler cooling transitions in trapped 25Mg+ ions (at 1122 and 1118 respectively). The 422.8-nm ECDL must be reasonably robust against temperature fluctuations in the lab to allow for single frequency mode performance.

The NAICS Code is 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Toptica Photonics, Inc., 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 by August 3, 2018. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to angela.hitt@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than July 24, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. MST.

.