Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Pulse Duration Measurement Autocorrelator Device

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), The Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) requires an autocorrelator device for femtosecond laser pulse diagnostics. The GRL must procure this diagnostic instrument so that they can characterize the femtosecond pulses generated by a laser that produces femtosecond pulses in the spectral range of 630 nm to 5000 nm. The performance of the autocorrelator needs to meet certain specifications provided in the table below. The research team at GRL considered the laser output from the Opera HP optical parametric amplifier device to come up with these specifications and requirements for the laser.

The autocorrelator should be able to work both as an intensity autocorrelator and an interferometric autocorrelator at a toggle of a switch. The autocorrelator should be able to work in the spectral range of visible light to Mid-Wave infrared light through the change of optics set. The pulse-width measurement equipment should be calibrated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards. The autocorrelator should have a sub femtosecond temporal resolution. GRL has bought an Optical Parametric Amplifier which can output 300 femtosecond pulses from 630 nm to 2500 nm and the autocorrelator needs to be able to measure the pulse durations coming out of this laser system. Also, at the completion of the Flex-4 project we plan to have laser pulses in the 4500nm-4800nm range. The autocorrelator system needs to meet minimum optical, environmental, mechanical, and electrical specifications which are listed in the DOR. See the description of requirement for specifics of the device. Therefore, it is recommended that the APE PulseCheck 2000,offered by Applied Physics and Electronics, Inc. is recommended as the only commercial product which is capable of meeting the dual capability and spectral range required. This laser is not available from mandatory sources. Therefore, it is recommended that a sole source be made to Applied Physis and Electronics, Inc. Cage Code 6BAC3.

The Government intends to procure from only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). This notice of intent is for information purposes only. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals. A solicitation will not be issued. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor’s ability to fulfill this requirement. The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Verbal communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses to this requirement may be submitted to Ethel D. Grant at Ethel.D.Grant@usace.army.mil. The solicitation number shall be included in the subject line of the e-mail submission. Responses must be received no later than 2:00PM CST, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.