Optical Frequency Combs

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the Department of Commerce, is soliciting firm-fixed-price quotations for optical frequency comb systems with quotations due August 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM Mountain Time and questions due August 15. This is a simplified commercial acquisition under FAR Part 12 with no small business set-aside, evaluated under Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology.

Place of performance and delivery is Boulder, Colorado (325 Broadway, NIST campus). The procurement calls for one optical frequency comb system (Item 1) and a separately priced option for two identical systems (Item 2). Item 1 requires 200 MHz or greater repetition rate with turnkey operation, high-speed modulation of f_rep and f_CEO, built-in f_CEO stabilization with phase noise less than 1 radian integrated 10 Hz to 1 MHz, f_rep stabilization via 1156 nm optical input or 10 MHz RF reference, wavelength extension modules for heterodyne beats and laser locking at 1156 nm, 1388 nm, 759 nm, 556 nm, and 798 nm (with external laser inputs less than 1 mW), residual stability for locked external lasers less than 3e-16 at 1 second, and f_rep rate output signal residual stability of 1e-14 or less at 1 second. The system must be 8U rack-mountable or less, include on-site installation and training, and support continuous operation for multiple consecutive weeks. Item 2 specifies identical equipment except wavelength extension includes 1112 nm instead of 556 nm. Delivery, installation, and training must be completed within 6–8 months; government acceptance testing requires 21 business days. The NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. Evaluation uses Technical Capability (Acceptable/Unacceptable) and Price (reasonableness, no realism analysis). Quotations must be emailed to lisa.stevens@nist.gov; all quoters must maintain active SAM.gov registration. Delivery is FOB Destination with contractor responsibility for transportation costs.