Procurement of Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) System

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is preparing to procure a complete Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) 5G system, with a sources sought notice due by June 17, 2026; this is market research only and no contract award will be based on responses.

The system will be delivered and installed at NIST's National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Rockville, Maryland. NIST seeks an end-to-end ORAN 5G system integrated with the Government's existing 3GPP-compliant Release 16 5G core, operating under O-RAN Alliance Split 7.2 architecture to support cybersecurity research, interoperability testing, and performance evaluation. Deliverables include CU/DU software supporting 3GPP Release 16 and O-RAN 1.0 with perpetual licensing, two independent physical servers, 5G NR TDD RU software supporting 100 MHz bandwidth at sub-6 GHz with perpetual licensing, a 5G NR TDD Radio Unit with 4T4R operation and minimum 4 × 250 mW output power, core integration services, two commercially available 5G NR user devices, ten SIM cards with SUCI protection, and a timing and synchronization system meeting ORAN requirements. All equipment must be new and current production; experimental, prototype, beta-release, remanufactured, or gray-market products are not acceptable. Delivery, installation, and training must be completed within 90 calendar days after award. The contractor must provide turnkey installation, on-site and/or remote training for up to five Government personnel, a two-UE operational test with logging, and a minimum three-year warranty and support agreement with 72-hour maintenance response. Anticipated period of performance is one year with an optional six-month extension. Responses should address company information, proposed evaluation factors, commercial pricing (estimates optional; specific proposals prohibited), safety programs, quality standards, operational capabilities, FAR 52.219-14 subcontracting compliance, and existing GSA Schedule or federal contracts. Submit responses to robert.cowins@nist.gov limited to ten pages (excluding cover page and pricing sections).