Solicitation for Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometer

The National Institute of Standards and Technology seeks one optical frequency domain reflectometer for its Gaithersburg, Maryland campus, with proposals due May 22 at 4:00 p.m. ET (extended 48 hours via Amendment 01 issued May 20). This is a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), 1,000-employee size standard.

The reflectometer must cover telecommunications C and L bands (1520 nm to 1630 nm) and support advanced measurement of integrated photonics components under the CHIPS metrology program. Technical specifications include return loss measurements with 120 dB dynamic range and 0.4 dB accuracy, insertion loss with 115 dB dynamic range and 0.4 dB accuracy, three length measurement modes (1–5 m, 10–20 m, and 40–60 m) with two-point sampling resolution of 8 micrometers or better within 5 seconds or less, remote ethernet control with software drivers compatible with Labview, Python, or Matlab, and a minimum 12-month warranty. The system must include an external bench top laser source and operate with user-provided sources meeting linewidth less than 300 kHz and wavelength accuracy of 1.5 pm or better. Only new equipment is acceptable; no used, remanufactured, prototype, or gray market items qualify. Cybersecurity controls must align with FISMA, OMB Circular A-130, and NIST SP 800-171, including system security plans, secure configurations, multifactor authentication, vulnerability scanning, and encryption (TLS 1.2 minimum in transit, FIPS 140-2/140-3 validated at rest).

Delivery is FOB destination within 120 days. Payment is 100 percent upon receipt, installation, and acceptance (anticipated within two weeks), with Net 30-day terms. Quotations must be firm-fixed-price, valid 90 days, submitted electronically in three volumes (Technical, Price, and Terms and Conditions) to Nina Lin (nina.lin@nist.gov) and Donald Collie (donald.collie@nist.gov). Award goes to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quoter. All quoters must maintain active SAM.gov registration through award and final payment.