Sources Sought For Frequency Comb System

Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice

Subject to FAR clause 52.215-3 entitled “Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes,” this announcement constitutes a Sources Sought Notice for information and planning purposes for qualified and experienced sources to provide a frequency-comb system in support of the United States Naval Observatory (USNO). This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. It is not to be construed in any way as a commitment by the Government for any purpose other than to gain the information requested, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Interested parties are encouraged to respond to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice.

Program Background

The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) is the authoritative source of time for the Department of Defense. For this purpose, the USNO’s Precise Time Department maintains an ensemble of high-performing atomic clocks that is used to generate precise time. Because of the lack of commercial vendors for the highest performing clocks, stocking the clock ensemble with systems based on cutting-edge technology requires that these systems be designed and built in-house.

Within the Precise Time Department, the Clock Development Division is investigating atomic clock technology using optical spectroscopy on an atomic beam of calcium. The calcium clock transition corresponds to a wavelength of 657 nanometers (nm), atomic ground state detection utilizes a transition at 423 nm, and excited state detection utilizes a 431-nm transition. We have procured a laser to generate 657 nm spectroscopic light by frequency doubling a cavity-stabilized 1315 nm laser, since 1315 nm laser technology is further developed than that at 657 nm.  Similarly, we are procuring laser systems at 826 nm and 862 nm to generate the detection laser light via frequency doubling.

Scope

The objective of this effort is to provide a frequency-comb system that will lock to USNO’s narrow 1315 nm laser and transfer the stability to the detection laser systems at 826 nm and 862 nm, as well as transferring the stability to radio-frequency (RF) signals of 100 mega-Hertz (MHz) and 10 MHz.

Any potential contract resulting from this RFI/Sources Sought Notice is anticipated to be a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) award. See the draft Statement of Work (SOW) posted with this notice for additional details.

Place of Performance (Site Locations)

Installation and training must be provided on site in Washington, D.C.

NAICS Code

The NAICS code for this requirement is anticipated to be 335921, Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing.  The product service code (PSC) is 6030, Fiber Optic Devices.

Period of Performance

Performance is estimated at nine (9) months or sooner for the delivery of components from award date.

Capabilities Statement

This is a market research tool. The input provided will help the Navy ascertain the interest, capability, and capacity of potential businesses. If you are an interested business, FLCN appreciates your assistance in providing a capabilities statement addressing the items below. Standard company brochures will not be reviewed. All technical questions and inquiries may be submitted within the response.

1.  Full business name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and e-mail address

2.  Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code

3.  Size of business: Large Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged, 8(a), HubZone, Woman-owned, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, or other category

4.  If the items can be obtained from a GSA or SeaPort-NXG contract vehicle, provide the applicable contract number.

5.  Describe your ability to support the scope of the requirement listed in this notice and in the provided draft SOW (Attachment I). Documentation of technical expertise and qualifications must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary capabilities contained in this notice.

6.  Please submit any questions you have regarding this RFI/Sources Sought Notice and the draft SOW via email (no phone calls will be accepted).

7.  Please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for the required services.

Submission

Responses should be limited to no more than four standard typewritten pages. Reponses should reference USNO Frequency-Comb System and shall be submitted by e-mail to Shere’ C. Reese at shere.c.reese.civ@us.navy.mil by 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on 29 February 2024. No phone calls will be accepted.

Again, this is not a request for proposals. Respondents will not be notified of the results. Please note that the information within this RFI/Sources Sought Notice may be updated and/or may change prior to an official solicitation, if any, is issued.