Sources Sought for: one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser

(1) Action Code :     SOURCES SOUGHT

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources.  This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

(2) Date : 7 January 2022            

(3) Classification Code : 66         

(4) NAICS Code: 334510  

(5) NAICS Size Standard: 1,250 Employees

(6) Contracting Office Address: 2800 Powder Mill Road
       Bldg. 601
       Adelphi, Maryland 20783

(7) Subject:  Sources Sought for: one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number:  W911QX-22-Q-0023

(9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: Five (5) days after date of posting

(10) Contact Point: Elaine Modl, Acquisition Specialist, elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil  

(11)

A. Objective:

To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation.

B. Salient Characteristics

Technical Requirements for one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser

The Army Research Lab (ARL) and the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate (SEDD) Quantum Science and Technology Branch requires a laser system to generate light with a wavelength of 435 nanometer (nm) (435 e-9 meter). This laser will be used to drive a quadrupole transition in the 171 isotope of singly-ionized atomic Ytterbium (171Yb+). The laser system will be locked to an ARL-supplied optical reference cavity from Stable Laser Systems which has a finesse greater than (>) 50,000 using laser light emitted on a secondary port at a wavelength of 870 nm. The laser system shall have the following characteristics: 

• Primary output
  • Wavelength: 435 nm
  • Mode: The mode shall be single-mode, continuous wave (CW), transverse electric mode 00 (TEM00).
  • Free-space coupled.
  • Power: Greater than (>) 0.5 watt.
  • Linewidth: The standard deviation of frequency excursions must be less than (<) 200 kHz (200e3 hertz) for a sample interval of 5 microsecond (5e-6 second).
  • An optical isolator shall be included with greater than (>) 40 decibel isolation, mounted inside the laser chassis.
• Secondary output
  • Wavelength: 870 nm
  • Mode: The mode shall be single-mode, continuous wave, transverse electric mode 00 (TEM00).
  • The laser light shall be coupled to single mode (SM) polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber.
  • Sufficient control of polarization degrees of freedom must be supplied to achieve a SM PM coupling with a polarization extinction ratio (PER) greater than (>) 100. If not already included, there must be room inside the laser body for polarizer and L/2 waveplate as last optical elements before the fiber coupler.
  • Power: Greater than (>) 4 mW (4e-3 watt) after fiber-coupling.
  • Linewidth: The standard deviation of frequency excursions must be less than (<) kHz for a sample interval of 5 microsecond. Test results showing that the class of laser offered by the vendor meets this specification. Acceptable approaches include heterodyne beat of two free-running lasers or of a single laser with an optical delay-line.
  • Optical isolator shall be included with greater than (>) 40 decibel isolation, mounted inside the laser chassis.
• Mode-hop free tuning range: greater than (>) 1 GHz (1e9 hertz).
• Power: 110 volts, 60 hertz
• Control electronics: The Contractor shall include Control electronics required to operate the laser:
  • Automatic relocking of any internal doubling stages (Automatic alignment of internal doubling states is not required).
  • Electronics suitable for generating and demodulating radio frequencies (RF) as required to implement a Pound Drever Hall (PDH) lock.
  • Electronics shall support laser locking to the optical cavity and frequency narrowing based on the PDH signal to a final linewidth less than (<) 100 Hz.
• Reporting and Manuals: The Contractor shall provide documentation related to the operation of the lasers at delivery including operation manuals and acceptance reports.
   
• Delivery: The Contractor shall include the cost of shipping and on-site installation in their quote of the laser system. Delivery location is Army Research Lab, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD, USA, 20783. The Contractor shall cover all travel related costs.
   
  C. Responses:
   
  All interested parties should notify this office by e-mail within the posted date.  Responses shall include:
   

1. To what extent each of the specifications can be met.
    
2.  Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 1,000 Employees standard that accompanies NAICS code 334516. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].
    
3. Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects.
    
   (12) Responses to this sources sought are due no later than 5:00PM eastern standard time five (5) days after posting. Submissions should be emailed to elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil.  
    
   Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Elaine Modl at elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil or 301-394-3693.  Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted.
    (13) Place of Contract Performance: Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Adelphi, MD
   (14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: 16 to 20 weeks after contract award.