USAFA Dilution Refrigerator Source Sought
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA700025Q0022
- Agency
-
Air Force Academy
Headquarters Air Force, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334510 Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing
- Place of performance
- Usaf Academy, Colorado 80840, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Physics Department and Laser and Optics Research Center is seeking sources for a specialized 3He4He dilution refrigerator to support silicon quantum computing research. The procurement is targeting a sophisticated research device capable of reaching extremely low temperatures down to 10 mK, with specific technical requirements including 500 W cooling power at 100 mK, a cryogen-free solenoid magnet with at least a 4-inch bore, and 1 Tesla magnetic field strength. This is a market research effort (Sources Sought notice) to determine vendor interest, capabilities, and socio-economic categories, with responses due by January 15, 2025. The government is requesting interested firms submit comprehensive capabilities packages that demonstrate technical competence, including business size, socioeconomic status, potential teaming arrangements, and relevant past performance. Vendors must provide detailed specifications, identify product manufacturers, and include their System for Award Management (SAM) registration information.
The procurement does not have a specific set-aside designation, indicating it will be open to a broad range of vendors. While no specific award value is mentioned, the complexity of the dilution refrigerator suggests a high-value technical procurement likely in the six-figure range. The device must meet strict dimensional constraints, including maximum horizontal dimensions of 2.0 x 1.4 meters and a maximum height of 2.1 meters, with additional requirements such as vibration isolation under 20 nm, a turbo molecular pump, and a minimum 30-liter sample space. The research objective is to enable precise quantum computing research by allowing placement and characterization of individual silicon or phosphorus atoms on a silicon substrate. Interested vendors are encouraged to provide comprehensive documentation demonstrating their technical capabilities and manufacturing expertise in advanced cryogenic research equipment.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
SOURCES SOUGHT: THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUOTATION BUT INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY! This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government.
The Request for Quotation (RFQ) number is FA700025Q0022 and shall be used to reference any written responses to this source sought.
The Physics Department and the Laser and Optics Research Center at USAFA have a requirement to purchase a 3He4He dilution refrigerator, which is a physics research device capable of reaching very low absolute temperatures, down to 10 mK, for our program of solid state silicon quantum computing research. This expansive research investigation requires a way to put individual Si or P atoms on a Si substrate, and characterize them, which can only be done with a dilution refrigerator.
SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS/REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATIONS:
At a minimum, the Vendor must be able to supply a dilution refrigerator with the following characteristics:
- reaches a temperature of 10 mK or less
- cooling power of at least 500 µW at 100 mK
- solenoid magnet with a field of at least 1 T
- magnet is cryogen free
- magnet has bore 4 inches or larger
- magnet power supply included
- vibration isolation to less than 20 nm
- turbo molecular pump for vacuum pumping
- sample space volume of at least 30 L
- operates without external refilling of liquid nitrogen
- system dimensions no more than 2.0 x 1.4 m horizontal and no more than 2.1 m height
Include in your capabilities package your SAM UEI, Cage Code, System for Award Management expiration date, and any related specifications/drawings.
Purpose: The Dilution Refrigerator is necessary for the department's program of solid state silicon quantum computing research, specifically for creating and studying quantum computing qubits.
Market research is being conducted to determine interest, capability, and socio-economic category of potential sources for the requirement. The government requests interested parties submit a brief description of their company's business size (i.e. annual revenues and employee size), business status (i.e., 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, veteran-owned small business, or small business) anticipated teaming arrangements, and a description of similar services offered to the Government and to commercial customers.
All interested firms shall submit a capabilities package to both contacts for this requirement listed in the details of this announcement by email. Please provide information that explicitly demonstrates company capabilities-indicating examples of commercial sales-and product specifications related to this effort. Also, identify the manufacturer of the product(s) to be offered.
Update #1 ·
SOURCES SOUGHT: THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUOTATION BUT INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY! This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government.
The Request for Quotation (RFQ) number is FA700025Q1227 and shall be used to reference any written responses to this source sought.
The Physics Department and the Laser and Optics Research Center at USAFA have a requirement to purchase a 3He4He dilution refrigerator, which is a physics research device capable of reaching very low absolute temperatures, down to 10 mK, for our program of solid state silicon quantum computing research. This expansive research investigation requires a way to put individual Si or P atoms on a Si substrate, and characterize them, which can only be done with a dilution refrigerator.
SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS/REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATIONS:
At a minimum, the Vendor must be able to supply a dilution refrigerator with the following characteristics:
- reaches a temperature of 10 mK or less
- cooling power of at least 500 µW at 100 mK
- solenoid magnet with a field of at least 1 T
- magnet is cryogen free
- magnet has bore 4 inches or larger
- magnet power supply included
- vibration isolation to less than 20 nm
- turbo molecular pump for vacuum pumping
- sample space volume of at least 30 L
- operates without external refilling of liquid nitrogen
- system dimensions no more than 2.0 x 1.4 m horizontal and no more than 2.1 m height
Include in your capabilities package your SAM UEI, Cage Code, System for Award Management expiration date, and any related specifications/drawings.
Purpose: The Dilution Refrigerator is necessary for the department's program of solid state silicon quantum computing research, specifically for creating and studying quantum computing qubits.
Market research is being conducted to determine interest, capability, and socio-economic category of potential sources for the requirement. The government requests interested parties submit a brief description of their company's business size (i.e. annual revenues and employee size), business status (i.e., 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, veteran-owned small business, or small business) anticipated teaming arrangements, and a description of similar services offered to the Government and to commercial customers.
All interested firms shall submit a capabilities package to both contacts for this requirement listed in the details of this announcement by email. Please provide information that explicitly demonstrates company capabilities-indicating examples of commercial sales-and product specifications related to this effort. Also, identify the manufacturer of the product(s) to be offered.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| USAFA Dilution Refrigerator Source Sought Questions and Answers.pdf |
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| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT-SPM | Office of Science | No set-aside |
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