The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Toptica Photonics, Inc., for the procurement of a external cavity diode laser (ECDL).   The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

The Mass and Force Group, Quantum Measurement Division, within Physical Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) performs SI-traceable measurement and calibration of force, vibration, and sound. In order to provide a narrow linewidth, tunable laser around 1550 nm for refractometry, a fiber-coupled external cavity diode laser (ECDL) is required.

The laser must be capable of a moderate tuning range (> 10 nm) around a nominal wavelength of 1550 nm, with at least 20 GHz of mode-hop free tuning range. The laser must also have a narrow linewidth (≤ 60 kHz) and deliver ≥ 20 mW of optical power at the output of an integrated optical fiber. In addition, the laser must be capable of operating within a high-bandwidth (> 1 MHz) laser frequency feedback loop. To meet this requirement, the laser must possess a high-bandwidth (>1 MHz) analog modulation input and electronics must be included to supply and demodulate a RF modulation signal to generate a Pound-Drever-Hall error signal. Furthermore, the laser system must be easily integrated with an existing Toptica FALC 110 PID controller module already owned by the group.  

This laser is central to a new effort in the Mass and Force group to develop novel, improved means of calibrating microphones using optical techniques. Without this laser, these efforts will not be possible.

Toptica Photonics Inc. is the only manufacturer found to have a commercially available product that is capable of meeting all of the Governments minimum requirements.

Delivery shall be FOB DESTINATION and shall be in accordance with the Contractors established service lead times.    

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 333314, and the size standard is 500 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued.  This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by established due date/time set forth in this notice. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected] . No telephone requests will be honored.   

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.