THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on commercial vendors capable of providing a high-power supercontinuum fiber laser in support of on-going scientific and technical research projects in the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) NanoFab Laboratory. The laser will be used for Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy and other optical imaging applications.

After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed and specifications are developed for a supercontinuum fiber laser that can meet NIST's minimum requirements, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a Purchase Order. If at least two qualified small business manufacturers are identified during this market research stage, then any competitive procurement that resulted would be conducted as a small business set-aside.

The system must meet the following requirements:
1. Pulsed super-continuum visible laser output. Responses must specify:
a. Wavelength range;
b. Total power and/or power density (mW/nm);
c. Pulse duration and repetition rate.

2. One or more narrow-band laser outputs suitable for stimulated emission depletion. Responses should include wavelength and output power of narrow-band outputs;

3. Acousto-optic tunable filter for selecting wavelengths from the supercontinuum output;

4. Responders must include any available literature references utilizing their product for Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, foreign, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 334516, as those domestic sources having 500 employees or less. Please include your company's size classification in any response to this notice.

Companies that manufacture these types of systems are requested to email a detailed report describing their abilities to [email protected] no later than the response date for this sources sought notice.

The report should include achievable specifications, description of existing or prototype systems that are currently installed and operating for stimulated emission depletion microscopy, and any other information relevant to your product or capabilities. Also, the following information must be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice:

1. Name and business size of the company that manufactures the system for which specifications are provided;

2. Name of company(ies) that are authorized to sell the systems, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address);

3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of the system;

4. Indication of whether each system (including installation) for which specifications are sent to [email protected] are currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s);

5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in finalizing its market research.

All documentation must be sent to Carol A. Wood, Contract Specialist, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640. E-mail address: [email protected].

Submission must be received not later than 3:30 PM local time on March 11, 2011.