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***THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE***
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing an infrared supercontinuum laser. If no alternate sources are identified, the Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to Thorlabs, Inc. (43 Sparta Ave, Newton, NJ, USA) under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516.
As part of a new NIST Strategic and Emerging Research Initiatives (SERI) program to advance measurement science for illicit drug identification and quantification under the TRANQ Research Act, the Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division is developing new infrared sensors based on metamaterials. These metamaterial sensors rely on excitation of infrared laser sources with wavelengths spanning 3.5 um to 11 um for spectroscopic detection of drug molecules in the sensitive molecular fingerprint region.
NIST has a need for a single mode, infrared supercontinuum laser covering the 3.5 um to 11um wavelength range that must be continuously tunable (no gaps) and have total optical power greater than 10 mW over the full wavelength range. This specification is necessary for both characterization of the metamaterial sensor and spectroscopic detection of drug molecules. It must meet or exceeds the following draft minimum specifications:
a) Continuously wavelength coverage from 3.5 mm to 11 mm.
b) Repetition rate between 40 MHz to 60 MHz
c) Average power over full spectral band of 10 mW or greater
d) Single spatial mode laser output
e) Output beam diameter less than 10 mm
f) Linear polarization
NIST conducted market research from April 2025 to June 2025 by performing internet searches, searches of GSA, searches of FPDS and DSBS, and speaking with colleagues and various companies to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. The results of that market research revealed that only Thorlabs, Inc. (UEI: VCJKYBSL8DL8) appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements.
HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE
In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response. Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.
QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE
Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received 5 calendar days prior to the close of this notice. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.
IMPORTANT NOTES
The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.
This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.
This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.
No award will be made as a result of this notice.
NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.
NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.
Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this r