This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not receive a response.

This Notice is for planning purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal or Request for Quotation or an obligation on the part of the NIST for conducting a follow-on acquisition. NIST does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Notice, or otherwise pay for the information requested. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by NIST will arise as a result of submission of responses to this Notice and NIST's use of such information. NIST recognizes that proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. In the absence of such identification, NIST will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data provided in the response.

NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME.

NIST is seeking information from small businesses that are capable of providing an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG).
Summary of Requirements:

The requested equipment shall include but is not limited to the minimum specifications below. The potential offeror shall provide information demonstrating that the small business entity is able to provide a phase angle measurement instrument(s) that meets the following minimum specifications:

1) The AWG shall be a self-contained unit.
2) Shall have a front panel with controls and a display which is required to generate/synthesize signals.
3) The AWG shall not require a computer in order to provide a voltage or arbitrary waveform. However, it is allowable for a computer to be required for downloading arbitrary waveforms to the AWG.
4) Shall have a minimum of four (4) independent channels.
5) Speed:
     a. sample rate of at least 10 GSa/s (on all four channels)
     b. the bandwidth (effective frequency output) of at least 2 GHz,
     c. rise time less than 150 ps defined by at least 750 mVpp.
6) AWG shall have digital synthesized baseband generation, intermediate frequency (IF)/ Radio frequency (RF) signal modulation as a required functionality. The unit shall have built in I/Q modulator operating over bandwidth of AWG.
7) AWG shall have sequencer for running arbitrary signals in continuous, triggered or gated mode.
8) Synchronization of channels: Channel to Channel skew shall be less than 40 ps.
9) Output amplitude: peak-to-peak amplitude of at least 0.4 V.
10) Shall be capable of being rackmounted.
11) Memory: a minimum of 2 giga bit samples per channle.Digital to analog converter (DAC) characteristics:
    a. Shall be of at least 16 bit without markers.
    b. Shall have at least two markers per channel.
    c. Effective number of bits at 4 GHz of bandwidth should be a minimum of 7-bits.
12) Playtime of AWG:
    a. With sample rate equal or greater than 10 GSa/S and memory of equal or greater than 2 GSa/channel
    b. Shall allow continuous playtime greater than 300 ms.
13) Duration of arbitrary signal: In addition to the requirement for total memory, the AWG must be able to switch between different waveforms, to yield a total signal duration longer than the total memory. For instance, we must be able to set up the AWG so that it switches between two different arbitrary waveforms for a total duration of at least 1 second. This ability is often called "sequencing" by OEM's
14) Distortion: Vertical and horizontal faithfulness. The signal produced by the AWG shall be faithful to the arbitrary waveform within 20% for both vertical voltage and horizontal time specifications (excluding effects due to rise/falltime). For instance, the amount of overshoot after an abrupt pulse must be no greater than 20% of the full-scale signal.
15) Spurious Free Dynamic Range: At 10 Gsa/S, with analog channel output frequency of 100 MHz, the in band performance measured across 0.01 to 1 GHz shall be at least -70 dBc
16) Instrument control: GIPB/Ethernet/RS-232 interfacing option for interfacing unit via LabVIEW or python
17) Manuals: User manual shall be printed as well as electronic (note to OAAM: This specification for manuals must be part of specifications - do not move to separate line item)

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible small business sources. The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 334515 - Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a small business size standard of 750 employees. Please include company's size classification and socio-economic status in any response to this notice. Interested parties shall describe the capabilities of their organization as it relates to the requirements described herein. 

 
Small businesses able to provide the requested equipment are directed to email a detailed response describing their capabilities to [email protected] no later than the response date for this source sought notice. The report should include any information relevant to the organization's capabilities to meet the requirements detailed in Summary of Requirements. Also, the following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice: 

1. Name of company/companies that are authorized provide product, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address).
3. Number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of product.
4. Indication of whether the product is currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts or any other government-wide contracts. If so, please provide the applicable contract number(s).
5. Indication of whether the product proposed is a commercial item currently offered in the market place.
6. Interested vendors shall address their capability of providing Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts.
7. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum performance requirements.
Responses are limited to a total of twelve (12) pages in MS Word or PDF format. NIST invites all interested small businesses to submit any questions or comments regarding the Draft Summary of Requirements via email to [email protected] within 3 calendar days of the posting of this notice. NIST intends to then post an amendment providing responses to any questions received. Official responses to the Sources Sought Notice shall be submitted by July 1, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST. 

Points of Contact:
Tracy Retterer, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 975-8448, Email: [email protected]
Robert Cowins, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 975-8335, Email: [email protected]