National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Acquisition Management Division

Sources Sought for Commercial Item Purchase

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that are capable of providing a Fiber Laser of center wavelength 1118.54nm. The Ion Trap group requires a low-maintenance turn-key fiber laser to manipulate magnesium ions. Manipulation of such ions is essential to the core research of the project, so the laser must have the following technical specifications:

• High power, narrow linewidth single frequency fiber laser. Laser head and control unit all in one 19 inch rack.
• Center wavelength: 1118.54nm +/-0.1nm
• Linewidth: <100kHz with typical performance < 70kHz
• Temperature tuning: >450pm
• Piezo tuning range: > 9pm
• Piezo voltage: 0..200V
• Output Power: 2W
• Fiber coupled output (non-PM)

This announcement is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available at this time. The purpose of this synopsis is to identify organizations with the requisite qualifications to meet the requirements of the item stated herein. After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed and compared with NIST's minimum requirements, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then this acquisition may be solicited as a small business set aside. NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses (SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB and VOSB). This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard for such requirements of 500 employees. The specific purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is to determine if there are small businesses, within the parameters identified above, that are capable of providing the item required.

Interested business organizations that believe they are capable of meeting the requirement should submit electronic copies or mailed copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to ten (10) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:

1. Name of company that will provide the item.
2. Name of company that will manufacture the item.
3. Spec sheets of the item showing the ability to meet the criteria identified above
4. Typical number of weeks ARO to deliver the item.
5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.

Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contracting Officer no later than March 27, 2012. The capability statement shall identify the business status of the organization.

Only electronic or mailed statements will be accepted. Faxes will not be accepted. Send to Christine Rogge, Contract Specialist, at [email protected]. Direct all questions to this e-mail or to Leonard Spakow at [email protected].