The NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory, Nanoscale Device Characterization Division (NDCD) transforms nano- and atom-scale technologies by advancing measurement science and fundamental knowledge. The Division's mission is to develop and advance the measurement and knowledge infrastructure to characterize nano- and atom-scale engineered materials and solid-state devices for innovation in information processing, sensing, and future quantum technologies.  Program development in the area of color center (CC) devices requires acquisition of a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) system for CC characterization and application down to the single entity limit.

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a commercial solution that will achieve the objectives described above, in addition to the following essential requirements: 

1. Contain four single mode fiber-coupled superconducting nanowire single photon detectors
2. Contain wiring and fiber for four additional detectors to be added by NIST at a later date
3. Provide closed-loop cooling to 2.5 K or less
4. Operate at a temperature ≤ 800 mK at the detector stage
5. Exhibit a hold time ≥ 24 hours
6. Reach temperature of 2.5 K or less in 12 hours or less
7. Provide true latch-free operation
8. Contain two detectors with system detection efficiency > 80 % from 1200 nm – 1600 nm
9. System detection efficiency
10. Contain two detectors with system detection efficiency > 80 % from 900 nm – 1200 nm
11. Detectors have < 100 ps FWHM jitter
12. Detectors have < 50 dark counts per second
13. Access to cryostat and detectors without voiding warranty
14. Included software for monitoring system pressure with 3rd party turbomolecular pump and gauge

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 in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.  Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

• Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice.  For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following:
  • Manufacturer name
  • Model number
  • Technical specifications
  • If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s)

• Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements.  Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response.
  • Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.

• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why.  Please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive.

• State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details, including timeline.

• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

• • Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and addi