The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs.

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML), Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division (MND), CHIPS R&D Program (https://www.nist.gov/chips/metrology-community) as part of the CHIPS Act activities, requires a singly-resonant, continuous wave optical parametric oscillator. The Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division advances nanofabrication technologies and uses them to develop innovative integrated measurement microsystems. This optical parametric oscillator allows for the spectral translation of near-infrared laser light into the mid-infrared spectral region. The mid-infrared region contains strong absorption features of a wide variety of atomic and molecular species of interest to the chemistry and physics communities. A singly-resonant, continuous wave optical parametric oscillator is well suited for this type of spectroscopy due to its wide tunability, high optical power, narrow linewidth, and the ability to translate modulation with high fidelity. In order to measure the wavelength of the pump, signal, and idler beams which the optical parametric oscillator emits we require a high accuracy wavelength meter.  

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. The system must run off 120 V power (i.e., standard USA power). 

1.  The wavelength meter must be able of measuring wavelengths between 1050 nm and 2150 nm (in order to cover the range of pump and signal wavelengths of the optical parametric oscillator).  

1. The wavelength meter should be designed to measure continuous wave optical inputs. 

1. The wavelength meter should be fiber coupled and allow for fibers with FC/APC or FC/PC connectors.  

1. The wavelength meter should allow for USB connection to an external computer. 

1. The wavelength should allow for multichannel operation where both the signal beam (1450 nm to 2150 nm) and the pump beam (1050 nm to 1070 nm) can be measured without adjusting any fibers or connections. In addition this multichannel operation should be automatic without the need for user intervention or the programming of new software by the user. 

1. Optical powers less than 1 mW should be required to reach the specifications listed here. 

1. The wavelength meter’s accuracy should be better than 300 MHz. 

1. No external reference laser should be required to reach these specifications.  

1. The measurement rate should be at least 100 Hz. 

1. The wavelength meter should allow for the display of the associated interferogram in order to assess the optical parametric oscillator’s output state. 

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