Fiber-Optic Time Transfer System Design & Engineering

The contract seeks the design and engineering of a fiber-based precise time transfer system capable of operating over long-haul fiber links exceeding 800 miles without reliance on GPS, achieving an accuracy of 100 nanoseconds and maintaining synchronization for up to 30 days during signal loss. The system must be fully traceable to NIST time standards, ensuring federal compliance and operational integrity for mission-critical applications. Performance requirements emphasize robustness, stability, and precision under real-world environmental and transmission conditions, with no tolerance for dependency on satellite-based timing sources. The project is issued as a subcontract under NAICS code 334220, reflecting its focus on communications equipment manufacturing, and is managed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Acquisition Division. Responses are due by May 1, 2026, and the work will be performed at an unspecified location within the United States. While no set-aside provisions are specified, the contract is targeted at qualified technical teams with demonstrated expertise in optical timing, fiber-optic infrastructure, and high-precision time synchronization systems. The requirement underscores a national priority for resilient, GPS-independent timing infrastructure essential for secure communications, financial networks, and critical infrastructure operations.