High-Performance Optical Atomic Clocks
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting a sources sought market research to identify potential and eligible vendors capable of providing two High-Performance Optical Atomic Clocks to be located in Boulder, Colorado. This announcement is strictly for information gathering purposes and is not a request for quotation or proposal, nor does it commit the government to any contract award. Interested businesses, including both small and large firms, are invited to submit capability statements limited to four pages, detailing their company information, manufacturing origin, product specifications, lead times, and any additional relevant information. The information collected will help NIST determine the appropriate acquisition approach and assess the possibility of a small business set-aside based on the availability of qualified small business vendors. The acquisition falls under the NAICS code 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. Vendors must clearly indicate the country of manufacture for the optical atomic clocks. The deadline for submission is June 23, 2026, and communications should be directed to the contracting officer, Angela Hitt. NIST emphasizes that no quotes will be accepted at this stage, and proprietary information submitted should be appropriately marked. The results of this market research will inform whether a competitive or non-competitive solicitation will be issued on sam.gov in the future.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Boulder, CO, 80305, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Acquisition Management Division
Sources Sought for Commercial Product Purchase
THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION.
It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that can provide the product described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition.
The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide two High-Performance Optical Atomic Clocks in Boulder per the specifications attached herein.
This announcement is not a Request for Proposals or Quotes (RFP/RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The information contained in this notice is DRAFT only and, as such, is subject to change prior to the issuance of a solicitation. No solicitation is available currently. Additionally, the Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this Sources Sought announcement. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-aside categories will be considered. In addition, this market research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, who manufacture the High-Performance Optical Atomic Clocks in the U.S. prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. PLEASE INDICATE WHAT COUNTRY MANUFACTURES THIS PRODUCT.
After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive or non-competitive procurement on the System for Award Management (sam.gov) and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage that can fulfill the requirement, in accordance with the Specifications, then this acquisition shall be solicited as a small business set aside, however, NIST is seeking responses from ALL responsible sources, including large and small businesses. Responses should include the country where the product is manufactured.
This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.
Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirements should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to four (4) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:
- Name of the company that will provide the product(s).
- Name of the company that will manufacture the product.
- County of origin or manufacture of the product.
- Spec/data sheets and examples of products that meet the specifications that demonstrate experience in meeting the requirements of this procurement.
- Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of order
- Any other relevant information that is not listed above that the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.
(Company sales brochures or marketing packages will not be considered.)
Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contracting Officer, Angela Hitt via email at angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than the date and time posted in this notice. No quotes will be accepted at this time and will not be considered.
REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW:
See the attached Statement of Requirements document