This Sources Sought opportunity from Department Of Commerce was posted on June 9, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
High-Performance Optical Atomic Clocks
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to identify qualified vendors capable of supplying two High-Performance Optical Atomic Clocks for installation in Boulder, Colorado, under NAICS code 334516 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. This Sources Sought announcement is not a solicitation, request for proposal, or request for quotation, and no commitment to award a contract exists. The clocks must meet specific technical requirements including frequency discipline to an atomic or molecular transition, documented by at least two published research studies, with RF output options at 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 100 MHz, and 1 GHz, terminated in SMA-female connectors with amplitude no less than +5 dBm into 50-ohm systems. An optical output must be delivered via a stabilized continuous-wave laser coupled into a single-mode polarization-maintaining fiber with an FC/APC connector, operating between 1000 nm and 1625 nm with power exceeding 0.1 mW. Full delivery, installation, and training must be completed within 12 weeks of award, with a five-year warranty covering both labor and parts. Acceptance testing includes characterizing Allan Deviation at 100,000 seconds against NIST hydrogen maser clocks and the ensemble time scale, with potential short-term stability evaluation using a stabilized Fabry-Perot cavity. The government will assess performance over 14 business days after delivery. Respondents must submit a capability statement no longer than four pages electronically to Angela Hitt at angela.hitt@nist.gov by June 23, 2026, detailing the providing and manufacturing company names, country of origin, technical documentation proving compliance with specifications, typical lead time, and any additional relevant information. Company brochures and marketing materials will not be accepted. The government is particularly interested in identifying U.S.-manufactured products and will use responses to evaluate potential small business set-aside opportunities; all small business categories are eligible for consideration. No pricing information is requested at this stage, and submissions will not be compensated. Proprietary data must be clearly marked, and responses will inform the eventual acquisition strategy, which may lead to a competitive or non-competitive procurement on SAM.gov. All information provided is considered draft and subject to change before any solicitation is issued.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Boulder, CO, 80305, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Submission Closed
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
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