High-performance optical atomic clocks to contribute to official US time.

The Department of Commerce is seeking a high-performance, robust optical atomic clock to be integrated into the timescale in Boulder, Colorado. This system will support the generation of UTC(NIST), which is the official realization of Coordinated Universal Time for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. By augmenting the existing ensemble of microwave atomic clocks, this high-stability clock will receive significant relative weight in the computation algorithm to decrease the overall reliance on microwave standards. This opportunity is listed as a forecast under NAICS code 541715, with the place of performance located in Boulder. Interested parties may coordinate with the point of contact, Kathryn Stephenson, or the Department of Commerce Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for further information.