High-Precision Atomic Clock Manufacturing

The contract requires the design, manufacture, and rigorous testing of a cesium beam atomic clock engineered for long-term, unattended operation with ultra-high frequency stability to contribute to NIST’s UTC(NIST) time standard. This device must meet exacting specifications for precision and reliability, ensuring continuous, accurate timekeeping without manual intervention over extended periods, which is critical for national timekeeping infrastructure and scientific applications requiring synchronization at the highest levels of accuracy. The clock must be robust enough to maintain performance in real-world operational environments with minimal drift or degradation. This is a subcontract under the Department of Commerce, NIST, with a place of performance in Boulder, Colorado, 80305. The solicitation was posted on May 4, 2026, and responses are due on May 14, 2026, by 7:00 PM Eastern Time. The NAICS code 334519 identifies this as a contract in the category of other navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing. The project demands advanced engineering capabilities in atomic physics, precision electronics, vacuum systems, and long-term stability validation, with the end product directly supporting the national time reference maintained by NIST.