NOI to Sole Source - Frequency Comb System Upgrade

The 10th Contracting Squadron at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) intends to solicit and award a firm-fixed-price (FFP) commercial purchase order on a sole-source basis to Vescent Technologies, Inc. (DBA Vescent Photonics, LLC), Golden, CO (UEI: JDCKBJDFLLL5) for a proprietary laser frequency comb system upgrade and expansion.

The Physics Department's Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) requires specialized wavelength extension modules, optical frequency references, phase-lock servos, temperature controllers, and data acquisition hardware to expand its pre-existing, government-owned Vescent RubriComb frequency comb system (originally purchased under Contract FA700025P0122).

This acquisition includes the following proprietary components (or exact equivalents engineered specifically for physical and electronic docking within the pre-existing Vescent architecture):

1. Stabilaser 1542E: 1542 nm Stabilized Laser Optical Frequency Reference.
2. RUBRICOMB-100-RHT1542: Core platform exchange upgrade for optical locking at 1542.4 nm.
3. RUBRIColor Chassis & 4 Wavelength Extension Modules: Configured specifically for target atomic transition wavelengths: 780.2 nm (EXT-HS780), 882.2 nm (EXT-HS882), 993.4 nm (EXT-HS993), and 1009.9 nm (EXT-H1010).
4. 4 SLICE-OPL Offset Phase Lock Servos: Fast analog PID loops with >8 MHz bandwidth.
5. SLICE-QTC Temperature Controller & Slide Rackmounts: Four-channel thermal controller.
6. Quarto-101 Data Acquisition Controller: High-speed experimental controller.
7. On-site Training & Installation: Direct technical OEM integration support at USAFA.

The government-owned frequency comb operating at the USAFA LORC is a proprietary, closed-architecture platform designed and manufactured exclusively by Vescent Technologies, Inc.

The requested hardware modules must physically slide into, optically seed from, and electronically loop-lock with the pre-existing Vescent core architecture. Hardware and modules from alternative manufacturers operate on incompatible optical repetition rates, distinct fiber interconnect types, and non-interoperable closed-loop feedback card protocols. These alternative systems are physically and electronically incompatible with the existing Vescent infrastructure.

A competitive award to any other vendor would require the government to completely abandon its pre-existing investment and purchase a completely new system plus additional costs in auxiliary technical labor, fiber splicing, and custom software rebuilding.

Consequently, a competitive procurement would result in a substantial, unrecoverable duplication of costs and an unacceptable delay of 6 to 12 months to active, federally-funded cadet atomic research programs.

Response Instructions for Interested Parties

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes, and no solicitation document is currently available. However, the Government will consider written capability statements from any interested vendor that believes it can satisfy this requirement.

To be considered, a capability statement must clearly demonstrate the vendor's ability to provide high-precision wavelength expansion modules, master reference lasers, and phase-lock electronics that can physically, optically, and electronically integrate with USAFA's pre-existing Vescent RubriComb system without requiring a replacement of the core laser chassis.

All capability statements must include:

1. Company Name, Address, CAGE Code, and UEI Number.
2. Business size standard under NAICS 334516.
3. Detailed technical documentation proving complete physical, optical, and software compatibility with the pre-existing Vescent architecture.
4. Estimated cost and lead times to deliver a compatible solution.

Interested parties must submit their written capability statements via email to the Contracting Officer, Tammy Martin, at tammy.martin.6@us.af.mil no later than 2:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on August 24, 2026.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.