Notice of Intent: Qunnect Automated Polarization Compensation System

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Contracting Opportunities Announcement Type: Special Notice
Announcement Number: NIST-NOI-26-01353

Subject: Procurement of Qunnect Automated Polarization Compensation System

Introduction
This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis with the Qunnect Inc., located at 141 Flushing Ave. Brooklyn NY 11205-1338 USA. The purchase order will specifically procure the Automated Polarization Compensation System. This system will be utilized by the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Applied and Computational Mathematics Division at NIST Gaithersburg MD campus.

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted using the procedures at FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334515 – Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a small business size standard of 750 Employees.

Description
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Quantum Information Group applies expertise in mathematical subdisciplines such as combinatorics, graph theory, network science, operations research, optimization, discrete nonlinear dynamics, computational geometry, quantum mechanics, and information theory. Researchers apply their knowledge and skills in areas such as the experimental quantum optics, fundamental models of physics, chemistry, biology, and information systems, complex systems analysis, pattern recognition, and quantum computing and communications. In collaboration with NIST and outside scientists, the group develops, analyzes, and applies related mathematical and experimental methods and tools for critical problems of measurement science at NIST, and develops mathematical foundations for the measurement science of information systems.

The purpose of this acquisition is to obtain an automated polarization compensation system (APC) that can be used to stabilize the polarization of an aerial fiber in our quantum network testbed, and capable of stabilizing fiber over a length, greater than 60 km. The APC will be used to stabilize our 64 km aerial fiber between NIST and the University of Maryland for the purpose of polarization entanglement distribution and polarization entanglement swapping. Since these protocols rely on transporting single photons, the APC must support time-multiplexing with the quantum signal, as otherwise the quantum signal will be swamped by the APC signal, and quantum protocols cannot be executed. Therefore, classical telecom polarization stabilization systems cannot be used, but a quantum-ready system needs to be used for our purposes. We identified the Qunnect Qu-APC system, consisting of an injector and compensator module, as the best system to suit our needs. Further, NIST has already developed a software library for this system to automate the data acquisition and data analysis. The Qu-APC will further assist with NIST’s research of developing a movable measurement test suite for quantum network component and protocol testing, verification, and characterization. The test suite will be implemented on the NIST and University of Maryland campus along with a fiber network dedicated to quantum optical signal transfer between various quantum network nodes.

The system shall meet or exceed the salient characteristics identified below. All items must be new.  Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered.  The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the proposer is not acceptable.   All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

Qunnect Qu-APC consisting of:

1)         Qu-APC Compensator:

•           Arbitrary polarization stabilization through time-multiplexing

•           Max average polarization state fidelity of 98%

•           Fast 1-10kHz Polarimeter

•           Rack mountable, less than 3U

2)         Qu-APC Injector:

•           Automated telecom injector for polarization reference.

•           Internal SFP laser at C band

•           Input ports for external laser

•           Input/output port internal optical switch for time multiplexing

•           Rack mountable, less than 3U

3)         Software and firmware to run the system on the network for remote control and monitoring

4)         Combined input->output insertion loss of less than 2 dB

Qty: 1 System

Sole Source Determination
Based on the results of market research conducted by NIST, Qunnect Inc. has been identified as the only known responsible source capable of meeting the Government's minimum requirements.

Market research determined that no source other than Qunnect Inc. can provide the required Qu-APC system, consisting of the injector and compensator modules, while maintaining compatibility with NIST's existing quantum networking software infrastructure. The Government has developed and validated software specifically designed to interface with and automate operation of the Qunnect Qu-APC system, including data acquisition, device control, and data analysis. This software is integral to ongoing research activities and supports the operation of NIST's existing quantum networking testbed.

Substituting an alternative system would require substantial redevelopment, integration, testing, and validation of the Government's software to establish compatibility with a different hardware platform. Such an effort would require significant additional time and resources that are not available under the current project schedule or funding. In addition, transitioning to a different platform would disrupt ongoing research activities, delay implementation of the quantum networking protocol over NIST's aerial fiber link, and temporarily reduce the level of automation currently achieved through the existing software environment.

Accordingly, only the Qunnect Qu-APC system is capable of meeting the Government's minimum requirements without requiring extensive software redevelopment, introducing unacceptable technical and schedule risk, or resulting in substantial duplication of cost to the Government. Therefore, Qunnect Inc. is the only known responsible source capable of satisfying this requirement, making a sole-source acquisition appropriate.

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Marvin Jean, Contract Specialist, at marvin.jean@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to marvin.jean@nist.gov so that they are received no later than July 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Eastern Time (ET).

Each response shall include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor (SAM) Universal Entity Identification (UEI)
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement