Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Ultrastable Lasers
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Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
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The Physical Measurement Laboratory at NIST intends to acquire two ultrastable lasers through a noncompetitive contract with OEWaves, Inc., specifically the OEwaves OE4040-VLN HI-Q® C-Band Lasers. These lasers are essential for reading microcavities in advanced microfabricated photonic sensors during field testing, particularly for inertial measurement applications. The lasers must possess extremely precise specifications, including a linewidth of less than 10 Hz, a tuning range of at least 210 GHz covering wavelengths from 1550.9 nm to 1554.25 nm, and vibration/acceleration sensitivity below 1 x 10^-10/g. These stringent requirements are critical to ensure accurate sensor performance under dynamic conditions and to maintain compatibility with existing sensor resonance ranges. After conducting thorough market research between February and May 2026, NIST determined that OEWaves is the sole provider capable of meeting these technical criteria, with no acceptable prototype alternatives available. The acquisition will be made under the authority of FAR 12.102(a), NAICS code 334516. Although the contract will be awarded noncompetitively, other potential sources able to meet or exceed the outlined specifications are invited to respond by June 25, 2026, providing relevant company and product information. This proactive notice is meant to confirm the exclusivity of OEWaves’ capability, while also allowing for any additional compliant offers prior to award.
General Info
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Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USASet-Aside
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Full Description
Announcement Type: Special Notice
Classification Code: 6695
Announcement Number: NIST-SS26-144
Subject: Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Ultrastable Lasers
The Physical Measurement Laboratory at NIST develops advanced microfabricated photonic sensors for a broad range of applications, including inertial measurement. As part of that work, two ultrastable lasers are required to readout microcavities in the sensors during field testing. This requires highly stable lasers that are particularly insensitive to vibration and acceleration. We also require that each laser be tunable over a frequency range of at least 200 GHz, and that together they cover the range of wavelengths from 1550.9 nm to 1554.25 nm, since various accelerometers have differences in the location of their center of resonance within this range.
NIST intends to award a non-competitive contract to OEWaves, Inc. for two (2) OEwaves OE4040-VLN HI-Q® C-Band Lasers.
This notice is not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of RFO 12.102(a). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.
NIST requires ultrastable lasers in the telecom band that meet the following minimum requirements:
- Linewidth less than 10 Hz
- Tuning range at least 210 GHz
- Vibration/acceleration sensitivity less than 1 x 10^-10/g
- Wavelengths from 1550.9 nm to 1554.25 nm.
After thorough evaluation, it has been determined that the ultrastable lasers from manufacturer, OEWaves, is essential for several reasons:
- Technical: PML requires a laser with specifics capabilities, as mentioned above. Without these minimum specifications, PML will not have capability to read advanced microfabricated photonic sensors for inertial measurement. This specific tuning range ensures that the laser can tune to a resonance of PML’s current sensor. The linewidth ensures the sensor performance is not limited by the laser, while the acceleration sensitivity ensures the measurements can be performed while the instrument is subjected to large accelerations which is key for this research. Based on market research, no other vendor offers a similar product that meets these requirements. A prototype product is not acceptable. Without a laser meeting these minimum requirements NIST will be unable to test sensors in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory. Therefore, it was determined that only OEWaves could provide an ultrastable laser that meets the Government’s minimum requirements.
NIST conducted market research from February 2026 – May 2026 by conducting online searches and discussions with sources to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. The results of that market research revealed that only OEWaves, Inc., 465 N HALSTEAD ST STE 140, PASADENA, CA 91107 USA (UEI: L6MEAK541NH5) appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements. The Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to OEWaves, under the authority of FAR 12.102(a). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516.
However, any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier number in https://sam.gov; details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements; whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied.