Research and Outreach on the Impact of Precision NIST Time

The purpose of this announcement is to fulfill the requirement of FAR 5.201. The NIST Time and Frequency Division is responsible for the realization and dissemination of official time for the United States, in the form of Coordinated Universal Time as realized by NIST, or UTC(NIST), and outlined in the United States Code (15 USC 271). Official US time is critical for a variety of legal, governmental and commercial applications. Precision realization of UTC(NIST) is also crucial to a broad range of technology critical infrastructures, including telecommunications, computer networks, positioning and navigation, public utilities, electronic financial systems, and many other applications. In the realization and distribution of UTC(NIST), the Time and Frequency Division maintains the US primary frequency standard, the time scale directly providing UTC(NIST), and the time and frequency transfer operations for the NIST contribution to global coordination of UTC through the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. The primary frequency standard is currently the NIST-F1 cesium fountain atomic standard, with the next generation standard, NIST-F2, currently under testing for deployment in the near future. The time scale includes an ensemble of several hydrogen masers and cesium beam standards regularly calibrated for absolute frequency and frequency drift through NIST-F1 (and NIST-F2 in the near future). UTC(NIST) and standard frequency information are disseminated through two-way satellite time and frequency transfer and GPS common-view time transfer for global coordination of UTC and for direct service to customers requiring precision time and frequency measurements. NIST distributes UTC(NIST) and frequency information through many other means, including low frequency and ultrahigh frequency time code radio broadcasts, Internet time service, network time distribution, and other means. In addition to realization and distribution of UTC(NIST) and standard frequency information, NIST conducts a vigorous program of research and development to improve the realization and distribution of UTC(NIST) and standard frequencies for evolving future applications. The broad range of crucial impacts for UTC(NIST) and standard NIST frequencies on commercial, government, legal and international applications makes it imperative that NIST remain closely connected to current and future users and stakeholders for commercial, government, legal and international applications of precision timing and related quantities. These close connections ensure that NIST is providing the required support for existing applications, and that NIST is appropriately preparing for future needs and applications. The current requirement may be summarized as follows to obtain contractor services to: 1) work closely with the NIST Time and Frequency Division to represent NIST interests in timing and related quantities to key stakeholders and customers for commercial, government, legal and international time and frequency applications. 2) engage these key customers and stakeholders to gather information and develop recommendations to NIST ensuring that NIST is most effectively meeting existing stakeholder needs and is best prepared to meet future needs. 3) visit time and frequency research and metrology programs across the US and across the world to evaluate current capabilities and future plans and compare with NIST capabilities and plans. 4) develop analyses and informed recommendations regarding the current effectiveness and future possibilities for NIST time and frequency measurement, distribution and research programs that most effectively engage current and future stakeholders and customers. Contractor Requirements: The contractor must successfully work with a broad range of stakeholders and customers in commerce, government, the international timing community, legal fields, and other areas where precision time and frequency is required. The contractor must also successfully work with leading NIST scientists and metrologists to understand current measurement and research programs and the potential for future programs. The contractor will develop expert analyses and recommendations based on input from a broad range of external customers and stakeholders and on input from leading NIST scientists and metrologists. To successfully fulfill these requirements, the contractor must possess broad and deep knowledge of atomic time and frequency standards, atomic time scales, precision satellite-mediated time and frequency transfer, international time and frequency coordination, and applications of precision time and frequency measurements for commercial, government, legal and international applications. The contractor must have demonstrated experience in all these areas. Furthermore, the contractor must qualify and maintain eligibility for a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level security clearance. IAW FAR 5.203(a) & 6.302-1(d)(2), The Government intends to award a contract to Mr. Thomas Bartholomew with a performance period of 1 year for the date of award with the potential for four (4) 1-year option periods. Due to the highly technical nature of the work to be performed, Mr. Bartholomew is the only known resource with the technical capability, knowledge, and experience to satisfy the requirement. The estimated date of award of this action is 3/21/2014 with an effective date of 4/1/2014. Any responsible source that currently possess the requisite knowledge and experience to meet this requirement may submit information to demonstrate such; however, this announcement does not represent a solicitation as defined in FAR 2.101 and any subsequent submission in response to this notice does not obligate the government to make award to a source other than that identified above. To be considered, any information submitted in response to this request shall 1) be received no later than 3/15/2014; and 2) contain sufficient detail to demonstrate the capability and experience to meet the requirement; and 3) shall not exceed 10 pages including attachments.