Solicitation for Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometer

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking a single optical frequency domain reflectometer under solicitation 1333ND26QNB030216, a firm-fixed-price request for quotation issued as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 334516, with a size standard of 1,000 employees. The solicitation was posted on May 20, 2026, and the response deadline was extended by 48 hours to May 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET, with submissions required via email to two NIST contracting officials, Nina Lin and Donald Collie, including the RFQ number in the subject line. Offers must be structured in three volumes: a technical quotation demonstrating clear, evidence-based compliance with NIST’s minimum performance specifications—including wavelength accuracy of ±1.5 pm, two-point resolution of 8 µm or better, and dynamic range of at least 120 dB for return loss—a separate firm-fixed-price quotation covering all costs including shipping and warranty, and a terms and conditions volume affirming awareness and acceptance of all applicable clauses. The award will be made using the lowest price, technically acceptable (LPTA) method, where the first qualifying offer meeting all technical requirements at the lowest price receives the contract. The equipment must be delivered FOB destination to NIST’s Gaithersburg, Maryland campus within 120 days of order, in original manufacturer packaging, with full documentation and software, and must comply with NIST SP 800-171 and other federal cybersecurity standards, including mandatory multi-factor authentication, encryption of sensitive data using FIPS 140-2 or -3 validated modules, and implementation of a system security plan. The contractor is required to indemnify the government against intellectual property claims and adhere to strict delivery and invoicing protocols, including use of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform and no partial shipments or invoicing. Contractor personnel must comply with NIST-specific campus access rules and daily verification of operational status via official channels. All responses must include a Unique Entity Identifier and CAGE code, along with certifications regarding small business status, executive compensation reporting, system for award management compliance, and adherence to prohibitions on inverted domestic corporations, delinquent tax liability, and child labor. The contract includes unique NIST clauses such as LOCAL-53 regarding campus status alerts and LOCAL-56 supers