External Hardware for ZCU 216 Boards

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a Sources Sought notice under solicitation number NB686050-26-01948 to gather market intelligence on potential suppliers capable of providing external hardware for ZCU216 Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) control boards. This is not a formal solicitation for quotes or proposals, and no pricing or contractual commitments are being requested at this time. The effort aims to determine whether a Total Small Business Set-Aside is feasible by collecting capability statements from interested firms, with all responses required to include the company providing the product, the manufacturer’s identity, the country of origin, technical specifications, typical lead times, and supporting documentation such as data sheets or product examples. Capability statements must be submitted via email to Contract Specialist Angela Hitt at angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than June 26, 2026, and are limited to four pages with proprietary information clearly marked. The anticipated deliverables include three sets of enclosures and daughter boards designed to remap I/O channels of ZCU216 RFSoC boards, with technical requirements specifying four output channels operating from DC to over 1 GHz, twelve output channels extending up to 8 GHz, and four input channels covering 4 to 8 GHz. All hardware must be compatible with the open-source QICK firmware and come with all necessary connectors for immediate assembly and operation. Delivery, installation, and training must be completed within eight weeks after award, with the final performance location in Boulder, Colorado. The warranty period, if awarded, would be two years commencing upon government acceptance of the system, covering both parts and labor. Packaging must meet original manufacturer standards, including all accompanying documentation and software, though specific MIL-STD labeling requirements are not defined. Responses must include manufacturing origin details to support small business set-aside determinations, and marketing brochures or sales materials are explicitly excluded from consideration.