This Sources Sought opportunity from Department Of Commerce was posted on June 5, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
Sources Sought Frequency Comb
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to identify qualified vendors capable of providing a single optical frequency comb system meeting highly specialized technical requirements for use in its Time and Frequency division under the Chronos initiative. This effort is not a solicitation and does not obligate the government to award a contract; it is strictly a sources sought notice to assess industry capability and determine the appropriate acquisition path, including the potential for a small business set-aside. The required system must deliver optical stability better than 10^-17 relative stability to enable frequency ratio measurements between optical clocks and support development of future optical timescales. Key deliverables include the instrument itself, accompanying software and electronic manuals, on-site installation and performance verification by a vendor technician within one day, and user training conducted during installation. The product must be manufactured in the United States, and respondents must clearly state the country of origin. The acquisition is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees, and if at least two qualified small businesses respond, the future solicitation will be set aside solely for small businesses. Prospective vendors must submit a capability statement of no more than four pages via email to Lisa Stevens at lisa.stevens@nist.gov by June 15, 2026. The submission must include the names of both the providing and manufacturing companies, a clear declaration of the product’s country of manufacture, relevant specification sheets and examples of comparable products, typical lead time from order to delivery, and any additional information that may inform NIST’s minimum specifications. Sales brochures and marketing materials will not be accepted, and proprietary data must be clearly marked. No pricing information or formal quotes are permitted at this stage, and the government will not compensate respondents for information provided. Installation and performance confirmation must occur either at the vendor’s facility prior to sale or on-site at the NIST laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, with delivery and all associated activities due within 12 to 18 weeks after award. A 12-month manufacturer’s warranty covering labor, parts, travel, and return liability is required. The contract evaluation and award process, including potential set-asides, will be determined after analysis of market responses, and future procurement will be conducted through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Boulder, CO, 80305, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Submission Closed
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Acquisition Management Division
Sources Sought for Commercial Product Purchase
THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION.
It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that can provide the product described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition.
The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide a Frequency Comb per the specifications attached herein.
This announcement is not a Request for Proposals or Quotes (RFP/RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The information contained in this notice is DRAFT only and, as such, is subject to change prior to the issuance of a solicitation. No solicitation is available currently. Additionally, the Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this Sources Sought announcement. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-aside categories will be considered. In addition, this market research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, who manufacture the Frequency Comb in the U.S. prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. PLEASE INDICATE WHAT COUNTRY MANUFACTURES THIS PRODUCT.
After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive or non-competitive procurement on the System for Award Management (sam.gov) and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage that can fulfill the requirement, in accordance with the Specifications, then this acquisition shall be solicited as a small business set aside, however, NIST is seeking responses from ALL responsible sources, including large and small businesses. Responses should include the country where the product is manufactured.
This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.
Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirements should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to four (4) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:
- Name of the company that will provide the product(s).
- Name of the company that will manufacture the product.
- County of origin or manufacture of the product.
- Spec/data sheets and examples of products that meet the specifications that demonstrate experience in meeting the requirements of this procurement.
- Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of order
- Any other relevant information that is not listed above that the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.
(Company sales brochures or marketing packages will not be considered.)
Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contract Specialist, Lisa Stevens, via email at lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time posted in this notice. No quotes will be accepted at this time and will not be considered.
REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW:
See the attached Requirements and Specifications document
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