Time Scale Synthesizers

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a sources sought notice under solicitation number NB688000-26-02413 to assess industry capabilities for the procurement of four high-precision Time Scale Synthesizers, with a response deadline of July 31, 2026. The requirement calls for systems that generate a continuous, coherent time scale from a single atomic clock reference, delivering ultra-stable RF and pulse-per-second outputs with stringent performance metrics including additive phase noise below -100 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset, frequency tuning precision of ≤1×10⁻¹⁷, and phase resolution under 1 ps or 63 µrad at 10 MHz. Units must provide at least two RF outputs with ≥+10 dBm power, one 3V PPS output, dual power input support (120V/208V AC and 24V DC), and be rack-mountable with RS-232, USB, or Ethernet interfaces for control and synchronization. Delivery is required to two NIST locations—325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 and 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899—with all units to be installed, tested, and accepted by the government within 12 to 18 weeks after order receipt. The solicitation explicitly states that this is not a formal request for quotation but a market research tool aimed at identifying qualified small businesses, with NAICS code 334515 indicating a 750-employee size standard and a preference for domestic manufacturing under potential small business set-aside considerations. All responses must be submitted as a concise capability statement not exceeding four pages, emailed to Lisa Stevens at lisa.stevens@nist.gov, and must include company identification, country of manufacture, technical specifications, and delivery timelines without pricing information, as no formal cost data is requested at this stage. Vendor submissions are required to disclose manufacturing origin to evaluate compliance with potential Buy American Act or Trade Agreements Act obligations in a future solicitation. On-site personnel involved in installation or support must be U.S. citizens, with foreign nationals subject to 30-day preregistration. Packaging, marking, and preservation standards are not detailed in the notice but are expected to be defined in the final requirements document. Acceptance will occur at the delivery