Wavelength Meter

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting bids for a high-precision laser wavelength meter under solicitation number NB688000-26-02415, aimed at supporting quantum logic spectroscopy and optical clock development under the Chronos initiative. The equipment must feature eight input channels accessible via an external fiber switch and include a built-in 4-channel PID controller capable of laser frequency stabilization with precision under 1 MHz. Technical requirements specify a wavelength measurement range of 397–1120 nm, frequency accuracy of no worse than 10 MHz, resolution of 1 MHz or better, and a sampling rate of at least 1 kHz. Delivery is expected within 10 weeks after receipt of order to the NIST facility in Boulder, Colorado, with government acceptance testing to occur on-site over a 7–14 day period. No formal inspection criteria or external standards are outlined, with acceptance based on adherence to manufacturer specifications and implied performance thresholds. The solicitation requires US citizenship for on-site personnel during performance and mandates that foreign nationals be preregistered 30 days in advance, reflecting a controlled access environment possibly tied to export control compliance. Vendor representatives may be granted extended site access beyond three days, with all travel subject to the Federal Travel Regulation and reimbursable as a separate cost. Government-furnished property may not be removed without coordination with designated custodians, indicating an emphasis on mitigating organizational conflicts of interest. The contract structure includes up to four optional performance periods, but no pricing, line-item details, or contract value estimates are available, as the RFQ remains a template without completed cost fields. Submission is due by August 13, 2026, through the designated procurement portal, with no page limits or mandatory submission volumes specified, though responses must follow the provided structured format. No FAR clauses, evaluation factors, representations, certifications, or packaging requirements are detailed in the provided materials.