Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Glass Cell

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE AVAILABLE. The following information is provided to assist the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Lakehurst, NJ, in conducting market research of industry for the procurement of the prototype, test, build, and delivery of custom Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) cell in support of the NAVAIR Quantum Sensors Group (QSG). Purpose: This document provides specifications and background information to assess the ability of various glass and vacuum vendors to meet the specifications listed below. Background: NAVAIR QSG conducts experiments regarding the feasibility and applicability of using atomic sensors in a strategic environment. Atomic sensors make use of the intrinsic properties of atomic transitions to precisely measure a myriad of useful parameters and have been demonstrated in laboratory settings as gravimeters, accelerometers, gyroscopes, clocks, magnetometers, and gravity gradiometers. NAVAIR QSG interests lie in the application of atomic sensors for the purposes of Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) - namely, as gyroscopes and accelerometers. NAVAIR QSG utilizes a two-stage system to take these gyroscopic measurements. The first stage comprises a 2D magneto-optical trap (MOT) which forms a beam of ultra-cold atoms that then passes through an aperture into an interaction chamber where the measurements are taken. This atom beam is fed by a pair of rubidium dispensers in the 2D MOT chamber that are connected through wires to outside the vacuum by electrical feedthroughs. This 2D MOT chamber itself requires a high degree of optical access in order for the various laser beams that make up the MOT to enter the chamber and interact with the atoms. The 2D MOT further needs a set of magnets to produce the required quadrupole that enables the trap. These trapped atoms are then moved through an aperture (usually a pinhole) into the interaction chamber where they interact with various laser beams and optics to produce QSG's desired gyroscopic measurements. This interaction chamber needs to be large enough and have a high enough degree of optical access to support the required field of view for the laser and optical measurement apparatuses to take useful measurements. Finally, this whole package must be at ultra-high levels of vacuum in order to be a useful instrument. Atomic sensors require dedicated UHV systems to properly function as useful instruments. These UHV systems vary from highly cumbersome stainless steel productions that take up most of a laboratory bench (sometimes more) to very small, if rather delicate, all glass ensembles which require specialized training and knowledge to handle appropriately. NAVAIR QSG has used both stainless steel and all glass ensembles in the past. Currently, NAVAIR QSG seeks to use an all glass or mostly glass ensemble because of the optical access granted along with the reduction of scattered light. This presents several challenges as the glass required is specialized, high precision, and needs to be bonded in such a way to ensure a UHV seal at the corners, joints, and glass-to-metal seals. The glass-to-metal seals are required for connection of the glass vacuum chamber to an ion pump for continuous pumping to maintain an acceptable level of vacuum. This entire ensemble should be shock-resistant enough to survive being handled and moved between various laboratory apparatuses with an eye towards the vibrational, shock, and environmental testing necessary to eventually put this system in a brass-board demonstration on a moving platform, i.e. a truck, boat, or aircraft. Specifications: All glass or mostly glass vacuum cell. A minimum number of glass-to-metal seals is preferred. Will initially require at least a single glass-to-metal seal for connection to an Ion Pump. Exterior mounting points for permanent bar magnets or magnetic coils on 2D MOT chamber Rough measurements of scale are several centimeters, at least, in length, width, and depth to form a rectangular housing for the 2D MOT and interaction chamber with a glass-to-metal seal to a ConFlat flange between the 2D MOT and interaction chamber Vacuum down to at most 10-9 Torr, 10-11 Torr preferred. Leak rate less than 7.5 x 10-9 Torr m3 s-1 Vacuum cell requires at least four (4) electrical feedthroughs Two separate rubidium dispensers mated to aforementioned electrical feedthroughs Manufacturing capability to affix custom pinhole or aperture between 2D MOT and interaction chamber Optical Specifications Optical flatness of ?/10 @ 780.24 nm for all flat facets 10 arcseconds of parallelism on each flat facet or better 90% of surface clear aperture on all flat facets All flat facets anti-reflection (AR) coated for 780.24 nm light Scratch-dig of 60-40 for all flat facets Inhomogeneity class 3 (+/- 2 x 10-6 permissible variation of index of refraction) or better for all flat facets Abbe number of at least 55 for all flat facets At least 1 W/cm2 laser damage threshold for all flat facets Manufacturing capability to affix custom optical pieces and assemblies inside interaction chamber Manufacturing capability to test finished product in environmental, shock, and vibration resistance testing Manufacturing capability to handle large (six or more at a time) orders once prototyping is finished THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and is issued in conformance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1; it does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB), a Request for Proposal (RFP), or a Request for Quote (RFQ). This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. The Government WILL NOT PAY for any information received in response to this RFI, and the Government will not compensate the respondent for any cost incurred in developing the response to this RFI. Respondents are notified that a formal solicitation may not necessarily result from this RFI. Availability of any formal solicitation may be announced under a separate Federal Business Opportunities announcement. Any requests for copies of the solicitation will be not addressed since this is an RFI, not an RFP. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. Any comments provided may or may not be included in a formal solicitation. The Government will not release any information marked with a proprietary legend received in response to this RFI to any firms, agencies or individuals outside the Government without written permission in accordance with the legend. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All interested parties should send company and descriptive literature on currently available products that meet the Navy's requirements, described above. With the response, include a point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, website information, DUNS Number, CAGE Code, and Business Size Status for the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of this RFI. Any responses in reference to this RFI shall be submitted electronically to Contract Specialist, Cheryl Abele, at cheryl.a.abele.civ@us.navy.mil with the subject line "Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Glass Cell". All responses should be received no later than 4:00 PM Eastern, 2 March 2023. DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES: This notice is not a request for proposals and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. Sources choosing to respond to this notice are wholly responsible for any costs/expenses associated with submitting a response. Therefore any cost associated with the market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor's expense. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. The information obtained from submitted responses may be used in development of an acquisition strategy and a future solicitation. Submissions will not be returned.