Inactive

(1) Action Code : SOURCES SOUGHT This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitati... (1) Action Code : SOURCES SOUGHT This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate. (2) Date : 26 January 2022 (3) Classification Code : 66 (4) NAICS Code: 334510 (5) NAICS Size Standard: 1,250 Employees (6) Contracting Office Address: 2800 Powder Mill Road Bldg. 601 Adelphi, Maryland 20783 (7) Subject: Sources Sought for: one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser (8) Proposed Solicitation Number: W911QX-22-Q-0023 (9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: 02 February 2022 (10) Contact Point: Elaine Modl, Acquisition Specialist, elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil (11) A. Objective: To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation. B. Salient Characteristics Technical Requirements for one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser The Army Research Lab (ARL) and the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate (SEDD) Quantum Science and Technology Branch requires a laser system to generate light with a wavelength of 435 nanometer (nm) (435 e-9 meter). This laser will be used to drive a quadrupole transition in the 171 isotope of singly-ionized atomic Ytterbium (171Yb+). The laser system will be locked to an ARL-supplied optical reference cavity from Stable Laser Systems which has a finesse greater than (>) 50,000 using laser light emitted on a secondary port at a wavelength of 870 nm. The laser system shall have the following characteristics: Primary output Wavelength: 435 nm Mode: The mode shall be single-mode, continuous wave (CW), transverse electric mode 00 (TEM00). Free-space coupled. Power: Greater than (>) 0.5 watt. Linewidth: The standard deviation of frequency excursions must be less than (<) 200 kHz (200e3 hertz) for a sample interval of 5 microsecond (5e-6 second). An optical isolator shall be included with greater than (>) 40 decibel isolation, mounted inside the laser chassis. Secondary output Wavelength: 870 nm Mode: The mode shall be single-mode, continuous wave, transverse electric mode 00 (TEM00). The laser light shall be coupled to single mode (SM) polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber. Sufficient control of polarization degrees of freedom must be supplied to achieve a SM PM coupling with a polarization extinction ratio (PER) greater than (>) 100. If not already included, there must be room inside the laser body for polarizer and L/2 waveplate as last optical elements before the fiber coupler. Power: Greater than (>) 4 mW (4e-3 watt) after fiber-coupling. Linewidth: The standard deviation of frequency excursions must be less than (<) kHz for a sample interval of 5 microsecond. Test results showing that the class of laser offered by the vendor meets this specification. Acceptable approaches include heterodyne beat of two free-running lasers or of a single laser with an optical delay-line. Optical isolator shall be included with greater than (>) 40 decibel isolation, mounted inside the laser chassis. Mode-hop free tuning range: greater than (>) 1 GHz (1e9 hertz). Power: 110 volts, 60 hertz Control electronics: The Contractor shall include Control electronics required to operate the laser: Automatic relocking of any internal doubling stages (Automatic alignment of internal doubling states is not required). Electronics suitable for generating and demodulating radio frequencies (RF) as required to implement a Pound Drever Hall (PDH) lock. Electronics shall support laser locking to the optical cavity and frequency narrowing based on the PDH signal to a final linewidth less than (<) 100 Hz. Reporting and Manuals: The Contractor shall provide documentation related to the operation of the lasers at delivery including operation manuals and acceptance reports. Delivery: The Contractor shall include the cost of shipping and on-site installation in their quote of the laser system. Delivery location is Army Research Lab, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD, USA, 20783. The Contractor shall cover all travel related costs. C. Responses: All interested parties should notify this office by e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include: To what extent each of the specifications can be met. Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 1,000 Employees standard that accompanies NAICS code 334516. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.]. Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects. (12) Responses to this sources sought are due no later than 5:00PM eastern standard time 02 February 2022. Submissions should be emailed to elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil. Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Elaine Modl at elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil or 301-394-3693. Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted. (13) Place of Contract Performance: Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Adelphi, MD (14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: 16 to 20 weeks after contract award.

Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Description: Quantity one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser Disclaimer: This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subp... Description: Quantity one (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser Disclaimer: This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. NOTICE: THIS PROCUREMENT WILL BE CONDUCTED USING A TIERED EVALUATION OF OFFERS. THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL BE UTILIZED: THIS A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE THAT WILL CONVERT TO FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IF NO ACCEPTABLE OFFERS ARE RECEIVED FROM RESPONSIBLE, SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS. FOR OFFERS TO BE CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE, THEY MUST MEET ALL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THE SOLICITATION AND BE competitive in terms of market prices, quality, and delivery. If ONLY ONE ACCEPTABLE OFFER IS RECEIVED FROM A RESPONSIBLE, SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN, THE CONTRACTING oFFICER WILL CONSIDER AWARDING DIRECTLY TO THAT FIRM, PRIOR TO THE DISSOLUTION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE. NO AMENDMENT WILL BE ISSUED TO CONVERT THE SOLICITATION TO FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. IF THE SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE IS DISSOLVED, THE GOVERNMENT WILL AWARD TO THE LARGE BUSINESS WHOSE OFFER IS MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT, BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS SOLICITATION. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND, REGARDLESS OF BUSINESS SIZE; HOWEVER, THEY MUST DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE first, AND FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION ONLY AFTER THE ABOVE CRITERIA IS NOT MET. This acquisition is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-02 dated 14 January 2022. For purposes of this acquisition, the associated NAICS code 334510. The small business size standard is 1,250 employees Contract Line Item (CLIN) Structure: The following is a list of contract line item number(s) and items, quantities and units of measure, (including option(s), if applicable): CLIN 0001: Quantity One (1) 435 Nanometer (nm) Continuous Wave (CW) Laser Specifications/Requirement: The Government requires a laser system to generate light with a wavelength of 435.5 nm (435.5e-9 meter). This laser will be used to drive a quadrupole transition in the 171 isotope of singly-ionized atomic Ytterbium (171Yb+). The laser system will be locked to an ARL-supplied optical reference cavity from Stable Laser Systems which has a finesse greater than (>) 50,000 using fundamental (871.0 nm) laser light emitted on a secondary port. The laser system shall have the following characteristics: Second-harmonic output Wavelength: 435.5 nm Coarse tuning: +/- 1 nm Mode Hop Free Tuning Range: > 10 gigahertz (GHz) Mode: The mode shall be single-mode, continuous wave (CW), transverse electric mode 00 (TEM00). The beam shall be collimated with a diameter of 1-2 mm. Power: Greater than (>) 0.9 watt in the TEM00 mode. Amplitude Stability: The relative intensity noise (RIN) must be less than (<) 1e-6/sqrt (Hz) for frequencies greater than (>) 100 Hz. Frequency Stability: The standard deviation of the laser frequency excursions must be less than (<) 100 kHz (100e3 hertz) for a sample interval of 5 microsecond (5e-6 second). An optical isolator shall be included with greater than (>) 40 decibel isolation, mounted inside the laser chassis. Fundamental output Wavelength: 871.0 nm Mode: The mode shall be single-mode, continuous wave, transverse electric mode 00 (TEM00). An output coupler shall be included for fiber-coupling the fundamental laser light. The fiber used by ARL will be a PM780-HP single mode (SM) polarization-maintaining (PM) angle-cut polished (FC/APC) patch cable with a mode-field diameter (MFD) 5.3 micron (5.3e-6 meter). The slow axis (Panda axis) and connector key shall be parallel. The connector key slot shall be 2.0 mm side. Sufficient control of polarization degrees of freedom must be supplied to achieve polarization extinction ratio (PER) greater than (>) 20 dB. If not already included, there must be room inside the laser body for polarizer and L/2 wave plate as last optical elements before the fiber coupler. ARL will supply a suitable SM PM FC/APC PM780-HP fiber patch cable. Power: The fiber-coupled fundamental power (Pffc) shall be adjustable so that 5 mW < Pffc < 30 mW when the laser output power (Po) is in the range 0.1*Pmax < Po < 1.0*Pmax, where Pmax is the maximum output power at 435.5 nm. The symbol “<” means less than. An optical isolator shall be included with greater than (>) 40 decibel isolation, mounted inside the laser chassis. The Contractor shall include kinematics and control electronics as required to operate the laser. The following features shall be incorporated into the design. Access to actuators for all routinely adjusted optical elements must be accessible without removing the laser enclosure. Automatic optical alignment of any internal gain and doubling stages. Automatic relocking of any internal doubling stages. Laser amplitude modulation is not permitted for any internal locks. If a resonant doubling stage is utilized the cavity locking scheme shall rely on the Pound Drever Hall (PDH) technique using an electro-optic modulator (EOM). Electronics suitable for generating and demodulating radio frequencies (RF) as required to implement a Pound Drever Hall (PDH) lock. Electronics shall support locking and linewidth narrowing the laser using a PDH error signal obtained from an ARL-supplied high-finesse optical cavity with a linewidth less than (<) 100 kHz. Wall power: 110 volts, 60 hertz Reporting and Manuals: A test result must be provided showing that the class of laser offered by the vendor meets the Frequency Stability specification. Acceptable approaches include a) heterodyne beat of two lasers, b) heterodyne beat of a single laser and a frequency comb, and c) self-homodyne/self-heterodyne beat of a single laser using an optical delay-line. The measurements can be made at either the fundamental or second harmonics. An accompanying narrative explaining technical details of how the measurement was made and analyzed must be included. A test result must be provided showing that the class of laser offered by the vendor meets the Amplitude Stability specification. An accompanying narrative explaining technical details of how the measurement was made and analyzed must be included. The Contractor shall provide documentation related to the operation of the lasers at delivery including operation manuals and acceptance reports. Delivery: Delivery is required no later than 20 weeks After Receipt of Order (ARO). The Contractor shall include the cost of shipping and on-site installation in their quote of the laser system. Delivery location is Army Research Lab, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD, USA, 20783. The Contractor shall cover all travel related costs. Delivery: Delivery is required no later than 20 weeks After Receipt of Order (ARO). Delivery shall be made to Army Research Lab, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Building #102, Receiving Room, Adelphi, MD, USA, 20783. Acceptance shall be performed at Adelphi, MD, USA 20783. The FOB point is destination Adelphi, MD, USA, 20783. Clauses: The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The following addenda have been attached to this provision: In addition to the requirements set for the in FAR 52.212-1, all offers responding to this solicitation must provide their business size in relation to the NAICS code contained in this solicitation and shall identify any socioeconomic categories to which they belong. Evaluation Criteria - The specific evaluation criteria to be used are as follows: In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), comparative evaluation procedures will be utilized. Comparative evaluation is the comparison of all offers received in response to this solicitation against each other. An item-by-item comparison of each offer to one another will be performed to determine which offer provides the most benefit to the Government. Award will be made to the offer that is most advantageous to the Government. The Government may award to the lowest priced offeror that meets the Government’s minimum requirements; however, the Government reserves the right to award to a higher priced offeror exceeding the minimum requirements if it is most advantageous to the Government. In order to be considered for award, an offer must meet the Government’s minimum technical requirement contained in this solicitation. The below evaluation factors will be utilized during evaluation (in no order of relative importance): Price Technical Capabilities/Specification Past Performance Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3 (with its Alternate I), Offeror Representations with its offer. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following addenda have been attached to this clause: N/A The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items and the selected clauses listed in DFARS 212.301 Solicitation provisions and Contract Clauses for the Acquisition of Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following additional FAR/DFARS clauses cited in this clause are applicable: FAR: 52.204-10: REPORTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND FIRST-TIER SUBCONTRACT AWARDS (OCT 2018) 52.209-6: PROTECTING THE GOVERNMENT’ INTEREST WHEN SUBCONTRACTING WITH CONTRACTORS DEBARRED, SUSPENDED, OR PROPOSED FOR DEBARMENT (OCT 2015) 52.219-6: NOTICE OF TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE (MAR 2020) 52.219-28: POST-AWARD SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM REREPRESENTATION (MAY 2020) 52.219-33: NONMANUFCTURER RULE (MAR 2020) 52.222-3: CONVICT LABOR (JUN 2003) 52.222-19: CHILD LABOR--COOPERATION WITH AUTHORITIES AND REMEDIES (JAN 2020) (DEVIATION 2020-O0019) 52.222-21: PROHIBITION OF SEGREGATED FACILITIES (APR 2015) 52.222-26: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (SEP 2016) 52.222-36: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES (JUL 2014) 52.222-50: COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (OCT 2020) 52.223-18: ENCOURAGING CONTRACTOR POLICIES TO BAN TEXT MESSAGING WHILE DRIVING (AUG 2011) 52.225-13: RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN FOREIGN PURCHASES (JUN 2008) 52.232-33: PAYMENT BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER—CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (OCT 2018) 52.232-36: PAYMENT BY THIRD PARTY (MAY 2014) DFARS: *252.203-7005: REPRESENTATION RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF FORMER DOD OFFICIALS (NOV 2011) 252.204-7015: DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO LITIGATION SUPPORT CONTRACTORS (MAY 2016) *252.204-7016: COVERED DEFENSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES—REPRESENTATION (DEC 2019) *252.204-7017: PROHIBITION ON THE ACQUISITON OF COVERED DEFENSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES—REPRESENTATION (DEC 2019) 252.204-7018: PROHIBITION ON THE ACQUISITION OF COVERED DEFENSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES (JAN 2021) *252.213-7000: NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE SUPPLIERS ON USE OF PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM—STATISTICAL REPORTING IN PAST PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS (MAR 2018) 252.223-7008: PROHIBITION OF HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM (JUN 2013) *252.225-7000: BUY AMERICAN STATUE—BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE (NOV 2014) 252.225-7001: BUY AMERICAN ACT AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM (DEC 2017) *252.225-7974: REPRESENTATION REGARDING BUSINESS OPERATIONS WITH THE MADURO REGIME (DEVIATION 2020-O0005) (FEB 2020) 252.232-7010: LEVIES ON CONTRACT PAYMENTS (DEC 2006) 252.244-7000: SUBCONTRACTS FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JUN 2013) 252.246-7008: SOURCES OF ELECTRONIC PARTS (MAY 2018) 252.247-7023: TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES BY SEA (FEB 2019) The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions apply (full text of all FAR/DFARS clauses that contain fill-in information, as well as all local clauses, can be found in the attached Provisions and Clauses Full-Text document): FAR/DFARS PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES BY REFERENCE: *52.204-7: SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (OCT 2018) 52.204-13: SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE (OCT 2018) *52.204-16: COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT ENTITY CODE REPORTING (AUG 2020) 52.204-18: COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT ENTITY CODE MAINTENANCE (AUG 2020) 52.204-19: INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (DEC 2014) 52.232-40: PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS (DEC 2013) 252.203-7000: REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF FORMER DOD OFFICIALS (SEP 2011) 252.204-7000: DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION (OCT 2016) 252.204-7003 CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL WORK PRODUCT (APR 1992) 252.204-7012: SAFEGUARDING COVERED DEFENSE INFORMATION AND CYBER INCIDENT REPORTING (OCT 2016) 252.225-7048 EXPORT-CONTROLLED ITEMS (JUN 2013) 252.232-7003: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS AND RECEIVING REPORTS (JUN 2012) 252.232-7017: ACCELERATING PAYMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS—PROHIBITION OF FEES AND CONSIDERATION (APR 2020) FAR/DFARS PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES FULL TEXT *52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE *52.204-24: REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021) *52.204-26: COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES-REPRESENTATION (OCT 2020) 252.232-7006: WIDE AREA WORKFLOW PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS (DEC 2018) 252.211-7003: ITEM IDENTIFICATION AND VALUATION (MAR 2016) LOCAL INSTRUCTIONS: ACC - APG POINT OF CONTACT TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT TYPE OF CONTRACT GOVERNMENT INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE PAYMENT OFFICE (BANKCARD) TAX EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE (ARL) RECEIVING ROOM – ALC DFARS COMMERCIAL CLAUSES *EXCEPTIONS IN PROPOSAL *AWARD OF CONTRACT *ADELPHI CONTR. DIVISION URL *FOREIGN NATIONALS PERFORMING *PAYMENT TERMS This acquisition is rated under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) as N/A The following notes apply to this announcement: The Government is contemplating a commercial firm fixed-price (FFP) contract type for this procurement under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). In accordance with FAR 32.003, contract financing cannot not be provided for this acquisition. Place of Delivery/Performance: U.S. Army Research Laboratory Building #102, Receiving Room 2800 Powder Mill Road Adelphi, MD 20783 Set Aside Code: N/A Offers are due 03 February 2022, by 11:59 AM, Eastern Time (ET), to Acquisition Specialist, Elaine Modl at elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil For information regarding this solicitation, please contact Elaine Modl (Acquisition Specialist), elaine.c.modl.ctr@army.mil.