Sources Sought for Replacement Locking Electronics NB688000-26-00406

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 custom control electronics system replacement for an Ultrastable Cavity-laser System 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 custom control electronics system 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 334515, Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a small business size standard of 750 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

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Menlo Systems, Inc., located in Boulder, CO, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for Replacement Locking Electronics for an Ultrastable Cavity Laser System. Specific Requirements are as follows: SYNCRO control unit in a 19 , 3 height units enclosure, including: Customized configuration to upgrade the existing locking electronics delivered as part of the project AU00615 Servo loop electronics for Pound-Drever-Hall laser frequency stabilization with high-bandwidth PIID controller ORC-TEC Temperature Controller for temperature stabilization of EOM and vacuum chamber and all additional components needed for full functionality Installation of SYNCRO unit at user s lab in Boulder, CO NAICS Code is 334515 Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a Size Standard of 750 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Menlo Systems, Inc. for this requirement. Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued by February 27, 2026. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION: NIST s Time and Frequency Division owns an ORC1500 Optical Reference Cavity System and is in need of a replacement SYNCRO locking electronics for laser frequency stabilization. The SYNCRO system is made solely by Menlo Systems and is intended to operate with the ORC1500 Optical Reference Cavity System (Project Number AU00615) also manufactured by Menlo Systems. Menlo Systems is the sole provider of the SYNCRO system as proprietary information is required for its integration into the ORC1500 system. Using incompatible third-party locking electronics could potentially damage components in the ORC1500 system and would make the ORC1500 system ineligible for future service contracts from Menlo Systems and any warranties would be voided.