Mode-Locked Laser

Notice ID Number NIST-AMD-PML-SSN-26-05 Title: Combined Sources Sought Notice For Mode-Locked Laser. ***THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE*** BACKGROUND The research work of the Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division includes the development of nonlinear integrated photonics devices for applications in quantum sensing and timekeeping. To support this research, a mode-locked laser source is required. This system must have adequate pulse power and pulse duration to drive nonlinear processes and must have low enough noise and fast enough actuation mechanisms to enable its stabilization. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The Contractor shall provide a Firm Fixed Price quotation for a mode-locked laser system. This system must meet or exceed the technical specifications listed below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered. The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the proposer is not acceptable. All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable. Technical Specifications: • Center wavelength must be between 1550 nm and 1560 nm • 3 dB spectral bandwidth must be greater than 10 nm with a hyperbolic secant squared spectral envelope and no competing modes or spurious sidebands • Repetition rate must be 400 MHz, to within one part in 10^9 or lower • The average output power across the whole spectrum must be greater than 40 mW, with a power per comb tooth of >10 microWatts within the 3 dB bandwidth. These specifications must be achieved without any amplification. • The free-running comb optical linewidth, taken at offsets between 1 Hz and 10 MHz, must be 10 kHz or narrower • The system must come equipped with a fast actuator that enables fine tuning of the comb repetition rate for locking it to a cavity-stabilized laser. The bandwidth of this actuator must be at least 20 kHz, and the tuning range must be at least 1 kHz. The power change within this tuning range must be < 5 %. • The system must additionally come with a slow actuator (e.g., <10 Hz bandwidth) for coarse tuning of the comb repetition rate. The tuning range of this actuator must be at least 30 kHz, and the power change within this tuning range must be < 5 %. • The phase noise of the laser must be shot-noise limited at offset frequencies of greater than 1 MHz • The relative intensity noise (RIN) of the laser must be shot-noise limited at offset frequencies of greater than 1 MHz • The system must have an actuator for feedback control of the carrier envelope offset frequency, e.g., via pump current • The system timing jitter must be 20 fs or less -- 1 of 4 -- • The system output must be through an optical fiber with FC/APC output connector • The laser system must be hermetically sealed and not require user alignment for operation • The system must have an internal photodiode used to generate an electrical clock signal at the repetition rate of the laser, and provided through an SMA or BNC output. • The laser dimensions must be <300 mm x 300 mm (dimension parallel to the optical table) and <75 mm (thickness dimension) • The system must come with a baseplate or other mounting fixture that enables it to be secured to an optical table without using posts. • Overall system must come with at least a 12 month warranty with options to extend the warranty up to three years HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response: Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice. Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response. • Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI). • Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice. For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following: o Manufacturer name o Model number o Technical specifications o Country of Manufacturing o If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s) • Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements. Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response. o Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization. • Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why. Please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive. -- 2 of 4 -- • State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured. • Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipm…