NOTICE OF INTENT - Transducer Lock-in Amplifier/Analyzer

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Zurich Instruments USA, Inc. located in Waltham, MA on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for a Transducer Lock-in Amplifier/Analyzer. The Highspeed Measurement Group requires a Transducer Lock-in Amplifier/Analyzer.

The essential technical requirements include operating bandwidth, input noise, and frequency resolution. In addition, the number of available input/output ports and the ability to reconfigure the device for different measurements over various frequency ranges are required.  The operating bandwidth requires lock-in frequencies in the range of DC to 50 MHz to match the resonance frequencies of the acousto-optic modulators in the input optical path. Lock-in amplifier/analyzers are specifically needed in the case of noisy measurements of small signals, making the lowest possible input noise and high dynamic reserve an important requirement. This equipment will be used to isolate and measure resonances of high quality-factor optical, microwave, and mechanical resonators to reach quantum operation. This makes the resonances of each respective oscillator narrow in frequency and results in a need for the highest possible frequency resolution exceeding 1 micro-Hz. Lastly, reconfiguration via programable control is essential as the specific parameters that must be measured have the potential to change from day to day and device to device. The ability to program various experiments each over different bandwidths and resolutions, coordinating between NIST and CU-JILA nodes while avoiding the data heavy analysis on raw data makes this a key feature of the needed equipment.

Specific Requirements are as follows:

Item 1:   Transducer Lock-in Amplifier/Analyzer

Quantity:  1

Specifications:

1.1  Lock-in amplifier with DC to 50 MHz input bandwidth

1.2  Minimum input noise better than 10 nV/Hz1/2

1.3  Frequency resolution better than 1 micro-Hz

1.4  >2 input/output channels for different device functions

1.5  Programmable measurement bandwidth, center frequency, and duration, etc.

1.6  Bench top unit or rack mount with remote control and GUI interface

1.7  Additional PID controller outputs

1.8  High dynamic reserve (120 dB or better)

This shall be provided and accomplished in accordance with these specifications.

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 Zurich Instruments USA, Inc. for this requirement.

Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement 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 4th Quarter of FY22. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION:

Market research resulted in Zurich Instruments USA, Inc. being the only vendor to provide a Transducer Lock-in Amplifier/Analyzer meeting all required specifications provided herein to support a joint project with collaborators at the University of Colorado and Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics measuring microwave-optical transducer devices.  Without the essential technical requirements Zurich Instruments USA, Inc. possesses, including operating bandwidth, input noise, and frequency resolution, the number of available input/output ports, and the ability to reconfigure the device for different measurements over various frequency ranges, this project risks failure in terms of time and financial resources.  In order for the quantum networking node being constructed at NIST to match the one at CU-JILA in functionality and performance, an identical HF2LI amplifier/analyzer is required.  Identical equipment provides the same custom control software to be used at each node, as well as the implementation of coordinated operational protocols based on the same instrument characteristics.  The absence of this capability would present a costly barrier to the project risking the entire collaboration.