Optical Spectrum Analyzer

Title:  Optical Spectrum Analyzer

BACKGROUND

Typical wavelength scale calibrations of monochromators are performed using the atomic emission lines of pen-ray lamps. The lamp is placed into an integrating sphere, and the output of the sphere uniformly overfills the entrance slit of the monochromator. However, this illumination scenario does not necessarily mimic illumination of the monochromator by other sources, leading to inaccuracies in the wavelength scale determination. A calibrated array spectroradiometer can be used to calibrate the wavelength scale of the monochromator using desired sources. While this yields a more reliable evaluation of the wavelength scale, the uncertainties are often larger than those claimed when using the pen-ray lamp method and it requires extra time to calibrate the spectroradiometer and make necessary corrections. Consequently, NIST is looking for a high-performance Fourier transform-based optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) that can measure continuous wave light sources with ppm accuracy to perform wavelength scale calibrations of a monochromator over a broad spectral range.

NIST has a need for an optical spectrum analyzer that meets or exceeds the following draft minimum specifications:

• Capable of providing accurate measurement of the wavelength and spectrum of an optical source
• Compatible for optical sources that:
  • Consists of lamp-based systems and a monochromator
  • Is continuous wave (CW)
  • Is on the order of 1 µW
  • Has bandpass of 1.5 nm to 3 nm
• Allows free-space coupling from optical source to optical spectrum analyzer
• Spectral range:  250 nm to 2500 nm
• Spectral resolution:  ≤ 0.01 nm
• Wavelength accuracy:  ≤ 0.005 nm
• Wavelength traceable to the International System of Units (SI) meter.

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 at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• 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).
• Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.
• Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.
• Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why.  Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.
• For the NAICS code

• Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
• If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement. 

• If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.
• Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.
• Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section. 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on August 9, 2024.  Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future. 

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. 

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice. 

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request.