Cesium Beam Atomic Clock

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, specifically a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for a Cesium beam atomic clock. The procurement is conducted under FAR Part 12 and is being solicited as unrestricted. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519, with a small business size standard of 600 employees.

• The primary deliverable is one (1) Cesium beam atomic clock, including shipping, FOB Destination.

• Detailed requirements and specifications are provided in an attached document.

• Delivery is required within eighteen (18) Weeks After Receipt of Order (ARO).

• The contract type will be a firm-fixed-price contract.

• Payment terms are Net 30.

• Acceptance is expected to not exceed fourteen (14) days after items are received.

• Quotations must be submitted electronically to deionne.jones@nist.gov.

• The submission deadline is the date and time specified in the solicitation.

• Quotations must include a firm-fixed-price quote, FOB Destination, and indicate the soonest possible delivery.

• A technical quotation demonstrating capability to meet requirements is required.

• Offerors must include their SAM Unique Entity ID and be registered in SAM.gov.

• The evaluation will be based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Technical Capability will be evaluated on an Acceptable/Unacceptable basis.

• Price will be evaluated for reasonableness; price realism will not be conducted.

• This requirement is being solicited as unrestricted.

• Offerors must have an active SAM.gov registration.

• All communications and documents must reference solicitation number NB688000-26-01590.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR provisions and clauses by reference, including FAR 52.212-1, FAR 52.212-2, and FAR 52.212-4.

• Attachment 1 contains the Requirements and Specifications.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the detailed specifications and requirements for a Cesium beam atomic clock, intended for use in NIST's ensemble time scale which generates UTC(NIST). It serves as a technical reference for potential vendors to understand the necessary performance and operational characteristics of the device.

• General Statement of Need: Explains NIST's requirement for atomic clocks to maintain the ensemble time scale, emphasizing the need for mature technology, continuous operation, and minimal interruptions or deviations.
• Item 1: Cesium beam atomic clock Specifications: Details specific technical requirements including:
  • Short-term and long-term stability (Allan Deviation).
  • Output signal specifications (5 MHz and 10 MHz nominal frequency, pulse-per-second signal).
  • Input signal requirements (coarse synchronization).
  • Power requirements (AC and DC input, power consumption).
  • Interface requirements (digital control, monitoring, and frequency adjustment).
  • Physical and environmental requirements (rack compatibility, temperature range, magnetic field sensitivity).
  • Reliability (demonstrated mean time between failures > 10 years).
• Service Requirements / Item Specifications: Covers planning considerations, shipping and delivery, electronic media, installation, facility/utility considerations, warranty, training, inspection and acceptance, maintenance, government furnished material/equipment, and travel.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the precise technical specifications and service requirements for the Cesium beam atomic clock. It directly informs the design, manufacturing, and proposal preparation process, ensuring that vendors can meet NIST's stringent performance and operational standards. Bidders must carefully review all specifications to determine their ability to comply and to accurately price their offering.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the detailed requirements and specifications for a Cesium beam atomic clock. It serves as a reference for potential vendors to understand the technical and performance criteria for the item being procured.

• Item: Cesium beam atomic clock (Quantity: 1)
• Performance Specifications: Includes short-term and long-term stability (Allan Deviation), output signal frequencies (5 MHz and 10 MHz), pulse-per-second (PPS) signal amplitude, and coarse synchronization input.
• Power & Backup: Requires AC power input (120V or 208V, 60 Hz), accepts 24V DC auxiliary power, and must have a battery backup of at least 30 minutes or an external battery pack connection. Power consumption must be less than 100 W.
• Interface: Digital system control and monitor interface (serial, Ethernet, or similar), and a digital interface for precision frequency adjustment and status reporting (warnings/alarms/errors).
• Physical & Environmental: Must be compatible with EIA-compliant racks (width < 482.6 mm), operate within a temperature range of 15°C – 45°C, with a specified temperature coefficient and sensitivity to magnetic field changes.
• Reliability: Demonstrated mean time between failures (MTBF) greater than 10 years.
• Ancillary Services/Requirements: Covers planning considerations, shipping and delivery, electronic media, installation, facility/utility considerations, warranty, training, inspection and acceptance, maintenance, government-furnished material/equipment, and travel.

This document is critical for bidders as it details the precise technical specifications and performance requirements for the Cesium beam atomic clock. Vendors must ensure their proposed product meets all listed specifications to be considered compliant. It also outlines various service and logistical requirements that will impact proposal development and contract execution.