Combined SSN/NOI: Flexible Laser Stabilization System
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), specifically the Quantum Measurement Division, intends to award a non-competitive contract to Liquid Instruments for a Flexible Laser Stabilization System. This system is critical for a collaboration developing primary thermometers based on Doppler effect measurements. This is a Special Notice of intent to sole source. Responses from other capable sources are due by May 21, 2026.
Scope of Requirement
NIST requires a flexible digital laser servo to actively stabilize laser system intensity, frequency, and phase noise using lock-in demodulation and proportional-integral-differential (PID) control. The system must also provide instrumentation to test and characterize stabilization performance for rigorous uncertainty analysis of the Doppler thermometer. Key technical specifications include:
- At least 4 analog inputs (>=300 MHz bandwidth, >=1 GSa/s sampling, >=16-bit ADC).
- Input voltage noise less than 50 nV/√Hz at 100 Hz.
- At least 4 analog outputs (>=100 MHz bandwidth, >=1 GSa/s sampling, >=16-bit DAC).
- Capability to operate up to 4 instrument configurations simultaneously, including lock-in amplifier, laser lock box, PID controller, spectrum analyzer, and time & frequency analyzer.
- Software control via USB or WiFi and lockable to a 10 MHz reference.
Sole Source Justification
NIST conducted market research from March to May 2026 and determined that only Liquid Instruments offers a solution with the necessary flexibility, noise-performance, and bandwidth to meet the specific requirements for the Deployable Doppler thermometry IMS project. Their system uniquely provides the required 4 analog inputs, 16-bit resolution, low noise, and parallel instrument configuration capabilities.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Non-competitive contract (Sole Source)
- Authority: RFO 12.102(a)
- NAICS: 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Set-Aside: None (Sole Source)
- Response Due: May 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
- Published: May 7, 2026
- Place of Performance: Gaithersburg, MD
Response Instructions
Sources believing they can meet NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond by the due date. Responses should include:
- Company Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov.
- Detailed capabilities meeting or exceeding NIST’s minimum requirements.
- Evidence of authorization if an authorized reseller.
- Any other information to help NIST determine if the requirement can be competitively satisfied. Contact Cielo Ibarra at cielo.ibarra@nist.gov for submissions.