Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Ultrastable Lasers
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), under the Department of Commerce, has issued a Special Notice indicating its intent to non-competitively acquire two (2) OEwaves OE4040-VLN HI-Q® C-Band Lasers. NIST plans to award a sole source contract to OEWaves, Inc. for these ultrastable lasers, which are essential for reading advanced microfabricated photonic sensors in inertial measurement applications. Sources believing they can meet NIST's minimum requirements must respond by June 25, 2026.
Requirement Details
NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory requires ultrastable lasers for field testing microcavities in advanced photonic sensors. The lasers must meet the following minimum specifications:
- Linewidth: Less than 10 Hz
- Tuning Range: At least 210 GHz
- Vibration/Acceleration Sensitivity: Less than 1 x 10^-10/g
- Wavelengths: Cover the range from 1550.9 nm to 1554.25 nm
These specifications are critical to ensure sensor performance is not limited by the laser, allow tuning to various accelerometer resonances, and enable measurements under large accelerations.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Notice of Intent to Sole Source (Non-competitive)
- Intended Awardee: OEWaves, Inc.
- Authority: FAR 12.102(a)
- NAICS Code: 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Product Service Code: 6695, Combination And Miscellaneous Instruments
- Response Due: June 25, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Published: June 11, 2026
Justification
NIST conducted market research from February to May 2026 and determined that only OEWaves, Inc. could provide lasers meeting the essential technical requirements. These specific capabilities are necessary for PML to test sensors in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory, as no other vendor was found to offer a similar product.
Action for Interested Parties
This notice is not a request for quotation. However, any sources that believe they can meet or exceed NIST's minimum requirements are strongly encouraged to respond by the due date. Responses should include:
- Company Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov
- Details of capabilities meeting or exceeding NIST's requirements
- Evidence of authorization if an authorized reseller
- Any other information to help NIST determine if the requirement can be competitively satisfied.