NIST Photodiode Detector

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Keysight Technologies, Inc., located in Santa Rosa, CA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for a Detector Set for Optical Fiber Modernization. Specific Requirements are as follows:

The Air Force is undergoing a modernization of Optical Fiber calibration systems. This includes replacement of the existing “secondary standard”, a COTS pair of photodiode detectors, for the new system. We require a detector setup that significantly reduces software implementation challenges and performs with high stability over a long-term calibration cycle.

A full detector setup contains two photodiode-based detectors (Silicon for visible wave lengths and InGaAs for longer wavelengths) and a mainframe unit to interface with software. The Optical Fiber calibration system is a laboratory calibration service that is located at the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory (AFPSL). It is used to provide low-uncertainty calibrations to customers for optical fiber-based instruments of many forms and functions. The following technical specifications are required for this refurbished wafer stepper: The Contractor shall deliver:

Qnty 1:

Keysight N7749C Lightwave Multimeter, Mainframe Qnty 1: Keysight 81624C-STD InGaAs Optical Head, 5mm Diameter Qnty 1: Keysight 81620C-STD Si Optical Head, 5mm Diameter Qnty 4: Base Manufacturer Warranty (1 year)

Qnty 4: KeysightCare Assured First Year Support NAICS Code is 334413 –Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,250 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Keysight Technologies, 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 by 4/26/2025. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to matthew.delgado@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to matthew.delgado@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION: This purchase request for Keysight photodiode detectors and associated control mainframe requires the following specific models: N7749C for the mainframe, 81624C InGaAs detector, and 81620C Si detector. These specific models are required by the following statement within the Statement of Work (SOW), Appendix A, Section 1.3, put forth by the Air Force for CCG project #CCG-789: 1.3.

The standard will be a Keysight N7749C with one InGaAs 81624C photodiode detector and one Si 81620C photodiode detector. The detector heads have the calibration factors stored, so all that will have to be shipped back and forth is the detectors. Any other brand of detector or mainframe, or differing model number, will not satisfy this SOW. So, we require these exact model numbers.

Additionally, software has already been developed for these specific models of detector and mainframe, so the system would not function without significant additional work if a different brand or model was purchased.