Notice of Intent to Sole Source Replacement Locking Electronics

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Menlo Systems, Inc., located in Boulder, CO, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for Replacement Locking Electronics for an Ultrastable Cavity Laser System. Specific Requirements are as follows:

SYNCRO control unit in a 19”, 3 height units enclosure, including: •Customized configuration to upgrade the existing locking electronics delivered as part of the project AU00615 •Servo loop electronics for Pound-Drever-Hall laser frequency stabilization with high-bandwidth PIID controller •ORC-TEC Temperature Controller for temperature stabilization of EOM and vacuum chamber and all additional components needed for full functionality •Installation of SYNCRO unit at user’s lab in Boulder, CO NAICS Code is 334515 –Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a Size Standard of 750 employees.

NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Menlo Systems, Inc. for this requirement. Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirements 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 February 27, 2026. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION: NIST’s Time and Frequency Division owns an ORC1500 Optical Reference Cavity System and is in need of a replacement SYNCRO locking electronics for laser frequency stabilization. The SYNCRO system is made solely by Menlo Systems and is intended to operate with the ORC1500 Optical Reference Cavity System (Project Number AU00615) also manufactured by Menlo Systems.

Menlo Systems is the sole provider of the SYNCRO system as proprietary information is required for its integration into the ORC1500 system. Using incompatible third-party locking electronics could potentially damage components in the ORC1500 system and would make the ORC1500 system ineligible for future service contracts from Menlo Systems and any warranties would be voided.