SSN-24-01473 – Sources Sought – Dilution Refrigerator with Vibration Frame (Sources Sought Notice)

Document Type:  Sources Sought Notice (SSN-24-01473)

Response Deadline: 05/08/2024, 11:00 AM, EST

Title: Dilution Refrigerator with Vibration Frame

Contracting Office Address

Department of Commerce

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division (AMD)

Building 301, Room B162

100 Bureau Drive

Gaithersburg MD, 20899-1640

This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not receive a response. 

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified business sources. This notice is strictly for market research and information purposes only. Responses will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible entities capable of fulfilling the requirement described herein. The applicable NAICS code for the purpose of this notice is 334516 – with a small business size standard of 1000 employees.

This notice is for planning purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation, or an obligation on the part of the NIST to conduct a follow-on acquisition.  NIST does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice, or otherwise pay for the information requested.  No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by NIST will arise as a result of submission of responses to this Notice and NIST use of such information.  NIST recognizes that proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information.  In the absence of such identification, NIST will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data in the information paper.

This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in response to this notice; however, NIST will recognize as restricted or proprietary data which is clearly marked such.

NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME.

Background

Quantum memory is an important device for quantum communication and networks, especially for quantum repeater and quantum network nodes.  SiC micro-cavity enhanced quantum memory based on Er:YSO is a promising solution for high efficient quantum memory at telecom wavelength. Currently, in collaboration with University of Chicago (U. Chicago) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), the quantum communication and networking (QuCaN) project at the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing such a quantum memory. NIST ITL plans to deploy on the NIST Gaithersburg (NG-QNet) and DC area (DC-QNET) quantum network testbeds at NIST Gaithersburg campus.

In collaboration with U. Chicago and CMU, NIST ITL is developing SiC micro-cavity enhanced quantum memory based on Er:YSO. The memory must be operated at mK cryogenic temperature.  To fulfill its mission, NIST ITL require a dilution refrigerator to provide the cryogenic temperature environment.  The dilution refrigerator must reach 10 mK temperature and achieve vibration isolation.  See full list of minimum requirements in the section below.

Summary of Requirement:

NIST is seeking information from all responsible entities that are capable of providing a new dilution refrigerator with vibration frame the minimum technical specifications below.

1. Technical Specifications

One dilution refrigerator with vibration frame, meeting or exceeding the following minimum specifications:

1. Dilution refrigerator with base temperature: < 10 mK
2. Cooling power: > 12 μW at 20 mK**
3. Cooling power: > 250 μW at 100 mK**
4. Cooling power: > 360 μW at 120 mK**
5. Edge-welded bellow assembly for mounting pulse tube for reduced vibration amplitude
6. Temperature controller with 8-channel resistive temperature measurement and 4 heater controls operational in manual or closed-loop mode
7. Resistive heater at the 4K flange for faster warm-up
8. Vibration Isolation Frame
9. Full original manufacturer’s warranty.

(End of Specifications)

Questions Regarding this Notice

Questions regarding this Sources Sought Notice may be submitted via e-mail to Hing Pan Wong at [email protected] by April 30, 2024, 11:00 AM EST. NIST intends to then post an amendment providing responses to any questions received.

Response Instructions

All responsible entities able to provide the products described above are asked to email a response to Hing Pan Wong, at [email protected] by or before May 8, 2024, 11:00 AM EST. Responses are limited to a total of ten (10) pages in MS Word or PDF format.  

Please include the following information in the response:

1. Name of company authorized to provide product, along with the company address and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, and email address).
2. The company’s primary NAICS, size classification, and socio-economic status (i.e., Small Business, Woman Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, etc.).
3. Specific description of capabilities to provide the product described herein. This shall also include number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of product.
4. Information on any GSA Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) or other Government-wide contracts through which the company offers the respective product, if applicable. Please provide the applicable contract number(s).
5. Indication of whether the product proposed is a commercial item currently offered in the market place. 
6. 5. Indication of whether the product proposed is manufactured in the United States or is a foreign end product. If foreign, indicate country of origin.
7. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum performance requirements.