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Atom Trap Trace Analysis Technical Expertise

ID: RD-03-18-2025-114600 • Type: Sources Sought

Description

This is a SOURCES-SOUGHT NOTICE; there is no solicitation available at this time. No response will be provided to requests for solicitation. THIS SOURCES-SOUGHT NOTICE IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is seeking capabilities statements related to the following:

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) executes and provides mission support to multiple treaties, agreements, and treaty provisional secretariats to which the United States is a party or other type of participant. Such treaties include the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreements, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Provisional Secretariat of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Because of the constantly evolving nature of treaty monitoring and verification policy, ongoing RDTE is required to ensure that the United States is prepared to execute its current and future monitoring and verification missions. Particularly relevant for detecting underground nuclear explosions are unreactive but fission-produced radioactive noble gases.

DTRA desires to leverage its unique capabilities and expertise in verification and validation of test ban treaty monitoring, nuclear deterrence support, and research and development to contribute toward these goals with the application of atom-trap trace analysis (ATTA) for monitoring purposes. The scope of this sources-sought requirement includes advanced RDTE specific to optimizing ATTA techniques and increasing system efficiency.

Background
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is responsible for executing and providing mission support to various treaties, agreements, and treaty provisional secretariats involving the United States. These treaties include the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreements, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Due to the evolving nature of treaty monitoring and verification policy, ongoing research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE) is essential for the U.S. to effectively conduct its monitoring and verification missions. A key focus is on detecting underground nuclear explosions using unreactive but fission-produced radioactive noble gases.

Work Details
DTRA seeks to leverage its expertise in verification and validation of test ban treaty monitoring and nuclear deterrence support through advanced RDTE related to atom-trap trace analysis (ATTA). The specific tasks include:
- Implementing technical and efficiency improvements to existing ATTA techniques.
- Demonstrating advancements that enhance the capability to raise the quantum state of noble gas elements for measuring isotopes or isomers in an ATTA laser trap.
- Advancing interlaboratory ATTA standards and analysis for relevant isotopes and isomers.
- Providing demonstrated experience working directly with an ATTA system.
- Developing analytical and statistical analyses to quantify radioisotope standards for interlaboratory comparisons.

Overview

Response Deadline
June 12, 2025, 3:00 p.m. EDT Due in 21 Days
Posted
May 13, 2025, 10:00 a.m. EDT
Set Aside
None
NAICS
None
Place of Performance
Fort Belvoir, VA United States
Source
SAM

Est. Level of Competition
Average
Odds of Award
24%
On 5/13/25 Defense Threat Reduction Agency issued Sources Sought RD-03-18-2025-114600 for Atom Trap Trace Analysis Technical Expertise due 6/12/25. The opportunity was issued full & open and PSC AC33.
Primary Contact
Name
Amanda Davidson-Zellar   Profile
Phone
None

Documents

Posted documents for Sources Sought RD-03-18-2025-114600

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Additional Details

Source Agency Hierarchy
DEPT OF DEFENSE > DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY (DTRA) > DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY
FPDS Organization Code
9761-HDTRA1
Source Organization Code
100077023
Last Updated
May 13, 2025
Last Updated By
amanda.l.davidson-zellar.civ@mail.mil
Archive Date
June 27, 2025