Swabian time tagging unit for single photon counting

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with Swabian Instruments USA, Inc. located at 4 Lucy St, Boston, MA 02125-2698. The purchase order will specifically procure one (1) TimeTaggerX that is manufactured by Swabian Instruments, GmbH located in Germany. Delivery shall occur within 30 days after receipt of an order. The TimeTaggerX will be used for single photon counting and will assist with NIST's research of developing a measurement test suite for quantum network component and protocol testing, verification, and characterization.

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334515 Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals with the small business size standard of 750 Employees.

Description
For a complete description of this requirement, please see the attached Specifications document.

Sole Source Determination
The sole source determination is based on the following:

The test suite that NIST is developing is being implemented on the NIST campus along with a fiber network dedicated to quantum optical signal transfer between various quantum network nodes. An extensive software and data acquisition library has been written by NIST researchers from conducting experiments using existing time tagger units manufactured by Swabian Instruments, GmbH. The subject TimeTaggerX unit is required for continuity of science and previous research and compatibility with existing equipment. A software change as a result of using a time tagging unit from another manufacturer would result in substantial delays to related projects. Swabian Instruments, GmbH authorizes one domestic (US-based) distributor to coordinate domestic sales for Swabian products. Swabian Instruments USA, Inc is the exclusive, authorized domestic distributor for the Time Tagger X manufactured by Swabian Instruments, GmbH. Swabian Instruments USA, Inc. and is located at 37R Juniper St, Roxbury, MA 02119-1750. The required Time Tagger X must be purchased directly from Swabian Instruments USA, Inc. and no other authorized resellers exist.

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Hunter Tjugum, Contract Specialist, at Hunter.Tjugum@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to hunter.tjugum@nist.gov so that they are received no later than July 28, 2023, at 12:00 PM, Eastern Time.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

a. Contractor Name, Address,
b. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
c. Contractor DUNS
d. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
e. Capability Statement