Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) Photonic Chips

Active

Contract Opportunity

This is a Combined Synopsis / Solicitation for Commercial Items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 – Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation of Commercial Items – as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation is issued using simplified acquisition procedures under the authority of FAR Part 13.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (i.e. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-03 dated January 17, 2025.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334413 – Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing. The small business size standard of 1,250 Employees. This is an unrestricted competition. Both small and other than small businesses under the applicable NAICS code are eligible to respond.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS

Background

The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) performs research in quantum communications and networking. ITL is investigating integrated optics using the thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform for manipulating optical states and for performing quantum measurements.

Objectives

The objective of this acquisition is to procure fabricated TFLN photonic chips with designs specified by NIST.

Scope of Work

Please see the attached Statement of Requirements.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE / DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

The period of performance shall be ten months from date of award and the Contractor shall deliver the fabricated chips to NIST within two weeks after fabrication. Chips shall be delivered FOB Destination.

CONTRACT TYPE & PAYMENT TERMS

A firm fixed price purchase order is anticipated.

APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES

Please see the attached document for applicable provisions and clauses.

QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD

CAR 1352.215-73 INQUIRIES (APR 2010):

Quoters must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Mr. Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at lauren.roller@nist.gov Questions must be received by or before Wednesday March 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of Provision).

DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS

All quotations must be submitted via email to Mr. Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at lauren.roller@nist.gov. Submission must be received not later than Wednesday March 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET.

Note: Quoters must have an active registration at www.SAM.gov at time of offer submission to be considered for award. “ID Assigned” is not acceptable; registration must be “Active.”

INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS (Addendum to FAR 52.212-1)

The Quoter’s quotation shall be submitted electronically via email and shall consist of two volumes as detailed below. Each quotation volume shall include the Quoter’s name, System for Award Management Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and point of contact information in a cover page, header/footer, or other easily identified location. The Contracting Officer intends to award a purchase order without discussions but reserves the right to enter into discussions if in the best interest of the Government.

Volume 1: Technical Response

This volume shall contain the Quoter’s technical response. The technical response (not including table of contents, figures, schematics, cut sheets, or corporate information) shall not exceed four (4) single-spaced, single sided pages. Text shall be no less than 12-point font in read-only Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF format.

The technical response shall include the name, title, phone number, and email address of the Quoter’s primary point of contact and the individual authorized to negotiate on behalf of the Quoter (if negotiations are determined to be necessary).

The technical response shall include:

1. A narrative description of the proposed technical approach to include:
   
   
   
   1. A description of the design features offered, and the design support consultation services offered.
   
   
   2. A description of the fabrication capabilities and schedule specifics offered.
   
   
   3. Please provide optical loss estimates associated with fabrication.
   
   
   4. Please identify any minimum quantity requirements associated with fabrication.
   
   
   5. Please provide the available design submission (“tape-in”) dates and delivery time after submission.
      
      
   
   
   
   


2. Corporate Experience information to include information on at least three (3) purchase orders or contracts in which the Quoter performed work similar to the scope of this requirement. Corporate Experience information provided shall be for work completed or substantially completed within the past three (3) years. Corporate Experience shall include the following information:
   
   
   
   1. Name of the Organization Supported
   
   
   2. Organization Point of Contact with Current Phone Number and Email Address
   
   
   3. Contract Number
   
   
   4. Period of Performance
   
   
   5. Dollar Value of the Contract
   
   
   6. Narrative describing the services performed. The narrative should make clear similarities to the scope of work outlined in this solicitation.
   
   
   
   

1. Completed provision responses, from the provisions attached to this solicitation. Provisions requiring response are highlighted in yellow.

Volume 2: Price Quotation

1. This volume shall contain the Quoter’s price quotation in Microsoft Excel format, or in searchable PDF format. Prices should be given in U. S. dollars (USD). All figures must be rounded to the nearest hundredth.
   
   


2. If minimum quantity requirements exceed NIST’s stated quantity requirements, please submit a price quotation based on the minimum required quantity for fabrication.

1. Price quotations shall be submitted on a firm fixed price basis in accordance with the contract line-item numbering structure identified in this solicitation. Quotations shall be valid for 90 days after solicitation close.
   
   

CONTRACT LINE-ITEM STRUCTURE:

The table below identifies the required contract line-item numbering (CLIN) structure for this Solicitation.

CLIN

Description

Price

0001

Design Support for TFLN Photonic Chips in accordance with the Statement of Requirements

0002

Fabrication of TFLN Photonic Chips in accordance with the Statement of Requirements

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND BASIS FOR AWARD (Addendum to FAR 52.212-2)

The Government intends to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible contractor whose quotation conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous and represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. Best value shall be determined using the trade-off evaluation method. Therefore, the Government may award to other than the lowest priced quote or the highest technically rated quoter.

The Government intends to evaluate quotations and issue a purchase order based on the initial quotations received. Therefore, the quoter’s initial quotation should contain the quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to request revised quotations from, or negotiate final purchase order terms with one or more, but not all, quoters if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all quotations if the quotation fails to comply with the requirements of this solicitation.

The factors identified below will be used to evaluate quotations.

Factor A (Technical Factor): Technical Approach

Factor B (Technical Factor): Corporate Experience

Factor C (Non-Technical Factor): Price

Technical / non-price factors are listed in descending order of importance. Technical / non-price factors, when combined, are more important than price. However, price will become more important as the degree of equality among technical non-price evaluations increases.

A. Technical Approach

The Government will evaluate the quoter’s technical approach for performing the tasks of the Statement of Requirements. The technical volume will be evaluated for the quoter’s overall understanding of and capability to complete the Government requirements. Included in the evaluation will be consideration of the design features and support services, fabrication capabilities (including associated optical loss), and schedule proposed. .

B. Corporate Experience

The Quoter’s corporate experience will be evaluated to determine the extent to which the quoter has corporate experience relevant to the tasks of the Statement of Requirements. Relevancy shall be considered similarity to the current requirement in scope of work, period of performance, and total dollar value. The government will consider corporate experience completed or substantially completed within the past five (5) years. References may be contacted, and the Government may consider past performance information from other sources, such as the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

C. Price

Quoted pricing will be evaluated but not scored. Price evaluation will determine whether the quoted price is fair and reasonable in relation to the RFQ requirements and the current marketplace.

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