Microwave Phase Noise Analyzer

Maryland

06/10/2025 01:16 PM EDT

06/18/2025 05:00 PM EDT

COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY - DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST

NIST-SS25-54

6695 / 334516

Title:  Microwave Phase Noise Analyzer

BACKGROUND

The Photonics and Optomechanics Group develops cutting-edge nanophotonic and optomechanical devices for metrology, microscopy, and sensing. As part of our research exploring precision timekeeping and navigation with nanophotonics, including nonlinear light sources such as frequency combs, we require an electronic instrument that measures the phase noise and frequency stability of microwave signals. We will use this phase noise analyzer (PNA) to characterize nanophotonic light sources, through microwave beats with stable reference lasers and direct analysis of optical pulse train repetition rates.

1. Minimum Requirements

The PNA shall meet or exceed the technical specifications listed below. All items must be new.  Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered.  The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the proposer is not acceptable.   All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

Line Item 0001: Phase Noise Analyzer

Description:  Phase Noise Analyzer

Quantity:  One (1)

The PNA must meet or exceed the following specifications/capabilities:

1. Accepts input signals from 1 MHz to at least 100 MHz (1 GHz preferred)
2. Accepts input signal power levels down to -5 dBm
3. Measure phase noise up to at least 1 MHz offset frequency
4. Measure phase noise down to at least 1 Hz offset frequency
5. Perform long-term measurements of frequency stability as determined by the following Allan deviation floors:
   1.  < 1E-14 @ 1s
   2.  < 1E-15 @ 100s
   3.  < 5E-16 @ 1000s
6.    Perform phase noise analysis with the following measurement floors (100 MHz carrier):
   1. <-110 dBc/Hz @ 1 Hz offset
   2. <-140 dBc/Hz @ 100 Hz offset
   3. <-170 dBc/Hz @ 100 kHz offset
7. Include software to record data and plot graphs for measurements described above
8. Include software to calculate modified Allan deviation, Hadamard deviation, time deviation, time interval error, and timing jitter.
9. Include at least two input signal channels to enable correlation measurements
10. Instrument volume no more than 0.01 cubic meters

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response.  Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).
• Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.
• Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.
• Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why.  Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.
• For the NAICS code

• Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
• If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement. 

• If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.
• Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.
• Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section. 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 13, 2025.  Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future. 

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. 

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice. 

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request.