NOI to Sole Source - Frequency Comb System Upgrade
Inactive on SAM.gov — responses were due 24 Aug 2026 · Unrestricted (full and open) · Department of the Air Force, DoD · NAICS 334516 · Solicitation FA700026NOIFCS
Following NAICS 334516? Get new solicitations in it by email as they post — no account needed.
SAM.gov marked this notice inactive — responses were due 24 August 2026.
No award notice on SAM.gov yet. Not every award is posted there, so this does not mean it went unawarded.
Email me when the award is announced. One email, when SAM.gov posts the award notice. Not every award is posted there; if none appears within six months we'll tell you and stop. No account needed.
This one has closed. We'll email you when new NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) solicitations post — the first email lists what is open right now, then at most once a week, only when something new posts. No account needed; unsubscribe in a click.
Description
The 10th Contracting Squadron at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) intends to solicit and award a firm-fixed-price (FFP) commercial purchase order on a sole-source basis to Vescent Technologies, Inc. (DBA Vescent Photonics, LLC), Golden, CO (UEI: JDCKBJDFLLL5) for a proprietary laser frequency comb system upgrade and expansion. The Physics Department's Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) requires specialized wavelength extension modules, optical frequency references, phase-lock servos, temperature controllers, and data acquisition hardware to expand its pre-existing, government-owned Vescent RubriComb frequency comb system (originally purchased under Contract FA700025P0122). This acquisition includes the following proprietary components (or exact equivalents engineered specifically for physical and electronic docking within the pre-existing Vescent architecture): Stabilaser 1542E: 1542 nm Stabilized Laser Optical Frequency Reference. RUBRICOMB-100-RHT1542: Core platform exchange upgrade for optical locking at 1542.4 nm. RUBRIColor Chassis & 4 Wavelength Extension Modules: Configured specifically for target atomic transition wavelengths: 780.2 nm (EXT-HS780), 882.2 nm (EXT-HS882), 993.4 nm (EXT-HS993), and 1009.9 nm (EXT-H1010). 4 SLICE-OPL Offset Phase Lock Servos: Fast analog PID loops with >8 MHz bandwidth. SLICE-QTC Temperature Controller & Slide Rackmounts: Four-channel thermal controller. Quarto-101 Data Acquisition Controller: High-speed experimental controller. On-site Training & Installation: Direct technical OEM integration support at USAFA. The government-owned frequency comb operating at the USAFA LORC is a proprietary, closed-architecture platform designed and manufactured exclusively by Vescent Technologies, Inc. The requested hardware modules must physically slide into, optically seed from, and electronically loop-lock with the pre-existing Vescent core architecture. Hardware and modules from alternative manufacturers operate on incompatible optical repetition rates, distinct fiber interconnect types, and non-interoperable closed-loop feedback card protocols. These alternative systems are physically and electronically incompatible with the existing Vescent infrastructure. A competitive award to any other vendor would require the government to completely abandon its pre-existing investment and purchase a completely new system plus additional costs in auxiliary technical labor, fiber splicing, and custom software rebuilding. Consequently, a competitive procurement would result in a substantial, unrecoverable duplication of costs and an unacceptable delay of 6 to 12 months to active, federally-funded cadet atomic research programs. Response Instructions for Interested Parties This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes, and no solicitation document is currently available. However, the Government will consider written capability statements from any interested vendor that believes it can satisfy this requirement. To be considered, a capability statement must clearly demonstrate the vendor's ability to provide high-precision wavelength expansion modules, master reference lasers, and phase-lock electronics that can physically, optically, and electronically integrate with USAFA's pre-existing Vescent RubriComb system without requiring a replacement of the core laser chassis. All capability statements must include: Company Name, Address, CAGE Code, and UEI Number. Business size standard under NAICS 334516. Detailed technical documentation proving complete physical, optical, and software compatibility with the pre-existing Vescent architecture. Estimated cost and lead times to deliver a compatible solution. Interested parties must submit their written capability statements via email to the Contracting Officer, Tammy Martin, at tammy.martin.6@us.af.mil no later than 2:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on August 24, 2026. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
Go deeper on this solicitation
FedSift reads the full solicitation package — every attachment — and pre-extracts the compliance matrix, evaluation factors, key risks, win themes and deal-breakers, each with a verbatim quote and the exact PDF page it came from. It scores the opportunity against your company profile, tells you whether to bid as prime or sub, and ranks teaming partners who could close your gaps.
Source: this notice on SAM.gov. FedSift republishes public federal procurement data and is not affiliated with the U.S. Government. Always confirm dates and requirements against SAM.gov before responding.
