Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This notice indicates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Measurements Lab, Chemical Sciences Division Optical Measurements Group's intent to procure Virtually Imaged Phased Arrays (VIPAs) on a sole source basis with Lightmachinery, Inc. This procurement falls under FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

The government intends to procure the following:

• Two (2) VIPAs, 2600 nm to 3100 nm (Salient Characteristic: line width <= 75 MHz at 2850 nm)
• Two (2) VIPAs, 3000 nm to 3700 nm (Salient Characteristic: line width <= 75 MHz at 3350 nm)
• Two (2) VIPAs, 3600 nm to 4600 nm (Salient Characteristic: line width <= 75 MHz at 4100 nm)

Deliverables include warranty and FOB Destination delivery terms (or equivalent INCOTERM such as DDP).

Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

This is a notice of intent to sole source, not a Request for Quote (RFQ) or pre-solicitation notice. No award will be made based on this notice, and respondents will not be notified of results. Interested firms are encouraged to submit documentation demonstrating how they can meet the minimum requirements and technical specifications. Responses should not merely repeat specifications but must provide evidence of capability (e.g., brochures, manuals, reports, videos, customer identification).

This is a sole source notice with Lightmachinery, Inc. No specific set-aside is mentioned.

• Respondents should NOT provide proprietary information.
• Responses must include company name, address, Point of Contact (with phone and email), teaming partners (if applicable), and classification of the supply (COTS, modified COTS, or prototype).
• Questions are due by March 26, 2026, 12:00 PM ET to ranae.armstrong@nist.gov (CC: Donald.collie@nist.gov).
• Responses are due by March 30, 2026, 6:00 PM ET to ranae.armstrong@nist.gov (CC: Donald.collie@nist.gov).
• Telephone and faxed questions/responses will not be accepted.

Sources Sought Notice

This notice is a market research tool to identify potential sources for Virtually Imaged Phased Arrays (VIPAs) for NIST's CHIPS Metrology Program. It is not a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a solicitation, and no award will be made from this notice. The VIPAs are intended for research in Grand Challenge 5, specifically for the RF Waveform and Rapid Frequency-Comb Diagnostics for Plasma Etching project, aiming to enable time-resolved frequency comb spectroscopy on gas-phase and plasma samples.

The government anticipates the need for the following:

• Two (2) Virtually Imaged Phased Arrays (VIPA) for the 2600 nm to 3100 nm wavelength range.
• Two (2) VIPAs for the 3000 nm to 3700 nm wavelength range.
• Two (2) VIPAs for the 3600 nm to 4600 nm wavelength range.

Each VIPA must meet specific technical specifications, including:

• Substrate material: Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)
• Thickness: >10 mm and <20 mm
• Mirror reflectivity: Input >= 99%, Output >= 96%
• Line width: <= 75 MHz (best effort for 50 MHz)
• Free spectral range: >= 6 GHz
• Finesse: >= 130
• Length: >= 100 mm
• Width: >= 25 mm

Deliverables include warranty and FOB Destination delivery terms (or equivalent INCOTERM such as DDP).

Interested firms should submit documentation demonstrating their capability to meet the minimum requirements and technical specifications. Responses should not merely repeat the specifications but provide evidence of capability through brochures, manuals, reports, videos, or customer identification. Proprietary information should not be included.

Required response information includes:

• Company name and address

• Point of Contact (phone and email)

• Teaming partners (if applicable)

• Classification of the supply (COTS, modified COTS, or prototype)

• Any other pertinent information.

• Questions due: February 2, 2026, 4:00 PM ET

• Responses due: February 4, 2026, 4:00 PM ET

Questions and responses must be submitted via email only to ranae.armstrong@nist.gov and Donald.collie@nist.gov. Telephone and fax inquiries/responses will not be accepted.