SAM #FA875126Q0949

AFRL Sole-Source Procurement of Optical Link Stabilizer and Reference Laser from Ki3 Photonics

This opportunity involves the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), FA8751 RIKO office, seeking advanced optical equipment for research purposes. - Government Buyer: - Department of Defense, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), FA8751 RIKO office - OEMs and Vendors: - Ki3 Photonics Technologies (sole-source manufacturer, Montreal, Canada) - Products/Services Requested: - Ki3 LINQ.SYNQ Optical Link Stabilizer 2nd Gen (part number: Ki3 LINQ.SYNQ, quantity: 1) - External Reference Laser (quantity: 1) - Key Technical Requirements: - Optical link stabilizer must support fiber links over 2 km, operate at 1550nm, provide timing delay compensation of 1 ns or greater, and timing delay resolution of 10 ps or less - Both units must be rack mountable and fiber coupled (FC/APC) - Software with Python API required for both products - Signal isolation via temporal and wavelength multiplexing - Hardware must support active stabilization using an external reference laser - External Reference Laser must have linewidth of 1 kHz, power of 20 mW or greater, and software control via Python API over Ethernet - Notable Requirements: - Ki3 Photonics Technologies is the only known manufacturer; no resellers exist - Sole-source procurement, but capability statements from other sources may be considered

Description

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under RFO Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services.  This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.  

The Government requires the procurement of an Optical Stabilizer and Laser, and intends to negotiate a sole-source award for this requirement with Ki3 Photonics Technologies, 2547 Rue Sicard, #301 Montreal QC, Canada. Relevant Ki3 Photonics Technologies part numbers and product descriptions are as follows:

Item 1, qty. 1 each – Part #: Ki3 LINQ.SYNQ, Optical Link Stablizer 2nd Gen

Item 1, qty. 1 each- External Reference Laser

Minimum required specifications:

Maximum link length: greated than 2 km wavelength of operation: 1550nm maximum timing delay compensation: 1 ns (1000ps) or greater timing delay resolution: 10 ps or lesser software incl: Yes, Python API rack mountable units fiber coupled inputs/outputs, FC/APC reference/ experimental signal isolation: temporal and wavelength multiplexing Hardware supports active stabilization via external reference laser

laser linewidth: 1 kHz laser power: 20 mW or greater Software control with Python API via Ethernet

The Government has determined that other companies' products and services do not meet or cannot be modified to meet the Government's needs.  With regard to the LINQ.SYNQ and related accessories (i.e. external reference laser), the item provides active link phase and timing stabilization across real-world quantum fiber links up to 3 kilometers length. The LINQ.SYNQ can correct for up to 1 nanosecond of timing drift, which is necessary for phase-stabilized radio frequency sensing with entangled photon signals. The reference laser is specially tailored to be compatible with the LINQ.SYNQ. Interchanges with Ki3 Photonics Technologies have yielded that they are the sole manufacturer of the required systems and do not maintain a network of resellers for their products.  Accordingly, the Government has determined Ki3 Photonics Technologies to be the sole-source provider of the required optical stabilizer and laser as detailed above.

This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to brooke.mcdonald@us.af.mil. Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.

Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 30 July 2026.

A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.

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