Reviewed

1320 nm Entangled Photon Source

Waiver type - Procurement: Nonavailability

Agency: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (1341) • Product Service Code (PSC) : 6625 | Last Modified: 08/28/2024

Procurement Summary

NIST requires one (1) Entangled Photon Source (EPS) that emits entangled photon pairs in the telecom O-band. The EPS will assist NIST in achieving the goal of developing a measurement and testbed infrastructure to test and validate the performance of optical quantum components on the NIST Gaithersburg campus. NIST currently has existing entangled photon sources for the telecom C-band around 1550 nm. In order to test and verify entanglement distribution also in the important telecom O-band, NIST requires the purchase of such a source with photons being created in the O-band. Acquisition of the subject required EPS will allow for NIST to implement the detection and quantum state metrology required to detail the polarization performance of the links within the testbed fiber infrastructure. The required 1320 nm EPS shall meet the following minimum technical specifications: • Photon generation centered at 1320 ± 2 nm. • The bi-photon bandwidth shall be greater than 30 nm and less than 100 nm. • Photon pair rate >500,000 pairs/s at the source. • Polarization-entanglement visibility >97%. • Photon-heralding probability >30%. • Photon Output Fibers must be single mode fibers.

Waiver Rationale Summary

No domestic manufacturers have been identified that can provide a product that satisfies NIST's requirements. It is hereby determined that the required EPS that meets NIST's minimum specifications is not mined, produced, nor manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of satisfactory quality. Authority is hereby granted to procure the EPS of foreign origin (Singapore), which shall be treated as a domestic article for this procurement. Prior to award, the CO will determine that the quoted price is fair and reasonable, inclusive of transportation costs to destination.

Did / Will the solicitation include one of the standard BAA provisions announcing the agency’s intention to provide a price preference for domestic end products and construction material?

Yes

Was a sources sought or Request for Information issued?

Yes

OMB Determination

Consistent with Policy

Product

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES MEASURING AND TESTING INSTRUMENTS

NAICS

334515 - Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals

Date Submitted

08/09/2024

Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID)

Solicitation ID

N/A

Procurement Stage

Pre-solicitation

Expected Maximum Duration of the Proposed Waiver

Instant Delivery Only

Waiver Coverage

Individual Waiver

Funding Agency

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY