O-band Optical Filters

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (i.e. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the RFO. 

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334413 – Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing. The small business size standard of 1,250 Employees. This is an unrestricted competition. Both small and other than small businesses under the applicable NAICS code are eligible to respond.  

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS

Background
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Quantum Information Group performs research and maintains expertise in fundamental mathematics, physics, and measurement science necessary to enable the exploitation of quantum phenomena for information processing tasks. As part of this mission, the group is planning to develop new schemes and protocols for quantum networking including studying transmission of quantum and classical data in the O-band wavelength range near 1310 nm.

Objectives
The purpose of this acquisition is to procure a set of tunable, low-loss, narrow-band optical filters in the O-band wavelength range.

Scope of Work 
Please see the attached Requirements Document.
 

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE / DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall deliver all requirements within twelve weeks after receipt of order. All required items shall be delivered FOB Destination.
 

CONTRACT TYPE & PAYMENT TERMS
A firm fixed price purchase order is anticipated.

APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES
Please see the attached document for applicable provisions and clauses.

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION April 2026):

QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD

CAR 1352.215-73 INQUIRIES (APR 2010):
 

Quoters must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Mr. Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Officer, at lauren.roller@nist.gov Questions must be received by or before Tuesday June 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. 

(End of Provision)

DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS

All quotations must be submitted via email to Mr. Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Officer, at lauren.roller@nist.gov. Submission must be received not later than Tuesday June 23, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.

Note: Quoters must have an active registration at www.SAM.gov at time of offer submission to be considered for award. “ID Assigned” is not acceptable; registration must be “Active.”

Please reference the RFQ number in the subject line of all email communications. Quotations shall not be deemed received by the Government unless the quotation is received in the e-mail inboxes set forth above by the required date and time.

INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS

Quotations shall be submitted electronically via email and shall consist of two volumes as detailed below. Each quotation volume shall include the Quoter’s name, System for Award Management Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and point of contact information in a cover page, header/footer, or other easily identified location. The Contracting Officer intends to award a purchase order without discussions but reserves the right to enter into discussions if in the best interest of the Government.
 

The Quoter’s quotation shall be clearly divided into the following distinct volumes:

Volume I – Technical Quotation

Volume II – Price Quotation

Volume I: Technical Response

The Quoter shall submit one (1) copy of their technical response electronically via E-mail to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer identified above. The technical response shall not exceed five (5) single-spaced, single sided pages. Text shall be no less than 12-point font in read-only Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF format. The technical quotation shall address the following:

1. Technical description and/or product literature.  Quoters shall include the manufacturer, make and model of the quoted product(s), manufacturer sales literature, or other product literature that CLEARLY DOCUMENTS that the quoted products meet or exceed all specifications outlined in the Statement of Requirements. The quoter is responsible for ensuring the submitted documentation clearly addresses all specifications and requirements. The quoter must not simply state they will meet or exceed the requirement; evidence must be provided.
2. Country of origin of all manufactured end products quoted
3. If applicable, evidence that the quoter is authorized by the manufacturer to sell the item(s) in the quotation.
4. Confirmation of the quoter’s ability to meet the required delivery terms.
5. Confirmation of the quoter’s ability to meet warranty requirements.

Volume II: Price Quotation

The quoter shall submit one (1) copy of their price quotation electronically via E-mail to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer identified above. The price quotation shall address, at minimum, the following information:

1. The solicitation number
2. The name, phone number, and email address of the quoter's/contractor’s point of contact;
3. Unique Entity Identifier # for quoter's/contractor’s active SAM.Gov registration.
4. A firm fixed price for each required line item, including a unit price and total amount where applicable, and the aggregate quoted firm fixed price for the requirement.
5. FOB Destination Shipping and Delivery costs must be included in the quotation either as a separate line item or contained in the total price of the quote. The quotation shall include a total firm fixed price for the requirement that includes all shipping/delivery costs
6. Any applicable discount terms.

Quoters that are proposing products manufactured outside of the United States must identify any other or unknown charges that may be applicable to the sale of these products as a separate line item. This price element may be listed as part of the cost of the product or as a sub-total element but must be clearly identified. This price element must only apply to the total value of the goods identified for customs processing. Only include the country of origin and the tariff percentage currently in place or the expected amount at time of delivery for that country.  Price quotes shall clearly identify the relevant tariffs in terms of percentage and total cost. If there are multiple countries of origins and associated tariffs, identify each separately.

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION Jan 2026)

1. Evaluation factors. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Quoter whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors will be used to evaluate offers:

The Government intends to award a single firm fixed price purchase order (PO) from this solicitation utilizing simplified acquisitions procedures in accordance with FAR part 12 of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul. The Government reserves the right not to award a PO and to make an award without discussions based solely upon initial quotes.

Basis for Award: 

Award shall be made to the responsible quoter whose quotation, conforming to the solicitation, represents the best value to the Government, considering the evaluation factors identified below.

Evaluation Factors

1. Technical Capability
2. Price

Technical Capability is more important than Price. As quotations become more equal in Technical Capability, Price will become increasingly important in the award decision.

A quoter's failure to address any factor may be considered indicative of the quoter's lack of understanding of the Government's requirements and may result in the offer being determined unacceptable.

Evaluation Factors:

Technical Capability:

Evaluation of technical capability shall be based on the information provided in the quotation.

NIST will evaluate the extent to which the quoter demonstrated that its proposed equipment meets or exceeds minimum requirements, including the requirement for FOB Destination (or equivalent INCO Terms) delivery within 12 weeks after contractor receipt of order.

Quotations which meet all minimum requirements will be evaluated as satisfactory. Quotations that do not meet all minimum requirements will not be considered for award. If a quoter’s technical description and/or product literature does not indicate whether its proposed equipment meets a certain minimum requirement, NIST will determine that it does not meet the requirements. 

NIST prefers quotations with lower insertion loss and wider tuning ranges than the minimum specifications, while holding bandwidths within the requirements.

Price: 

The quoted price will be evaluated. The evaluation will determine whether the quoted prices are reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements. Prices must be entirely compatible with the technical portion of the quotation.

(b) Options (if applicable). The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. The evaluation of options does not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).
 

(c) Notice of award. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer furnished to the successful Offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.