SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- Information Technology (IT) White Rabbit (WR) Switches with Low Jitter enhancement (v 3.5)
- Notice Date
- 7/31/2023 9:34:06 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST GAITHERSBURG MD 20899 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20899
- Solicitation Number
- 1333ND23QNB770480
- Response Due
- 8/7/2023 10:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 08/22/2023
- Point of Contact
- Seth Kaplan, Phone: 3019754042
- E-Mail Address
-
seth.kaplan@nist.gov
(seth.kaplan@nist.gov)
- Description
- Notice of Intent to Sole Source The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Information Technology Lab (ITL) Computing and Communications Theory group intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with Safran Trusted 4D to acquire the following Information Technology (IT) brand name only products: White Rabbit (WR) Switches with Low Jitter enhancement (v 3.5).�������� Background Information and Basis for Sole Source The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Information Technology Lab (ITL), Computing and Communications Theory group applies expertise in mathematical subdisciplines such as combinatorics, graph theory, network science, operations research, optimization, discrete nonlinear dynamics, computational geometry, quantum mechanics, and information theory.� Researchers apply their knowledge and skills in areas such as the fundamental models of physics, chemistry, biology, and information systems, complex systems analysis, pattern recognition, and quantum computing and communications.� In collaboration with NIST and outside scientists, the group develops, analyzes, and applies related mathematical methods and tools for critical problems of measurement science at NIST, and develops mathematical foundations for the measurement science of information systems. As part of this mission, our group is planning to develop new schemes and protocols for quantum networking and is planning to perform experiments to test these protocols in the newly developed NIST campus network (called PQNI) and a regional quantum network (called DC-QNet). The goal of NIST, ITL, Computing and Communications Theory group�s research is to develop a measurement and testbed infrastructure to test and validate the performance of optical quantum components on the NIST Gaithersburg campus and over a regional DC area quantum network. A critical component of these quantum networks is the precision timing synchronization that is required between �nodes� on the network. To distribute and characterize quantum signals and to perform quantum experiments between at least two DC-QNet agencies over a fiber-based link, we need to implement high precision (<< nS level) timing synchronization with ps-level or better cycle-to-cycle jitter between the nodes on the network. The WR Precision Time Protocol (WR-PTP) was developed at CERN in Switzerland, and recently became a standard as part of IEEE 1588-2019 High Accuracy Precision Time Protocol (HA-PTP) Profile. WR-PTP and HA-PTP provide the clock and time synchronization precision needed. These systems will be integrated with existing WR infrastructure on the network testbed. Currently, NIST, ITL Computing and Communications Theory group has Seven Solutions (acquired by OROLIA, and now Safran) hardware and firmware with a plan to extend the network to work with additional labs at NIST and in DC-QNet. A comparison with CreoTech and OPNT show the hardware is similar but with different firmware and software. The risks of NIST not acquiring the same hardware and firmware for the WR devices are: (a) significantly increased research delay time to acquire and verify other systems, 12 to 24 months depending on the supply chain availability, ease of working with different firmware and software interfaces, ease of integration, and the acquisitions process; and (b) the required frequency stability performance of� < 2.2. ps jitter RMS� and < 2 ps ADEV, limited primarily by the uncertainty of our measurement capability, cannot be achieved after integration. The required equipment will be integrated with pre-existing Seven Solutions/Orolia hardware and firmware.� Seven Solutions was acquired by OROLIA in the winter of 2021/2022 and Safran in 2023, which acquired all Seven Solutions devices and IP. Per calibration requirements, WR devices must be the same in order to calibrate the devices on the network (to satisfy assumptions that hardware delays are relatively equal in devices with same hardware and firmware): See CERN White Rabbit Network Calibration Procedures, Section 3 (bullet 3): https://white-rabbit.web.cern.ch/documents/WR_Calibration-v1.1-20151109.pdf Furthermore, these systems will be integrated with existing WR infrastructure on the network and DC-QNet testbed and therefore we will require these specific brand name only parts to achieve integration with that infrastructure. As such, the Government�s intent is to negotiate with Safran Trusted 4D to acquire the following Information Technology (IT) brand name only products: WR Switches with Low Jitter enhancement (v 3.5).�������� General The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334111- Electronic Computer Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 1,250 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the listed due date, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition 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. Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response due date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Seth Kaplan at seth.kaplan@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at seth.kaplan@nist.gov no later than the aforementioned due date.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/39e9112b9a804cff8982c88f38a46fce/view)
- Record
- SN06769619-F 20230802/230731230044 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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