Portable Optical Atomic Clocks

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information on vendors that can provide two Portable Optical Atomic Clocks. The clocks will be used to integrate into an auxiliary timescale in Gaithersburg, which will improve the resiliency and performance of UTC(NIST), NIST’s realization of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The clocks must meet specific requirements, including frequency discipline, output frequencies, and short-term frequency instability. Interested vendors should submit electronic copies of their capability statements, which should include information on the company, product specifications, and experience in meeting the requirements of this procurement. • The clocks must have a frequency discipline of an oscillator to an atomic or molecular spectroscopic transition. • The clocks must have output frequencies of 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 100 MHz, or 1 GHz. • The clocks must have a short-term frequency instability of less than 3E-13. • The clocks must have an electrical power dissipation of less than 150 W. • The clocks must be compatible with mounting within industry standard 19-inch rack enclosures.