NMR Gaussmeter for NIST Quantum Sensing Research

The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs. BACKGROUND The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML), Nanoscale Device Characterization Division, Advanced Electronics Group intends to purchase a gaussmeter whose operating principle is the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of protons. Additionally, the gaussmeter must be calibrated and traceable to international standards.  A primary strategic focus of the division involves exploring the chemical and physical nature of atomic-scale defects in materials. Chief among these materials is diamond; including applications exploiting its wide bandgap properties for power electronics and its ultra-stable defect entities for use in quantum sensing applications. The division is currently undertaking an effort to develop diamond-based magnetometers for magnetic field sensing. A critical aspect of this program is the precise measure of the electronic g-tensor of a specific diamond-based defect entity, the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center. Our ability to measure this quantity directly relates to our ability to calibrate the magnetic field of our magnets. Thus, we require an ultra-sensitive NMR gaussmeter. Additionally, our program requires that our measure of g-tensor be SI traceable and thus requires an SI-traceable measure of magnetic field. The primary purpose of this acquisition is to measure magnetic field in an ultra-sensitive and SI-traceable manner by exploiting the nuclear magnetic resonance of protons. This unit will serve to measure and verify against international standards the magnetic fields of our existing magnet infrastructure. The ability to perform this is ultimately directly related to the sensitivity and traceability of the diamond-based magnetometers currently under development. NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing an NMR gaussmeter that will achieve the objectives described above, and meet the following essential minimum required technical specifications: The gaussmeter shall operate on the principle of nuclear magnetic resonance of protons. The gaussmeter shall be a standalone instrument that does not require integration or requirements of any other systems. The gaussmeter shall have a precision of less than 0.01 parts per million in a stable magnetic field of 1.5 T. The gaussmeter shall have an accuracy of plus or minus 5 parts per million that is independent of temperature. The gaussmeter shall have a maximum field gradient of at least 1 mT per cm. The gaussmeter shall have an operating frequency range covering at least 1 MHz to 1 GHz. The gaussmeter shall have the ability to accept interchangeable probe heads for measuring a variety of different magnetic field ranges. The gaussmeter shall come furnished with one such probe head that shall Cover the magnetic field range of 200 mT through 500 mT. Include a remote passive measurement head in which the electronic components are separated from the active measurement area of the probe. Be sized such that the remote passive measurement area of the probe will fit into a space 1.5 mm x 9.5 mm. The gaussmeter shall be calibrated and must Be traceable to standards maintained in accordance with international agreements and the SI system of units. Include a calibration certificate stating The instrument, serial number and date of calibration. The entity performing the calibration. Standards utilized. Measurement methods. Measurement results that include uncertainty.   HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response:  Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.  Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response. Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI). Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice.  For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following: Manufacturer name Model number Technical specifications If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s) Describe perform