Laser Pulse Compressors

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

[ACAN #24-58036]

[Laser Pulse Compressors]

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.
2. Definition of the Requirement
The Extreme Photonics Laboratory on Sussex at the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada has a requirement for two laser pulse compressors: one to compress 1030 nm laser pulses and the other to compress 2000 nm laser pulses. The pulse compressors will be based on multi-pass constant pressure gas cell technology. These new state-of-the-art laser compressor systems will enhance NRC's research capabilities by compressing high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses at two specific wavelengths, which will facilitate further research and development in the Extreme Photonics Laboratory. In accordance with NRC laboratory standards, the proposed laser pulse compressors will be state-of-the-art. They will enhance NRC’s research capabilities through the generation of high-repetition rate, sub-50 femtosecond pulses of light at specific, required wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
3.1 NRC has unique technical requirements. The laser pulse compressors must be based on multi-pass, constant-pressure gas cell technology;
3.2 The system must be fully interchangeable and compatible with NRC's existing N2 Photonics laser pulse compressors (both hardware and software platforms) with the existing laser pulse compressor research equipment in our labs;
3.3 Must be certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) at the time the equipment is delivered or shortly after commissioning.

3.4. The system must meet all of the technical requirements listed below:
1. 1030nm Laser Pulse Compressor System:
3.4.1 Input parameters
a. Pulse energy: 800 µJ;
b. Average power: 80 W;
c. Repetition rate: 100 kHz;
d. Central wavelength: 1030 nm;
e. Pulse duration: <350 fs;
f. Pulse shape: Gaussian;
g. Beam quality factor M2: <1.2;
h. Beam radius and divergence according to the pump laser factory test certificate.
3.4.2 Output parameters:
a. Pulse duration: <40 fs;
b. Transmission: >90 %;
c. Output beam quality factor M2: <1.3;
d. Maximal footprint: <0.24x1.5 m2;
e. Must be based on multi-pass, constant-pressure gas cell technology;
f. Software with beam pattern and mode-matching monitoring
2. 2000nm Laser pulse compressor system;
3.4.3 Input parameters:
a. Pulse energy: 50 µJ;
b. Average power: 5 W;
c. Repetition rate: 100 kHz;
d. Central wavelength: 2000 nm;
e. Pulse duration: <300 fs;
f. Pulse shape: Gaussian;
g. Beam quality factor M2: <1.2;
h. Beam radius and divergence according to the pump laser factory test certificate.
3.4.4 Output parameters:
a. Pulse duration: <50 fs;
b. Transmission: >90 %;
c. Output beam quality factor M2: <1.3;
d. Maximal footprint: <36x25 cm2;
e. Must be based on multi-pass, constant-pressure gas cell technology;
f. Software with beam pattern and mode-matching monitoring

4. This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s):
1. Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
2. Revised World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)
3. Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
4. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
5. Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
6. Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
7. Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
8. Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
9. Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement
10. Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
11. Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA)
12. Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)
5. Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business
5.1 This procurement is not subject to PSAB set-aside regulations.
6. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)
6.1 This procurement is not subject to the Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s).
7. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
7.1 N2 Photonics is the sole company that can provide multi-pass, constant-pressure gas cell technology laser pulse compressors that are both compatible and interchangeable with existing N2 Photonics’ hardware and software platforms already established in the Extreme Photonics Laboratories at the NRC and meet the technical criteria specified in the Statement of Requirements.
8. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
8.1 The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under section 1- Conditions of Contract Entry: Bids clause subsection 6 (d) only one person is capable of performing the contract.
9. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
9.1 The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:
1. Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
2. World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) – Article XIII (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
3. Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Article 19.12 (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
4. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – Article 15.10 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
5. Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) – Article Kbis-16 (2) (c): necessary to protect intellectual property;
6. Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement – Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
7. Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement – Article 17.11 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
8. Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement – referencing the WTO Protocol Amending the GPA, Article XIII (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
9. Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement – Article 16.10 (1) (b) (iii): because of the absence of competition for technical reasons;
10. Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) –Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
11. Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Annex 10-6 (2) (a): any form of preference, including set asides, to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises; and
12. Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement: refer to CETA as the provisions of CETA are incorporated by reference into and made part of this Agreement. (CETA) Article 19.12 (b) (iii).
10. Ownership of Intellectual Property
10.1 The contractor has exclusive ownership of the intellectual property for the goods in question. The Crown would have right of use of the products in question and the right to keep all intellectual property (IP) created by Canada. Therefore, ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.
11. Period of the Proposed Contract or Delivery Date
11.1 24 Weeks after Contract Award;
12. Cost estimate of the proposed contract
12.1 The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $268,300.00 (GST/HST extra).
13. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
N2 Photonics
Hans-Henny-Jahn-Weg 53
22085, Hamburg, Germany
14. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
14.1 Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
15. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
15.1 The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is July 12, 2024, 2pm eastern
16. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Lou Helbling
Senior Contracting Officer
1200 Montreal Rd, Bldg. M-55
Ottawa, Ontario,
Email:luiz.helbling@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Tel:343-630-4187