Megahertz femtosecond laser system and optical parametric amplifiers

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 National Research Council (NRC) of Canada has a requirement for the supply of a megahertz femtosecond laser system and optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) for the Ultrafast Quantum Photonics facilities on Sussex.
This laser system will expand our capabilities in the generation and manipulation of quantum states of light. The OPAs deliver high power, broad-bandwidth pulses of light that can be tuned across a wide spectral range in the visible to short-wave infrared regions, giving significant flexibility for research purposes. This system will be used to expand our knowledge base, train highly skilled workers, and enable technology development in quantum sensing, quantum communications, and quantum information processing.
3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
The system must meet all of the general requirements as specified below.
1. 80 Watt Ytterbium-(Yb) based femtosecond amplifier
2. Repetition rate tunable between 200kHz-2MHz,
3. Two Optical Parametric Amplifiers (OPAs), built around the amplifier’s specification, to generate wavelength tunable femtosecond pulses between 630nm-2600nm.

Mandatory Technical Requirements

Ref. Qty Description
1.2.1 1 Pump Laser
a) 1030 nm Fundamental Output
b) 80 W max output power (at 200 kHz - 2,000 kHz)
c) 0.4 mJ/pulse max output energy (at up to 200 kHz)
d) < 250 fs fundamental pulse duration
e) 200 kHz - 2,000 kHz base rep rate
f) Integrated pulse picker to effectively divide the rep rate
g) Control laptop with a preloaded extensive software package
h) Air Cooled chiller
1.2.2 2 High-Power near-IR and visible OPA with SHS/SHI extensions
a) 630 – 1030 nm (signal) and 1030 – 2600 nm (idler)
b) Input energy and rep rate: 20 uJ (40 W @ 2 MHz)
c) one (1) external beam splitting routing mirror
d) SHS/SHI extensions: 315-515nm (SH of Signal), 515-630nm (SH of Idler)
1.2.3 1 Oscillator Output simultaneous with the RA output:
a) 500 mW, 65 MHz, 1035 nm
b) Faraday isolator, after which output is chirped to 250 fs
1.2.4 Canadian Standard Association (CSA) or Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) standards certification
1.2.5 All equipment to be powered by standard North American 120VAC/60Hz supply.

Acceptance Testing

1. The Contractor must supply a preliminary acceptance test plan to the NRC eight weeks after contract award. This plan is a high-level description of the acceptance tests to be performed at the factory and on-site.
2. The Contractor must provide a detailed factory acceptance test (FAT) plan eight weeks prior to shipment of the equipment. The results of the test must be shared with and accepted by the NRC prior to shipment.
3. The Contractor must provide a detailed site acceptance test (SAT) plan four weeks prior to shipping the equipment. The Contractor is responsible for executing the SAT on-site at NRC and the associated mobilization costs if required. The results of the test must be shared with and accepted by the NRC once completed on-site.

Installation

1. The Contractor must deliver, install, and setup all deliverables at the location specified in the contract.
2. All utility, mechanical/electrical isolation and environmental requirements to complete a successful installation and SAT must be specified in writing for NRC approval within 4 weeks after contract award to allow for the NRC to prepare the area as specified.
3. All physical layout constraints must be specified by the Contractor within four weeks after contract award.
4. The Contractor must supply all associated materials required to effect complete installation, integration and configuration of the deliverables at the site. This must include but not be limited to such things as all the required power connectors, cables, and any other accessories required to install, integrate and configure the deliverables.
5. The Contractor must maintain all work areas at the installation site(s) in a clean and tidy condition on completion of each day’s work and on completion of acceptance, including the removal and disposal of all related packing material.
6. The Contractor must begin installation within ten calendar days of delivery and must complete the installation within two calendar days from the installation start date.

Training

1. After the system installation is completed, the Contractor is required to provide introductory training for NRC-QN (formerly SDT) personnel in the installation, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and safety of the system.
2. The training manual must be provided by the Contractor four weeks in advance of the training date specifying training details and duration.
3. Training will be conducted on site during the normal working hours of 8:30 to 16:00 on mutually agreed dates and times within three days of commissioning being completed. The training and training manual will be supplied in English. Up To five end users may be trained.

Manuals

The Contractor must deliver one complete set of Documentation, in PDF format and in English. This documentation must include all necessary publications pertaining to technical specifications, installation requirements and operating instructions.

The documentation must include:
1. Facilities Installation Manuals
2. User manual(s) including any 3rd party components requiring manuals
3. Safety Manuals
4. Maintenance Manuals
5. System Diagrams
6. OEM documentation including all details and maintenance requirements for all third-party components

Maintenance and Support Services

1. The class of hardware maintenance service which applies to this contract is both On-site Maintenance Service and Return-to-Depot Service as applicable. The Contractor and the Technical Authority must mutually agree on the class of hardware maintenance service required for each item of Hardware.

2. The Contractor must provide Maintenance and Support Services of the system in accordance with supplemental general conditions 4001 (2015-04-01), Hardware Purchase, Lease and Maintenance

Option to purchase extended warranty

1. The Contractor grants the NRC the irrevocable option to extend the manufactures warranty by an additional year. The extended warranty includes parts, labour and one annual preventive maintenance visit.
Travel
1. Travel and accommodations costs by the Contractor to the NRC is the responsibility of the Contractor under this contract. Any travel by NRC personnel is not the responsibility of the Contractor.

Project Schedule and Milestones

1. The Contractor must provide a delivery commitment schedule within 2 weeks after contract award. This must, at a minimum, include major milestones for the delivery of the equipment and design reviews.

2. The NRC are expecting a delivery time of 52 weeks after contract award or shorter.

Deliverables

1. Megahertz femtosecond laser system and optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs)
2. Installation
3. Acceptance test results
4. Training
5. Operation and maintenance manuals
6. Warranty
4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s)
o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
o Revised World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)
o Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
o Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
o Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
o Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
o Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
o Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
o Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement
o Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
o Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA)
o Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)
5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier:
There are no other suppliers that can provide the same or equivalent material due to system interchangeability and exclusive rights of the IP-compatible systems. This new system from Light Conversion is the only known compatible system that can be interchanged with the research data developed by the NRC and fully compatible between all seven Optical Parametric Amplifiers (OPO) manufactured from Light Conversion.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the contract".
7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:
a. Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
b. World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) – Article XIII (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
c. Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Article 19.12 (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
d. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – Article 15.10 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
e. Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) – Article Kbis-16 (2) (c): necessary to protect intellectual property;
f. Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement – Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
g. Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement – Article 17.11 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
h. 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;
i. Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement – Article 16.10 (1) (b) (iii): because of the absence of competition for technical reasons;
j. Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) –Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
k. 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
l. 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).
8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
The equipment must be delivered 52 weeks after contract award.
9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
Light Conversion USA 201 South Wallace, Suite B-2C Bozeman, Montana 59715
10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services 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.
11. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is July 17th, 2024 at 2:00 pm EDT.
12. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Name : Jonathan Soles
Title: Contracting Authority
Telephone: 343-548-9258
Email : Jonathan.Soles@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca