---
title: "Awarded ITT - Supply of Frequency Comb Systems"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY"
published: "2021-04-07"
---

# Awarded ITT - Supply of Frequency Comb Systems

Buyer: NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2

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## Summary

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is currently engaged in an active procurement process titled "ITT - Supply of Frequency Comb Systems," aimed at acquiring laboratory equipment classified under CPV code 38000000. This procurement is part of the UK's quantum technologies programme and is located in Teddington, UK. The procurement method is an open procedure, with the tender period ending on 5th March 2021. The total estimated budget for this procurement is £1,300,000, and the contract is scheduled to run from 31st March 2021 to 31st March 2022.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory, optical, and precision equipment. Companies with capabilities to supply high-technology frequency comb systems will find this an ideal bidding opportunity. Suppliers should be prepared to meet a range of technical specifications across different lots, aiming to contribute to the advancement of frequency measurement technologies compatible with ultrastable laser systems and optical lattice clocks, enhancing their market presence within the scientific research sector.

## Notice

The combs will be part of future national time scale infrastructure, as well as test and evaluation facilities and services being set up as part of the UK quantum technologies programme. For this reason, they must be able to operate independently and continuously (24/7) with minimal downtime for maintenance. The purpose is to enable greater flexibility and agility in NPL's frequency measurement and characterisation services, while simultaneously developing the new infrastructure required to support a future redefinition of the second. The setups need to work in tandem with ultrastable laser systems, optical lattice clocks and fibre networking capability in the AQML to support international collaborations and so must be compatible with these technologies. A full and detailed specification of our requirements for each individual comb is provided in separate lots as outlined in the ITT documents.

### Lot Information

Lot 4

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is seeking to procure 4 separate frequency comb systems for our recently constructed Advanced Quantum Metrology Laboratory (AQML), where they will sit at the heart of a new optical frequency metrology capability. The individual combs will be used to perform different tasks. The requirements for each therefore differ, and they should be quoted separately as a result. A general overview of the purpose and requirements for each of these systems are: 1) Synthesizer comb: The first frequency comb shall be appropriate for transferring the stability of a state-of-the-art ultrastable laser at 1542 nm to lasers operating at other wavelengths. These lasers include probe lasers for Yb and Sr optical lattice clocks as well as lasers used for frequency transfer over optical fibre links. It shall also be appropriate for measuring the absolute frequencies of these lasers and the optical frequency ratios between them. 2) Flexible measurement comb: The second frequency comb shall be more flexible, and appropriate for measuring optical frequencies (and the ratios between them) anywhere in the range from 500 nm to 2000 nm. It shall be possible to stabilise this comb to the same ultrastable laser at 1542 nm. 3) Backup comb: The third frequency comb will be used to provide continuous monitoring of the performance of the first two combs. As such it shall combine the capabilities of both these combs. 4) Microwave comb: The fourth frequency comb will be used in the near infrared for the generation of ultra-stable microwave signals. Comb light should be generated in the C-band.

Options: Described within tender documents

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007162-2021 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Apr 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 5 Mar 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Mar 2021 |
| Contract period | 30 Mar 2021 - 31 Mar 2022 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,300,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £941,770 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY |
| Locality | TEDDINGTON |
| Post town | Twickenham |
| Postcode | TW11 0LW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI7 Outer London - West and North West |
| ITL 3 | TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames |
| Local authority | Richmond upon Thames |
| Electoral ward | Teddington |
| Westminster constituency | Twickenham |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MENLO SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 7 Apr 2021 at 21:56 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007162-2021
- 5 Feb 2021 at 22:56 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002427-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.npl.co.uk
- https://lupc.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2.json.