Optical Fibre Time Transfer Hardware

Concepts

• optical fibre time transfer hardware
• teddington
• precision equipment
• piktime systems
• supply of elstab fibre-optic time
• frequency distribution hardware
• laboratory and optical equipment
• time relays
• optical distribution amplifiers
• fibre-optic time

Location

NPL Teddington

Description

NPL proposes to award a contract to PikTime Systems for the supply of ELSTAB fibre-optic time and frequency distribution hardware.

Total Quantity or Scope

The requirement is for ELSTAB (electronically stabilised fibre-optic time and frequency distribution) modules and optical distribution amplifiers for use in a time scale application.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
• 31221600 - Time relays

Indicators

Legal Justification

NPL proposes to award a contract for ELSTAB (electronically stabilised fibre-optic time and frequency distribution) modules to PikTime Systems sp. z o.o. In its role as the UK’s National Measurement Institute, NPL is developing a new, resilient time scale for national use. The time accuracy and stability, and also the reliability, of the system will depend heavily on the supporting fibre-optic technology employed in its operation. The ELSTAB technology developed by AGH University of Science and Technology, for which PikTime is the commercial supplier, will therefore be key to the success of the new time scale. NPL has previously worked collaboratively with AGH University to assess the suitability of ELSTAB for use in the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) space mission. As part of ACES, NPL rigorously tested and evaluated the performance of the University’s ELSTAB technology. This was a time-consuming process which has made it clear that the testing of any alternative technology which might potentially be suitable for NPL’s new application would have serious impacts on our project timings and budget because it couldn’t feasibly be completed in less than 6 months. NPL has also collaborated on published research with the University, concerning the use of the ELSTAB technology during the development of our caesium fountain primary frequency standard. PikTime Systems is the only supplier worldwide that can provide technology that NPL has sufficient confidence in to serve in our application. No equivalent product is known to be available from any other source. Alternative technologies are known to be in development around the world but aren’t expected to be launched as commercial products in the short to medium term. NPL published a Prior Information Notice (2019/S 127-309989) in 2019. There were no expressions of interest from appropriately qualified suppliers.