Active

Contract Opportunity

BACKGROUND

This project involves an existing NIST Synchrotron beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and an existing CRADA with IBM. It’s purpose is to improve the X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) measurement capabilities for state of the art semiconductor samples working directly with IBM researchers stationed at NIST’s Beamline for Materials Measurement (BMM) and other researchers studying materials for information technology. The proposed detector enhancement will substantially increase sample throughput and measurement sensitivity, driving the ability to probe semiconductor device interfaces, a broader set of element/matrix combinations, and nanoscale structures in device stacks. These enhanced capabilities will become broadly available to the US Semiconductor Industry by allocation of beam time at the BMM via NIST’s Partner User Agreement with NSLS-II (DOE). This broad and rapid accessibility of the new x-ray beamline metrology will directly enhance innovation and competitiveness in the US Semiconductor Industry.

The goal of thIs contract is to deliver two new detectors at NIST’s Beamline for Materials Measurement. One is a strip detector for high-resolution X-ray Diffraction. The other is a large-area, photo-counting X-ray detector.

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a commercial item solution that meets or exceeds the following draft minimum specifications:

Line Item 0001:

Description: High-resolution strip detector for X-ray Diffraction

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications
   
   
   
   
   1. 50 μm strip width, 8 mm strip height, silicon sensor
   
   
   2. 5 keV – 40 keV detection range
   
   
   3. 4.5 keV to 40 keV threshold range
   
   
   4. 1000 kHz frame rate
   
   
   5. 107 counts/second/strip counting rate
   
   
   6. sub-100 μsec readout time
   
   
   7. air cooling
   
   
   8. U.S. line voltage compatibility
   
   
   
   

Line Item 0002:

Description: Large-area, photon-counting X-ray detector

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications
   
   
   
   
   1. active area greater than 300 mm x 300 mm
   
   
   2. pixel size smaller than 80 μm x 80 μm
   
   
   3. pixel array greater than 4000 x 4000
   
   
   4. 107 counts/second/pixel counting rate
   
   
   5. energy range 6 keV to 40 keV
   
   
   6. threshold range 3.5 keV to 30 keV with at least 2 threshold settings
   
   
   7. 100 Hz frame rate
   
   
   8. support for continuous readout
   
   
   9. U.S. line voltage compatibility
   
   
   
   

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORRMATION. 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 specialist listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• 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 laboratory equipment that your company sells that is of the nature addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice. Include brand name, make, model, and/or other distinguishing information.


• State if your company is the manufacturer of the identified equipment or is a retailer or wholesaler that normally sells the identified equipment. If the latter, indicate whether the manufacturer authorized in writing for your company to sell the identified equipment on behalf of the manufacturer.


• Describe performance capabilities and relevant or beneficial physical and functional features for any equipment you identified to satisfy the NIST-identified minimum specifications described in this notice.


• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or contain unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your ability to fully participate and indicate why. In such a scenario, please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more inclusive and competitive.


• Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.


• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:


• 
  
  
  
  • Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business. See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement.
  
  
  
  


• Describe services that are available with the purchase of the aforementioned equipment from your company such as installation, training, and equipment maintenance.


• Describe standard terms and conditions of sale offered by your company for the aforementioned equipment such as: delivery time after your company accepts the order; FOB shipping terms: manufacturer warranty (including details regarding nature and duration); if available, description(s) of available extended warranty; equipment setup and test; operator and service instruction manual(s); cleanup after installation; and if applicable, other offered services. Provide a copy of manufacturer standard terms and conditions that typically relate to the sale of the specified equipment, if available.


• State whether your company offers facility renovation services related to installation of the aforementioned equipment at its delivery destination, if required per the NIST-identified minimum specifications, and provide description of services. Indicate if your company performs the facility renovation services or typically subcontracts the work to another company. Indicate if your company would be interested inspecting the intended installation site during the market research phase.


• State published price, discount or rebate arrangements for aforementioned equipment and/or provide link to access company’s published prices for equipment and services.


• State whether the aforementioned equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.


• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details.


• If the aforementioned equipment and related services are available for purchase on any existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts against which NIST may be able place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.


• Identify any customers in the public or private sectors in which you provided the aforementioned or similar equipment. Include customer(s) information: company name, phone number, point of contact, email address.


• ProviDe any other information that you believe would be valuable for NIST to know as part of its market research for this requirement.


• State if you require NIST to provide additional information to improve your understanding of the government’s requirement and/or would like to meet with NIST representatives to discuss the requirement and the capabilities of the identified equipment.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 3, 2024. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.

Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice.

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!

Attachments/Links