Active

Contract Opportunity

***FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997)***

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(b) Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: Market Research Only.

***End***

Description:

The Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) seeks innovative technologies for a high energy heavy ion facility. TRMC is interested in the creation or reutilization of a capability for Single Event Effects (SEE) testing of microelectronics with high energy heavy ions. In this context, a high energy device is defined as a technology, device, or facility capable of meeting the notional Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) and Key Systems Attributes (KSAs) in the tables contained in the attached document.

TRMC seeks concepts for either the revitalization or creation of a facility and/or system that will add significant capacity and appropriate capability for Department of Defense (DoD) SEE testing. The purpose of this RFI is to not define the type of the accelerator or novel system, but rather understand what can be achieved to meet high energy heavy ion T&E requirements and/or understand the limitations in meeting the notional requirements above.

Concepts for a high energy heavy ion SEE facility are specifically desired to inform future facilities and investments in FY24-FY30. Concepts should consider the technologies required for acquisition, building, and certification of a high energy heavy ion SEE system and facility. Concepts should describe the system’s KPPs and KSAs, as well as address the additional facility attributes. Submissions should consider the effectiveness/performance of the proposed facility and the costs of the acquisition, construction, and certification of the facility. As feasible and available, a monthly and yearly estimation of the number of hours that will be made available for testing is desired to assist the TRMC in making an affordability and feasibility determination of future funding consideration.

TRMC is requesting any information you may have relative to high energy heavy ions for SEE testing of microelectronics. Concepts that leverage commercial and/or Other Government Agency (OGA) developments are desired. Concept submissions are not required to address all desired areas in this RFI, one or more may be addressed. This RFI may be used to partially, or fully, satisfy a Market Survey. The RFI responses may address the following areas included in this RFI:

Submissions may address the following areas below:

1. Technical description of the proposed system that will meet the Key Performance Parameters listed in Table 1.


2. Technical description of the proposed system that will meet Key System Attributes listed in Table 2.


3. Technical description of the facility that will house the beam. Table 3 from Appendix A may be used as a reference.


4. Technical description of beam attributes including potential ion change time within a tune, energy change time (degrade/tune), flux change time, and chamber entry and exit time.


5. Description of the accelerator device. Include descriptions of special cooling, vacuum pumps, liquid nitrogen lines, liquid helium, helium recycling, water lines, and coolant storage.


6. Estimate of the number of hours this facility will be available yearly for testers’ use.


7. Estimate of the percentage that the facility will be available per year. Define how many months of the year the facility will be operation and how many months the facility will be down for maintenance.


8. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost Estimate for both the facility and accelerator device. (As available)


9. Description of geographical location of potential facility. Include descriptions of related infrastructure and natural disaster risks.


10. Description of workforce staffing for facility. Include workforce sustainment initiatives, including hiring and retention.


11. Description potential workforce development initiatives.


12. Description of safety and environmental concerns for facility. Include required permits, local (government and community) concerns and interest, local business or academic interest.


13. Estimated schedule for acquisition, construction or upgrade, and qualification for beam and facility.


14. Any assumptions used with regard to constructing and upkeep of both the beam and facility. Description of business models or Concept of Operations that describe how the facility will be marketed, booked, used, invoiced, maintained, etc. DoD seeks long-term and optimal usage that is supported by a sound operating practice. There are several models of management or sales (GOCO, COCO, etc.) that can provide sustained beam-hour operations to paying customers (not all of whom must be DoD testers).


15. Proposers are encouraged to explore partnerships, investment and ownership models, concepts to leverage full market demand for testing, innovative methods of operating and sustaining across user community. The goal is to create a sustainable, economically viable, heavy ion facility that meets increasing test demand with accessible, affordable beam hours.

Applicable NAICS Codes:

541380: Testing Laboratories

541715: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

621512: Diagnostic Imaging Centers

334515: Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals

334517: Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing/ Nuclear Irradiation Equipment Manufacturing

335999: All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing/ Particle accelerators, high-voltage, manufacturing

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