Inactive

(1) Action Code : SOURCES SOUGHT This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitati... (1) Action Code : SOURCES SOUGHT This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate. (2) Date : 2 June 2021 (3) Classification Code : 66 (4) NAICS Code: 334515 (5) NAICS Size Standard: 750 employees (6) Contracting Office Address: 2800 Powder Mill Road, Bldg. 601, Adelphi, Maryland 20783 (7) Subject: Sources Sought for One (1) Effusion Cell Assembly, One (1) Crucible, and One (1) Power Cable Set for Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MEB) Source in System (8) Proposed Solicitation Number: W911QX-21-Q-0149 (9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: June 9, 2021 @ 11:59 AM EST (10) Contact Point: Dale M. Brunson, Contract Specialist, dale.m.brunson.civ@mail.mil (11) A. Objective: To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation. B. Salient Characteristics The Government requires one (1) effusion cell assembly, one (1) crucible, and one (1) power cable set, comprising a source for a Government-owned molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. The parts shall include the following: Effusion Cell Assembly Mountable on a GEN II MBE design. Mounting flange of 4.5” outer diameter (OD), DN63CF Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) Conflat Flange. Dual filament (DF): one (1) filament at the tip of assembly and one (1) at the base, both constructed out of tantalum (Ta). Each filament of the dual filament assembly shall be independently controlled by a power cable. Two (2) Type C thermocouples, each integrated within each filament. Each filament shall be heatable to a temperature of 1400 degrees C, measured by the integrated thermocouple, under normal operation. The filaments shall be able to be each driven by a DC power supply with the ratings: 1500 W (60 V, 25 A); either tip or base 750 W (60 V, 12.5 A); either tip or base The 1500 W supply shall power the tip, and 750 W supply shall power the base; or the 1500 W supply shall power the base, and 750 W supply shall power the tip. The effusion cell head diameter, where the crucible sits, shall be no larger than 55 mm (2.165 inches OD). The “in-vacuum” length of the assembly, from the CF sealing edge to the tip, shall be 317 mm (12.5 inches). The inner volume of the assembly shall be able to hold a crucible that has a volume of 130 cubic centimeters (cc). Feedthrough protection shall be incorporated in order to avoid liquid materials shortcutting the power feedthrough. A thermocouple feedthrough shall be provided on the air side thermal shield for improved temperature stability. Thermocouple shall provide in vacuum protection to avoid mismeasurement by different transition temperatures. Crucible The crucible shall be made out of pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN). The volume shall be at least 120 cubic centimeters (cc). The neck and tip of the crucible shall be tapered, and the base shall be cylindrical. When seated inside the effusion cell assembly, the tip of the crucible shall be at 317 mm (12.5 inches) from the CF sealing edge. Cables Shall be at least eight (8) meters in length, with integrated power and Type C thermocouple connections. Shall withstand baking temperatures up to 180 degrees C. If providing an integrated cable for a dual-filament effusion cell, there shall be an appropriate connection to the effusion cell power connectors and the Type C thermocouple connectors. If providing two (2) separate cables for each filament, each cable shall have an appropriate two-pin power connector to the filament and a Type C thermocouple connector to the thermocouple. The connection to the power supply units for the filaments shall have a ring terminal or cable lug that is 8mm in diameter to mount with an M8 screw. If the cable connections for the base and tip filaments are combined into one combined cable, the three (3) foot of the end connecting to the power supply units and PID controllers shall be separated between power for feasibility of connecting to two (2) spatially separated power supplies and PID controllers. If the cable is two (2) separate ones, three (3) feet of the end connecting to the power supplies shall be separated for feasibility of connecting to a spatially separated power supply and PID controller. Company/Manufacturer Company shall be in MBE business since more than 30 years to show reliability and experience level. Company shall show simulation or measurement results for uniformity on wafer (customer provides the data for simulation like substrate and chamber geometry). Company shall give a statement for number of similar equipment sold in the past (e.g. > 1000 wire heater effusion cells of similar type). Company shall have at least five (5) Ph.D. with experience growing materials with MBE. Company shall have a CEO or CTO with more than 300 publications in the field of SiGe and III-V compound MBE. Company shall have a US based distributor or be located inside the US. C. Responses: All interested parties should notify this office in writing, mail or e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include: To what extent each of the specifications can be met. Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 750size standards in number of employees standard that accompanies NAICS code 334515. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.]. Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects. (12) Responses to this sources sought are due June 9, 2021 @ 11:59 AM EST. Submissions should be emailed to Dale M. Brunson, dale.m.brunson.civ@mail.mil. Mailed submissions can be sent to the address in block 7, ATTN: Dale M. Brunson. Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Dale M. Brunson at dale.m.brunson.civ@mail.mil. Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted. (13) Place of Contract Performance: Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783 (14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: 12 weeks