Notice Of Intent to Sole Source - Silterra, Inc. - Foundry Fabrication Services for Photonic MicroMechanical Devices

The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Silterra, Inc. for foundry fabrication services for photonic micromechanical devices for the Center for Nanoscale Technology Science and Technology (CNST) Electron Physics Group. The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) enables science and industry by providing essential measurement methods, instrumentation, and standards to support all phases of nanotechnology development, from discovery to production. This procurement is necessary to develop new measurement methods and create facilities for collaborative research within the CNST. Silterra is uniquely qualified to provide the required foundry fabrication services as no other supplier can develop a custom microfabrication process and microfabricate devices to NIST designs and specifications in small batches. The specifications combine doing accurate optical photolithographic patterning and etching of photonic-quality SOI silicon structures with sub 150 nm features on 200mm diameter wafers, followed by custom deposition and patterning of material layers of NIST-specified materials and thicknesses. NIST requires full-wafer fabrication of fully-custom devices in small-volumes for research purposes. Other services considered either lack the 193-nm optical lithography patterning capability required for this work, or are not providing fully-custom process development and device processing in small batches. Delivery shall be FOB DESTINATION and shall occur not later than 9 months from date of award. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 333242, and the size standard is 1500 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by established due date/time set forth in this notice. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected] . No telephone requests will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.