Description
This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE USED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. DESIGN, BUILD AND TEST DETECTORS FOR A PICOWATT INFRARED RADIOMETER The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) is seeking Contractors with expertise in the fabrication and building of custom infrared detectors. The final detector must have a spectral range of 2 microns to 30 microns, a frequency response of 10 kilohertz (kHz) or greater, an internal quantum efficiency of greater than 99 percent from 4 microns to 28 microns, be compatible for use in a high vacuum (0.000000001 Torr), and be operational in a background environment from 2 kelvins (K) to 15 kelvins (K). The Low Background Infrared (LBIR) Facility at NIST is responsible for maintaining the infrared calibration standards for the United States over the 2 micron to 30 microns spectral range in low temperature (less than 80 K) background environments. The LBIR Facility is researching a potential requirement to develop the ability to calibrate infrared signals from the 10 nanowatt (nW) to 1 picowatt (pW) level to an accuracy of 0.1 percent or better of the measured signal. To fulfill this requirement, the LBIR facility may develop a new trapping radiometer based on solid state, electronic detectors as opposed to its traditional thermally based cryogenic radiometers. At this time it is believed that As doped silicon, blocked impurity band (BIB) detectors can be made to have the 99 percent internal quantum efficiency that is required to make a solid state detector based trapping radiometer that is suitable for calibration activity over the desired infrared power range to accuracies of 0.1 percent. Although As:Si BIB detectors are expected to be able to fulfill the requirements, NIST is also researching the availability of other detectors that will meet the following requirements: 1. Linear response of better than 1 percent from 1 femtowatt (fW) to 10 nW; 2. A frequency response with less than 1 percent roll-off up to a frequency of 10 KHz; 3. Noise equivalent power of less than 0.1 percent of the signal being measured between 1 pW and 10 nW; 4. A spectral range of 2 to 30 microns, with no sensitivity above 33 microns; 5. Capable of having and active area of 3 cm squared, with no defects; 6. Variations in spatial uniformity of less than 1 percent within the active area of the detector; 7. Internal quantum efficiency of greater than 99 percent, with external quantum efficiency that deviates from 99 percent only due to reflection from the detector; 8. Reflectivity that has a total diffuse reflectivity of less than 0.03 percent over the entire spectral range; 9. Operational temperature range of 14 K or less; 10. Operational background temperature of 2 K to 15 K; 11. Compatible with vacuums of 0.000001 Torr when at ambient temperatures. These specifications are provided for market research purposes only. Final specifications shall be determined based on information received and NIST?s minimum requirements. NIST anticipates the need to acquire a quantity of at least 50 detectors. The delivery time is anticipated to be 18 months or less. During the fabrication process the Contractor must supply samples to NIST for inspection and testing that will be used to finalize the final photo mask for the delivered detectors. Qualified Contractors must provide detailed information on their experience and expertise in building the same or similar detectors to Carol A. Wood, Contract Specialist, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640. Submissions must be received by 3:00 p.m. local time on November 30, 2006. Original submissions are required. E-mail and Fax submission shall not be accepted. Contractors shall identify their business size, (small, small-disadvantaged, hub-zone, large etc.) in accordance with North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing; the Small Business Size Standard is 500 employees.