Description
The purpose of this Notice of Contracting Action (NOCA) is not to request competitive proposals, but to announce a pending contractual action. The Title III Program Office, Air Force Research Laboratory, Manufacturing Technology Division (AFRL/MLM) is contemplating this procurement, under the authority of Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) (50 U.S.C. App.2061 et seq.). This procurement shall establish a dedicated, long-term domestic source for producing environmentally protective ALD hermetic coatings for microelectronics, such as Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs), to meet Department of Defense needs. The government intends to release a solicitation for these requirements on a sole source basis, and contemplates awarding a cost share Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) to Raytheon RF Components (RRFC), located at 362 Lowell St., Andover, MA, 01810. The period of performance for the procurement is anticipated to be 33 months. During performance of this TIA, the recipient shall establish, qualify, validate, and initiate operation of a domestic MMIC foundry capable of producing ALD hermetic coatings for MMICs at the wafer level. The contractor shall procure and install Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) equipment for deposition of environmental coatings in its production wafer fabrication facility. The recipient shall replicate the wafer-level dielectric deposition process and films using the newly procured ALD equipment in its MMIC fabrication facility. The contractor shall optimize the ALD process and deposition materials for manufacturability. The recipient shall qualify, validate, and demonstrate the ALD hermetic coatings process as a production process for use in microwave and millimeter MMICs. The production demonstration release shall include (but not be limited to) the establishment, demonstration and documentation of: complete Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) instructions; statistical process control and process control limits; device and component models; as well as device, components, and MMIC reliability and environmental integrity. Additionally, the contractor shall also define and achieve mutually agreed upon key performance parameters with the U.S. Government for this project. Inquires pertaining to this acquisition should be addressed to the Contracting Officer, Mr. Steve Brumfield, (937) 656-9037, AFRL/PKMT, 2310 Eighth Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7801. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements as per the authority under 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). All responsible sources may submit information, which shall be considered by the agency. See Numbered Note 22.