The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs.

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg 731.07 Group within the Engineering Laboratory is seeking an extreme thermal cycling chamber to perform accelerated aging experiments as part of a study of long-term reliability of materials used in advanced packaging of semiconductor chips. This work is in support of the CHIPS Metrology program.

The CHIPS Metrology program develops and advances cutting edge metrology capabilities for members of the US semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. This NIST conducted research program works with device manufacturers, tool vendors, materials suppliers, and other organizations to address critical metrology gaps to spur innovation within seven grand challenge areas. For more information on CHIPS Metrology, please visit https://www.nist.gov/chips/research-development-programs/metrology-program

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that will achieve the objectives described above, in addition to the following essential requirements: 

1. Sample Types and Sizes
   1. Samples will include films, multilayered film structures, and sectioned wafers
   2. Materials to be aged will include polymeric components in advanced packaging, including underfill and encapsulation epoxies, fiber reinforced polymer substrates, along with thermal interface materials, filler components, treated substrates. These materials may be standalone films, combined into multilayered composites, or combined into assembled semiconductor structures as part of a fabricated test vehicle.
   3. Largest sample size is expected to be a 300 mm wafer.
2. Thermal Cycling
   1. Oven must provide a wide temperature range of at least -100 °C to 200 °C.
   2. Oven must also provide rapid thermal cycling with thermal ramp rates of at least 70°C/min. Provide the thermal cycling rate along with whether the ramp rate can be controlled/modified.
   3. Thermocouple must be included. Provide the number of thermocouples, their location, and the temperature accuracy of the oven.
3. Wire Port
   1. Sample degradation will be monitored during thermal aging. This will require a pass-through port to allow for monitoring cables to be fed through the oven. The pass-through port must be 2-3” in diameter. Multiple pass-through ports of smaller size will also be considered. Provide these details.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response:  Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.  Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

• Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice.  For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following:
  • Manufacturer name
  • Model number
  • Technical specifications
  • If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s)

• Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements. Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response.
  • Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.

• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why.  Please offer suggestions for how the market researc