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), particularly the Biomedical Measurement Technologies group, is actively seeking specialized test substrates composed of silicon wafers enhanced with multiple thin films. These substrates will play a crucial role in testing biofunctionalization techniques that are essential for advanced electronic sensing applications.

This project aims to rigorously assess the stability and reliability of biomolecule attachment to semiconductor surfaces, which is vital for the development of effective biosensors. The substrates required will serve as an industry reference point for NIST's internal samples. As such, they must be manufactured on high-quality foundry or research-grade semiconductor fabrication lines capable of processing 200 mm silicon wafers. The thin films must be applied either uniformly as a continuous layer over the entire wafer surface or in a precise patterned layout using either optical or e-beam lithography, depending on the specific requirements outlined below:

• Blanket films of 3 nm Hafnium Oxide (HfO2) on 2 nm Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) on Silicon wafers.
• Films with a pre-specified lithographic pattern of 3 nm HfO2 on 2 nm SiO2 on Silicon wafers.
• Blanket 2 nm SiO2 on Silicon wafers.
• Blanket Gold (Au) films with thickness > 20 nm on Silicon wafers.
• Blanket films of amine terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a film of 3 nm HfO2 on 2 nm SiO2 on Silicon wafers.
• Fin structures, 30 nm wide, 30 nm high, and 5 μm, long patterned with e-beam lithography on silicon wafers. The fin patterns will be coated with 3 nm HfO2.

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that will achieve the objectives and essential requirements described above.

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 research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive.

• State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details, including timeline.

• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

• • Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small B