HQ072726RE001 - Question Answer 01.pdf

Questions and Answers from the Government’s Request for Proposal HQ072726RE001

Note: All questions have been revised to be made anonymous and in the form of a question. Our intent is to provide the most honest and accurate answers as possible regarding the facts and the Government’s intent. With that being, said should any conflict arise between this document and the solicitation, the solicitation prevails/overrules. We hope you find this helpful.

Q1. Is there a specific technology being requested?

A1. No, this RFP was structured so that offerors may propose their full portfolio of onshore technologies.

Q2. Is there a Trust or ITAR requirement for R2A.

A2. There is no inherent ITAR or Trust requirement under R2A.

Q3. For Phase 1, must the proposed semiconductor foundry facility and offered process technology be fully operational and production qualified at the time of proposal submission?

A3. Yes, for the Phase 1 evaluation at time of proposal submission the proposed technology shall be production qualified.

Q4. May an Offeror propose a fully owned and operated domestic facility that is currently under construction with a defined equipment readiness plan, process qualification plan, quality management plan, PDK roadmap, and qualification schedule?

A4. No, the intent of R2A is to engage with industry for production qualified technologies.

Q5. For an emerging photonic foundry capability, would the Government consider a phased qualification approach for new or derivative process technologies involving silicon photonics, Group III-V photonic integration, photonic electronic packaging, or other defense-relevant photonic semiconductor processes?

A5. Yes, however, there must be an existing production qualified semiconductor process in a domestic foundry in accordance with the RFP.

Q6. If an Offeror owns and operates the domestic facility but the fabrication line is still under construction, what documentation would the Government consider sufficient for Phase 1 facility ownership/control review? For example, would deeds, leases, construction contracts, facility control documents, equipment purchase orders, operating plans, or quality system implementation plans be evaluated, or is active wafer fabrication required at submission?

A6. An existing production qualified semiconductor process in a domestic foundry in accordance with the RFP is required.

Q7. Does the phrase “production qualified” require completed wafer lots, demonstrated yield data, released wafer acceptance criteria, and production-ready PDKs before proposal submission, or may those items be proposed as scheduled deliverables during contract performance or prior to issuance of specific task orders?

A7. Yes, production qualified generally requires completed wafer lots and demonstrated yield data, reliability testing in accordance with industry standards such as the JEDEC JEP001 series.

Q8. If a fully owned and operated domestic photonic foundry under construction does not satisfy the current Phase 1 requirement, would the Government view such a capability as more appropriate for a future R2A on ramp once construction, tool installation, process qualification, ISO 9001:2015 implementation, and PDK release milestones are completed?

A8. Yes, if a foundry is currently under construction and does not meet the production qualified criteria a future on ramp would be better suited for said foundry.

Q9. May a prime offeror combine its owned domestic facility roadmap with a legally enforceable facility use, operating, cooperative access, or joint venture agreement with an already production qualified domestic fabrication facility, provided that agreement grants explicit operational access and enforceable rights to fabricate the proposed process technology during contract performance?

A9. Yes, the Government will require a legally enforceable Facility Use Agreement, Joint Venture, or Teaming Agreement that guarantees the Prime contractor has uninterrupted operational access and IP rights to fabricate the proposed technology during contract performance and is one legal entity.

Q10. For photonic semiconductor technologies, will the Government consider specialized photonic process flows, photonic electronic integration, advanced packaging, and chip-to-chip optical interconnect technologies as responsive “other” semiconductor foundry technologies if they are supported by a domestic fabrication and qualification plan?

A10. All fully qualified technologies will be considered.

Q11. If a company’s domestic photonic foundry is not yet operational but the company can provide design, simulation, PDK enablement, photonic architecture, packaging support, and DIB adoption support, would the Government consider that company eligible as a subcontractor or team member to a qualified domestic foundry prime under the R2A vehicle?

A11. Yes, all these would be great examples of ancillary processes.

Q12. Under this RFP is the Government only interested in our current production qualified technologies? Or can an Offeror provide a listing of technologies currently under development?

A12. This solicitation is focused on currently production-qualified, domestic semiconductor technologies. However, Offerors are encouraged to include a “Technology Roadmap” or list of developmental technologies.

Q13. The RFP states price will not be evaluated however you have volume 3 which is specifically for price. What is the difference?

A13. The pricing volume is to establish the foundational pricing methodologies that will govern and streamline all future Firm Fixed Price Task Orders.