NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: CHIPS R&D 0. 18um CMOS WAFERS

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of 41 USC 3304(a)(1); FAR 13.106-1(b)., with SILTERRA MALAYSIA SDN. BHD, Lot 8 Phase II, Kulim HI-TECH Park Kulim, 09000, Malaysia.

The sole source justification is based on the following:

NIST has previously purchased wafers from Silterra manufactured per exact specifications for a tooling of a reticle entitled  NIST UMDNIST-NU01 which specified the configuration of NIST custom designed wafers manufactured in Silterra’s proprietary technology called Silterra CL180G 1P6M CMOs LOGIC HR Poly, ESD Process.

NIST requires additional wafers and, since the processes are proprietary, no other vendor can guarantee 100 percent compatibility, and the new tape-outs must be procured from Silterra. Any change in the manufacturing process would mean that all prior scientific results would not be reproducible as they are based on the prior technology and designs.

In addition, the wafers used in this program are part of an ongoing CRADA with Western Digital Research. Not using the prior wafers would also pose undue burden on Western Digital which has already developed extensive processes which are compatible with the Silterra proprietary technology and the previously acquired wafers from Silterra.

During Market Research Silterra was identified as the only manufacturer that can provide additional Wafers from Wafer scale 0.18um flexible CMOS chip tape-outs that can meet the Government Requirements.  NIST cannot migrate the technology node as our systems have been calibrated specifically for this reticle set. 

Given these facts, Silterra, is the only source reasonably available to fulfill this requirement. The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 334413– Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing with a size standard of 1,250 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses supporting their capabilities to the Government for consideration. Only timely responses received by the established date/time shall be considered by the Government. Responses must be submitted via email to the Government point of contacts listed in the notice.  

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.