Prototype RSFQ superconducting logic family wafers

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), part of the Department of Energy, is conducting market research to identify sources capable of fabricating prototype superconducting logic wafers for scientific computing applications. The laboratory seeks manufacturers who can produce 4 or fewer 5mm x 5mm dies/wafers using Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) superconducting logic technology with Josephson Junctions, designed to operate at 4K temperatures. Preliminary specifications require chips containing approximately 10,000 Josephson Junctions, 40 I/O pads, and compatibility with Cadence EDA tools. The market research response deadline is April 22, 2025, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time, with submissions to be emailed to Brian Zatkow at bzatkow@lbl.gov. This Request for Information (RFI) is specifically for market research and planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation or commitment to award a contract.

The opportunity falls under NAICS category 334413 for Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,250 or fewer employees. No specific set-aside has been designated for this contract opportunity. While no award value or budget range is explicitly stated, the research focuses on developing prototypes for low-noise efficient cryogenic sensor processing and control technologies. The scope is relatively small, requesting only 4 or fewer dies/wafers, suggesting this is an initial exploratory phase of technological development. Potential respondents are expected to provide company information and potentially a list of similar previous projects, with the understanding that all submitted information may be publicly disclosed. The ultimate goal is to investigate potential scientific use cases for superconducting digital computing technology.