Two (2) Diamond Deposition Reactors with capability and process recipes to produce electronic grade single crystal diamond at large scale

Synopsis – J&A for Other than Full and Open Competition & Request for Information (RFI)

1.  Class Code: 6640

2.  NAICS Code: 333242

3.  Subject:  NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - Two (2) Diamond Deposition Reactors with capability and process recipes to produce electronic grade single crystal diamond at large scale.

4.  Solicitation Number: W911QX23R0003

5.  Set-Aside Code: __NA__________ {selected from drop-down}

6.  Response Date: 15 DAYS AFTER POSTING

7.  Place of Performance:  US Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground

Adelphi Contracting Division

Army Research Laboratory

Adelphi Laboratory Center

2800 Powder Mill Road

Adelphi, MD 20783, USA

8.  Description:  

The United States Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source based upon the need for the Diamond Deposition Reactors to have a demonstrated and proven combination of four (4) critical features:

1. Workspace of approximately 240mm in diameter for single crystal diamond (e.g., multiple single crystal seeds within a 240 millimeter (mm) diameter zone)
2. High purity environment in the process chamber to achieve reliable high-quality (electronic grade) single crystal surfaces and diamond materials deposition. Electronic grade is defined as nitrogen and boron impurity concentrations less than five (5) and one (1) parts per billion (ppb), respectively. The system infrastructure must hold the atmospheric contamination of the process chamber to an acceptable level and, thereby, maintain process gas and chamber cleanliness to a level such that electronic grade material can be achieved.
3. Engineered substrate thermal management and engineered source gas management during the growth process required for successful deposition of electronic grade diamond concurrently over multiple single crystal seeds within the deposition workspace.
4. Process recipes for deposition of electronic grade, optical grade, mechanical grade, and boron doped diamond materials; 30 days of on-site technical support; and four (4) months of off-site training on single crystal diamond growth processes at OEM facility.

The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with Element Six Technologies US Corporation, 3901 Burton Dr, Santa Clara, California 95054-1583 (CAGE Code: 6X2D1), for Two (2) Diamond Deposition Reactors with capability and process recipes to produce electronic grade single crystal diamond at large scale and that have a demonstrated and proven combination of the four (4) critical features outlined above.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, this notice does function as a Request for Information (RFI) for offeror’s who believe they can meet the Government’s requirement (see Section 9 below). Any responsible source who believes it is capable of meeting the requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency, only if received by the closing date and time of this notice.  A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. 

9. Requirement: Two (2) Diamond Deposition Reactors with capability and process recipes to produce electronic grade single crystal diamond at large scales and that have a demonstrated and proven combination of the four (4) critical features outlined in Section 8.

Responses to this notice are due on or before NOON EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST) 15 DAYS AFTER POSTING via email at nicole.l.propst.ctr@army.mil.  

Point of Contact for this notice is Nicole Propst, 301-394-2031, nicole.l.propst.ctr@army.mil.