Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Sub-THz VNA Extenders and Amplifier

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Contract Opportunity

THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Announcement Number: NIST-SS26-CHIPS-43

Subject: Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Sub-THz VNA Extenders and Amplifier

This notice is not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) via FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.

BACKGROUND

Advanced semiconductor technology has led to continuous performance improvements in transistors. However, many iterations are needed to obtain optimal performance, and the yield and reproducibility is incredibly poor. Furthermore, US chip makers are ill-equipped with legacy measurement techniques and underperforming models. We propose a robust path to develop and verify high-frequency transistor models: 1) new on-wafer standards and calibration, 2) precision noise measurements for transistor quality assurance, 3) improved characterizations, 4) optimal models tailored to a given technology, and 5) transistor model verification across frequency with key performance indicators.

The RF technology division is seeking VNA waveguide extenders and a high-power waveguide amplifier to develop transistor characterization benches from 110 GHz to 325 GHz. The following solution will enable transistor large-signal characterization that will be used to extract and validate transistor models under the CHIPS program.

This solution consists of:

1) WR6.5 high-power VNA waveguide extenders that operate from 110 GHz to 170 GHz and deliver at least +19 dBm across the frequency band.

2) WR5.1 VNA waveguide extenders that operate from 140 GHz to 220 GHz and deliver at least +6 dBm across the frequency band.

3) WR3.4 VNA waveguide extenders that operate from 220 GHz to 325 GHz and deliver at least +0 dBm across the frequency band.

4) a high-power waveguide amplifier that operates from 120 GHz to 140 GHz. The amplifier must deliver at least an RF output power of 30 dBm across the frequency band.

These high-power VNA waveguide extenders and a high-power waveguide amplifier are specifically needed for the NIST CHIPS “Metrology For High-Frequency Transistor Models” project to develop a new and unique microelectronic measurement setup and are the last parts needed to finalize the measurement setup. Without this equipment, the measurement setup will not be operational. The data that will be acquired with this unique microelectronic measurement capability will provide precious information to the semiconductor foundries, accelerating the development of the next generation of microelectronic devices. This procurement is critical for enabling NIST to establish robust and advanced metrology for on-wafer semiconductor testing and transistor model verification at millimeter wave frequencies. Without these instruments, we will be unable to measure or model high-frequency transistors, which is a critical part of this CHIPS project.

Other vendors offer waveguide amplifiers and/or VNA extenders but do not offer solutions that meet all of the minimum specifications required for this project.

1) They do not offer a waveguide amplifier with expected RF output power in the frequency band of interest required.

2) They do not offer VNA extenders with expected RF output power in the three frequency bands of interest required.

Virginia Diodes is the only company that offers D-band amplifiers and VNA waveguide extenders with the required RF performance stated in the minimum specifications listed below.

As previously mentioned, this solution consists of a high-power waveguide amplifier that operates from 120 GHz to 140 GHz and three VNA waveguide extenders that operate in three waveguide band (WR6.5, WR5.1, and WR3.4). The minimum specifications regarding these items are listed below.

Line Item 0001:

Description: WR6.5 high-power VNA waveguide extender

Quantity: 2

1. Technical Specifications

• The waveguide extenders must be WR6.5 connectorized and operate from 110 GHz to 170 GHz.


• The waveguide extender must integrate a variable attenuator at the RF source port.


• The waveguide extender must deliver at least +19 dBm across the frequency band adopting a x4 power combining technique.


• Standard Frequency input up to 20 GHz and + 10 dBm.


• Typical dynamic range of 110 dB

Line Item 0002:

Description: WR5.1 VNA waveguide extender

Quantity: 2

1. Technical Specifications

• The waveguide extenders must be WR5.1 connectorized and operate from 140 GHz to 220 GHz.


• The waveguide extender must integrate a variable attenuator at the RF source port.


• The waveguide extender must deliver at least +6 dBm across the frequency band.


• Standard Frequency input up to 20 GHz and + 10 dBm.


• Typical dynamic range of 110 dB

Line Item 0003:

Description: WR3.4 VNA waveguide extender

Quantity: 2

1. Technical Specifications

• The waveguide extenders must be WR3.3 connectorized and operate from 220 GHz to 325 GHz.


• The waveguide extender must integrate a variable attenuator at the RF source port.


• The waveguide extender must deliver at least +0 dBm across the frequency band.


• Standard Frequency input up to 20 GHz and + 10 dBm.


• Typical dynamic range of 110 dB

Line Item 0004:

Description: D-Band 30 dBm waveguide amplifier.

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications

• The waveguide power amplifier must be WR6.5 connectorized and operate from 120 GHz to 140 GHz.


• The waveguide power amplifier must deliver at least +30 dBm from 120 GHz to 140 GHz.


• Option 8-way combiner to maximize the output power.

Line Item 0005:

Description: WR6.5 waveguide Calibration kit

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications

• WR6.5 waveguide calibration kit must integrate a minimum of high precision WR6.5 shorts(x2), matched loads (x2), quarter wave delay shims (x2), and a straight waveguide (x1).

Line Item 0006:

Description: WR5.1 waveguide Calibration kit

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications

• WR5.1 waveguide calibration kit must integrate a minimum of high precision WR5.1 shorts(x2), matched loads (x2), quarter wave delay shims (x2), and a straight waveguide (x1).

Line Item 0007:

Description: WR3.4 waveguide Calibration kit

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications

• WR3.4 waveguide calibration kit must integrate a minimum of high precision WR3.4 shorts(x2), matched loads (x2), quarter wave delay shims (x2), and a straight waveguide (x1).

Line Item 0008:

Description: accessories

Quantity: 3

1. Technical Specifications

• Set of cables and power supply for the item 1, 2, and 3 listed above.

Line Item 0009:

Description: WR5.1 90-deg delay shim

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications

• The shim must be WR5.1 connectorized and present a 90-degree delay in the middle of the band.

Line Item 0010:

Description: WR3.4 90-deg delay shim

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications

• The shim must be WR3.4 connectorized and present a 90-degree delay in the middle of the band.

NIST conducted market research from December 2024 – December 2025 by conducting online searches, discussions with sources, and discussions with colleagues to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. The results of that market research revealed that only Virginia Diodes, 979 2ND ST SE, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22902 USA, UEI: VJ9NDNJEG6G4 appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Include only the following information provided below. Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact no later than 12/23/25, 5:00pm ET.

1. 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).


2. Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements (Capability Statement).


3. Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.


4. Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your company’s ability to provide a technically acceptable product. Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.


5. For the NAICS code
   
   
   
   1. Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business. See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
   
   
   2. If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement.
   
   
   
   


6. your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.


7. Describe your company’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.


8. Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.


9. Contact the primary and/or secondary point of contact (provided below) if you would like to engage in discussions to gain a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section (provided above).

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice must be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact. Questions must be submitted so that they are received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 12/12/25 to receive a government response prior to the close of this notice. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.


2. This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.


3. This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.


4. No award will be made as a result of this notice.


5. NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.


6. NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

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