CHIPS R&D: Extreme Thermal Cycling Chamber– Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Active

Contract Opportunity

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

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Infrastructure and Materials Group within the Engineering Laboratory is seeking an Extreme Thermal Cycling Chamber to perform accelerated aging experiments using rapid thermal cycling as part of a study of long-term reliability of materials used in advanced packaging of semiconductor chips. This work is in support of the CHIPS Metrology program.

The CHIPS Metrology program develops and advances cutting edge metrology capabilities for members of the US semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. This NIST conducted research program works with device manufacturers, tool vendors, materials suppliers, and other organizations to address critical metrology gaps to spur innovation within seven grand challenge areas. For more information on CHIPS Metrology, please visit https://www.nist.gov/chips/research-development-programs/metrology-program.

The Infrastructure and Materials Group requires the acquisition of a rapid thermal cycling instrument (-100 °C to 200 °C, 70 °C/min). This rapid thermal cycling instrument is essential to our CHIPS project focused on reliability of advanced packaging in heterogeneously integrated semiconductor devices. This capability directly supports the CHIPS R&D Metrology Program’s Grand Challenge to enable metrology for integrating components in advanced packaging. By providing the semiconductor industry with an accurate material property database of polymeric packaging components throughout long-term aging and a new, more accurate reliability model, long-term reliability design efficiency (both time and cost savings) will be greatly improved.

This rapid thermal cycling instrument will allow for accelerated aging at variable ramp rate to study the effect of thermal environment, including direct in-situ temperature and resistance monitoring throughout samples, of polymeric components (e.g., underfills, redistribution layers, and thermal interface materials) used in advanced packaging of heterogeneously integrated semiconductors.

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that will achieve the objectives described above, in addition to the following essential requirements:

Description: Extreme Thermal Cycling Chamber

Quantity: 1

1. Technical Specifications
   
   
   
   
   1. Size
      
      
      
      1. Must accommodate multiple samples up to 300 mm in diameter (i.e., 300 mm wafers).
      
      
      2. Must have a minimum of two shelves (not including bottom shelf).
      
      
      3. Minimum of 12 cu. ft. (339.8 L) interior volume.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   2. Thermal cycling
      
      
      
      1. Minimum temperature of -100 °C or lower.
      
      
      2. Maximum temperature of 200 °C or higher.
      
      
      3. Cycling rate of at least 70 °C/min.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   3. Side access port
      
      
      
      1. Access port must be located on oven side (not the rear) to provide access.
      
      
      2. Access port must be 2” to 4” in diameter.
      
      
      3. Must include a plug for access port when not in use.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   4. Adapters/hose
      
      
      
      1. Must include all required adapters or hoses needed between external cooling/heating systems and thermal cycling chamber as applicable.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   5. Thermocouple
      
      
      
      1. Must include all required thermocouples to ensure accurate temperature cycling of samples.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   6. Dedicated analysis system for data acquisition
      
      
      
      1. Windows 11 PC and monitor
      
      
      2. System control, operation, and datalogging
      
      
      
      
   
   
   7. Multi-dewar connection kit
      
      
      
      1. Must be able to connect three LN2 dewars (180L) to manifold for rapid cooling.
      
      
      2. Must include all required fittings and clamps.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   8. O2 monitor
   
   
   9. Portable data acquisition unit
      
      
      
      1. Minimum of 16 channels for thermal data
      
      
      
      
   
   
   10. Power requirements, required receptacle, and plug (if required) must be provided.
   
   
   
   

NIST conducted market research from February 2025 through November 2025 by speaking with colleagues, performing internet searches, and speaking with vendors to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. The results of that market research revealed that only ESPEC North America, Inc. (UEI: N61JEZXYKXN5) 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. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response. Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• 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).


• Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.


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


• 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 firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why. Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.


• For the NAICS code


• 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.


• 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.


• If 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.


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


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


• Please let us know if you would like to engage to get 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.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received with 5 days of this posting. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!

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