Oven with custom optical and infrared access for film stress measurements

Maryland

11/25/2024 08:03 AM EST

12/09/2024 11:00 AM EST

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), CHIPS Metrology Program, is seeking a custom oven for film stress measurements.

Thermosets used in semiconductor applications demonstrate complex cure kinetics that are highly affected by the processing parameters (i.e., temperature, humidity). Furthermore, these thermoset materials are cured in thin film geometries, where residual stress development during processing may significantly affect the performance and lifetime of the cured material. This project aims to quantify the residual stress development in thin thermoset films during processing and service.

The thermoset film will be coated onto a stiff, reflective, and thin (approximately 100 μm – 300 μm thick) cantilever (approximately 100 mm × 6 mm planar dimensions) that will bend in response to cure shrinkage and hygrothermal expansion/contraction. The stress development in the film will be calculated by measuring the curvature of the cantilever sample using a normal incidence laser array that is reflected off the sample substrate. The thermal uniformity across the thin film will be measured using an infrared camera. The thermal environment around the cantilever sample will be achieved using a programmable oven with customized ports to enable concurrent laser and infrared camera measurements. Additional ports will be required for added measurement capabilities, such as controlling the relative humidity environment.  

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

Physical requirements

1. Internal volume: 700 in3 or less
2. Internal dimensions: Shortest dimension must be greater than or equal to 5 in.
3. Net weight ≤ 100 lbs
4. Temperature range
   1. Minimum temperature of at least: −55 °C
   2. Maximum temperature of at least: 300 °C
5. Programmable ramp rate: 2 °C/min to 30 °C/min
6. Programmable cooling rate: 2 °C/min to 30 °C/min
7. The base oven (before any customization to include ports) should achieve the following thermal uniformity and stability specifications
   1. Temperature resolution ≤ 0.05 °C
   2. Absolute error ≤ +/- 0.5 °C
   3. Long term stability ≤ +/- 0.5 °C
   4. The vendor must provide information on temperature uniformity and temperature control accuracy of the oven after customization.
8. The oven must include two ports that are positioned directly opposite each other on the top and bottom of the oven
9. Bottom port for laser access: 2 in diameter
   1. Include silicone plugs with holes that allow us to reduce hole size
      1. Hole size required: ¼ in, ½ in, and ¾ in
   2. Also include a silicone plug with no holes
10. Top port to allow IR camera observation: 2 in diameter
    1. Top port must be covered by an infrared transparent window to allow for mid-wave infrared imaging (wavelengths = 3 microns to 5 microns)
    2. Must include some mechanism to cover the infrared window when it is not in use. Examples of appropriate mechanisms include using a shield or silicone plug.
    3. The infrared transparent window must be removable in case there is a need to replace the part.
11. Input port for Nitrogen gas (or other inert gas)
12. Input port for humidified gas to enable humidity control
    1. Hole size: 1 in
    2. Include silicone plug for the hole
    3. Mount removable, barbed, and humidity compatible on/off valve over the hole
    4. Position port on the side of the oven
13. Port to accommodate thermocouples and humidity sensor cables (port hole ≤ 1 in diameter)
    1. Include silicone plug for this port
14. Must operate from a NEMA 5-15R (standard US outlet)

Temperature monitor and controller: The temperature chamber must include a temperature monitor and controller that meets the following requirements.

1. Control over dwell times must be included
2. Programmable temperature control must include the capability to loop and nest commands/steps
3. The controller must allow programming using the human-machine interface on the oven.
4. Additionally, the controller must include an interface to be remotely operated/programmed by transferring commands/steps using a personal computer running Windows 11.
   1. Cables needed to connect to a computer must be provided or the equipment needed must be specified
5. Must include an over temperature thermostat
6. Must include an upper and lower temperature limit within the software

Optional items

1. Oven door must have a viewing glass window
   1. Vendor must provide information regarding how this window will affect thermal uniformity and stability.

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 in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.  Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response.

• 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).

• Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice.  For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following:
  • Manufacturer name
  • Model number
  • Technical specifications
  • If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s)

• Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements.  Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response.
  • Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.

• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why.  Please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive.

• State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details, including timeline.

• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

• • 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. 

• Describe services that are available with the purchase of the aforementioned equipment from your company such as installation, training, and equipment maintenance.

• Describe standard terms and conditions of sale offered by your company for the recommended equipment such as: delivery time after your company accepts the order; FOB shipping terms; manufacturer warranty (including details regarding nature and duration); if available, description(s) of available extended warranty; equipment setup and test; operator and service instruction manual(s); cleanup after installation; and if applicable, other offered services.  Provide a copy of manufacturer standard terms and conditions that typically relate to the sale of the specified equipment, if available.

• State whether your company offers facility renovation services related to installation of the recommended equipment at its delivery destination, if required per the NIST-identified minimum specifications, and provide description of said services.  Indicate if your company performs the facility renovation services or typically subcontracts the work to another company.  Indicate if your company would be interested in inspecting the intended installation site during the market research phase.

• State published price, discount, or rebate arrangements for recommended equipment and/or provide link to access company’s published prices for equipment and services. 

• If the recommended equipment and related services are available for purchase on any existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts against which NIST may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Identify any customers in the public or private sectors to which you provided the recommended or similar equipment.  Include customer(s) information: company name, phone number, point of contact, email address.

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

• State if you require NIST to provide additional information to improve your understanding of the government’s requirement and/or would like to meet with NIST representatives to discuss the requirement and the capabilities of the identified equipment.

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 5 days prior to the response date. If the Contracting Officer determines that providing a written amendment to this notice to document question(s) received would benefit other potential respondents, the questions would be anonymized, and a written response to such question(s) would be provided via an amendment to this notice.

IMPORTANT NOTES

This notice is for market research purposes and should not be construed as a commitment by NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  There is no solicitation available at this time.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

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

Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s capability.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

After a review of the responses received, a synopsis and solicitation may be published on GSA’s eBuy or SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered an adequate response to any such solicitation(s).

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