Maxwell Laboratories, Inc., S-Cubed Division, Contracts Department, P.O. Box 1620, La Jolla, CA 92038-1620

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO ADVANCED SENSOR TECHNOLOGY FOR SPACE-BASED SYSTEMS POC Technical Contact: Dr. Arne Kalma, 619-496-4126 (phone), 619-576-7710 (fax), arne@scubed.com (e-mail); Contracting Contact: George Stengel, 619-587-8396 (phone), 619-587-8390 (fax), gjs@scubed.com (e-mail). Under Air Force prime contract F29601-92-C-0137, Sensor Technology for Applied Research (STAR), Maxwell Laboratories, Inc. is soliciting sources/capabilities descriptions from potential subcontractors for research and development related to advanced sensor technology for space-based systems. The general scope of the contract is to explore and develop technology for sensors across the electromagnetic spectrum. The emphasis is expected to be electro-optical (especially infrared) sensors and the associated signal processing and microelectronics. Potential subcontracting opportunities are expected to exist in the following specific areas: (A) Development of advanced focal-plane technology for electro-optical sensors. Emphasis in this area is focal plane development and/or demonstration for infrared sensors, with visible and ultraviolet focal plane technology development being of interest, but of lower priority. Efforts could range from advanced concept evaluation to production readiness demonstration. Responders must have a demonstrated capability to fabricate, assemble, and test the devices and/or arrays necessary to evaluate advanced technology concepts. Responders should also include documentation if they have a demonstrated ability to transition developed technology to an established production line in order to promote successful system insertion of developed and demonstrated technology. (B) Establishment of a foundry process for infrared focal plane array (FPA) readouts operated at cryogenic temperatures. Emphasis in this area is the identification and/or establishment of a foundry process capable of supporting the fabrication of MOS circuits operated at cryogenic temperatures and which is available to infrared FPA developers. Responders must have an established MOS production line that is or will be available as a foundry to all users. Demonstrated successful fabrication of circuits which operate at cryogenic temperatures at least as low as 120K would be very advantageous, and documentation should be included if available. (C) Development of advanced, ultra-high-density packaging (UHDP) and interconnection techniques for electronics for space-based sensor systems: including two and three dimensional multi-chip module technology with emphasis on practical implementation and actual or potential commercial applications for the packaging technologies proposed. Desirable attributes of UHDP include high packing density, low power dissipation, excellent thermal management, low outgassing and radiation hardness to the space environment. Of special interest are methods suitable for the packaging of cryogenic electronics to permit more signal processing on or near sensor focal planes and which reduce data rates off the focal plane; i.e. electronic and opto-electronic components which operate at temperatures below 120 K. UHDP packaging approaches should be compatible with the operation of IR focal planes and associated analog signal processing circuits such as preamplifiers, multiplexers, line drivers, A/D and D/A converters and memories inside optically shielded dewars typcial of those used in space sensors or interceptor seekers. Also of interest are means of minimizing the parasitic thermal losses from the interconnects between the cryogenic and room temperature electronics while keeping on the focal-plane power dissipation as low as possible. Responders must have a demonstrated capability to fabricate, assemble, and test the packaging concepts, although the cryogenic testing of complete assemblies may be performed by S-Cubed. (D) Innovative analog and digital signal processing architectures for electro-optical space surveillance sensors and interceptor seekers. Sub areas of interest include: development and demonstration of approaches for reconfiguring the processor(s) to accommodate disparate sensor types and data formats; real time fusion processing of data from several sensors; ability to accommodate different types of focal planes; flexibly programmable front end electronics and interfaces to system signal processors; real time distributed processing to implement sensor control and data processing. Respondents must have demonstrated capability and experience in electro-optical sensor signal processing design and the ability to fabricate and package the concepts to be demonstrated. Organizations that are part of the STAR Program team and who have already submitted capabilities in the four areas above will be considered for any potential subcontracting opportunities, and need not resubmit a capabilities description in response to this announcement. All potential subcontractors may submit a description of their capabilities related to the technical areas described in this announcement. This unclassified document should be limited to ten (10) pages for each technical area (A through D) to which a response is provided, and no more than twenty-five (25) total pages if responses are provided to more than two (2) areas. The response should contain descriptions of the capabilities, facilities, equipment, corporate experience (both externally and internally funded), and qualifications of key personnel (including security clearances, if any) that would allow an organization to successfully pursue work in the technical areas described above. The facilities and equipment should be things already possessed by the responding organizations, or ones they plan to obtain in the near future. No contract funds are expected to be available to develop facilities or make major equipment purchases. Small businesses; small, disadvantaged businesses; and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions are encouraged to respond, and responders should state if they fall into one of these categories. Technical and administrative points of contact along with complete street and mail addresses (if different), telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses (if any), and facility security clearance (if any) should be included in the submission. The responses will be evaluated by Maxwell Laboratories, Inc., S-Cubed Division, and organizations judged to have adequate capabilities will be added to potential bidders lists for consideration when efforts are to be initiated in a specific area. This sources sought request does not commit Maxwell Laboratories, Inc., S-Cubed Division, to any subcontract award. Subcontracts to be awarded (if any) will be cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort (CPFF/LOE). Organizations interested in participating in this program should submit their responses to Maxwell Laboratories, Inc., S-Cubed Division, P.O. Box 1620, La Jolla, CA 92038-1620 (Mail), or 3398 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92121 (Express). Attn: Mr. George Stengel. Capabilities statements are due 60 days from the publication date of this announcement, and organizations can only be added to the potential bidders lists and considered for subcontracting opportunities after their submissions have been received and evaluated. Programmatic or technical questions about this solicitation should be addressed to Dr. Arne Kalma, 619-496-4126. Contracting questions should be addressed to Mr. George Stengel, 619-587-8396. (138)

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