(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in  accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with  additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes  the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written  solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is W911QX-05-T- 0226. This acquisition is issued as a Request for Proposal. (iii) The  solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clause s are those in  effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-05. (iv) This action is  100% set-aside for small businesses. The associated NAICS code is 334516. The  small business size standard is 500 employees. The following is a list of  contract l ine item number(s) and items, quantities and units of measure: (v)  CLIN 0001 Cryogenic Vacuum Probe Station  One (1) Each (vi) Description of requirements: The  Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires a full four-inch wafer cryogenic  vacuum probe station, to be used for fundamental electrical and electro- optical analysis of nanoscale electronic devices. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS (1) Full four-inch wafer probing capability, with the ability to probe partial  wafers, is required. (2) The vacuum probe station must be configured with six  precision micro-manipulated probe arms, with four of the arms oriented  orthogonally (at 90-degree relative spacing), and each having precision x-, y- , and z-control with ranges of at least five (5) inches in x, at least two (2)  inches in y, and at least one half (1/2) inch in z. (3) The vacuum probe  station must be constructed of stainless steel. In addition to the six probe  arm ports, the vacuum chamber must have a pumping port having NW40 or larger  connection, a spare NW25 connection port, and an integral fused quartz  viewport to visually locate the probes on the wafer. (4) The system must have  an external microscope imaging capability having resolution of 3 micrometers  or better. The external microscope imaging capability must be enabled for  remote viewing (e.g., via a video monitor) during probe adjustment. (5) The  system must be able to perform electrical probing measurements at controlled  temperatures in the range of 4.5K  475K. The sample stage must be integrated  with both the cryogenic refrigerator and heater elements, and regulated by a  temperature con troller. (6) The capability to cryogenically cool the sample  stage using either liquid helium or liquid nitrogen is required. The system  must include a high efficiency helium transfer line and a liquid nitrogen  Dewar with pressure control. (7) Active radiation shielding of the vacuum  chamber is required to provide efficient cryogenic cooling and shield the  sample under test from blackbody radiation associated with the chamber or  surrounding environment. (8) The probe station must be capable of making  fundamental current/voltage (I/V) measurements on a full four-inch wafer in  DC, RF, or microwave (up to 40GHz) frequency regimes. (9) The low frequency  probes must be matched to 50 ohm resistance and capable of shielded  measurements up to 50MHz, or up to 5 GHz when used with appropriate low-loss  microwave cabling. Probe tips with diameters of 3 micrometers and 10  micrometers are req uired, in tungsten, BeCu, and Paliney 7 alloy. For higher  frequency measurements, probe tips with diameters of 10 micrometers and 25  micrometers are required, in BeCu. (10) The microwave probes must be of  coplanar waveguide ground-signal-ground design and function in the frequency  range of 0-40 GHz. They must have probe planarization capability relative to  the sample enabling at least five (5) degrees of adjustment in b oth positive  and negative theta directions. (11) The probe station must employ dynamic  cooling/heating of all of the probes to hold the probe tips at the same  temperature as the device under test, to preven t heat transfer near the  sample and thus minimize measurement error. (12) The system must have the  capability for in-situ sample imaging and/or spectroscopic analysis using a  fiber-optic feedthrough. (13) The system must have the capability for  installation of and operation using a metered gas flow. (14) The system must  be outfitted with a turbopump for vacuum control. Backing pump, bellows  connection, vacuum gauging for high vacuum and forelines, controller,  adapters, and pump-line vibration isolation must be provided. The probe  station chamber mus t be able to maintain a base pressure of at least 5x10-6  torr at 5K. (15) The probe station must be mounted on a pneumatically  controlled self-leveling vibration isolation table. (16) The probe station  must have a grounded sample holder, but must be configured to install a coax  or triax sample holder for microwave probing applications. The coax and triax  sample stages must be available as standard options. (17) The sample stage  must be translatable in the x-, y-, and theta-directions, with a range of at  least two inches in the x- and y-directions, and a rotation range of at least  5 degrees in both positive and negative theta directions. (18) Required  configuration: The probe station is to be provided with all six probe arms  configured with cables and probe tips that will enable operation from DC to  50MHz. One of the probe arms is to be modified to hold a fiberoptic at the  sample end. An other of the probe arms is to be modified to provide a  capillary gas supply tube down the length of the probe arm, terminating  external to the probe arm base. A third arm must be configured with a  thermocouple to monitor probe temperature. Two additional probe arms are to  be configured with ground-signal-ground microwave probes and associated cables  to enable electrical probing at frequencies from DC to 40GHz. The high  frequency probe arms are to be supplied separately from the probe station. The  pitch s pacing of the microwave probes will be specified upon contract award.  (19) On-site installation and on-site training of up to 5 people is required.  (20) Standard commercial warranty must be provided. (vii) Delivery is required  4 months after contract award. Delivery shall be made to Zahl Building ,  Adelphi Laboratory Center, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD. Acceptance  shall be performed at the Adelphi Laboratory Center. The FOB point is the  Adelp hi Laboratory Center, MD. (viii) The provision at 52.212-1,  Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The  following addenda have been attached to this provision: N/A. (ix) The  provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items is applicable to this  acquisition. The specific evaluation criteria in descending order of  importance to be included in paragraph (a) of that provision are as follows:  (1) Compliance with the salient characteristics listed in (vi) above, (2)  Past Performance  offerors must submit organization or company, point of  contact and telephone number of at least three previous sales of the same or  similar equipment made during the past five years. The offerors record of  providing full wafer vacuum cryoge nic probe stations that meet  specifications, record of meeting delivery schedule, and service reputation  will be considered, and (3) Price. The Government reserves the right to award  to other than the lowest offer and to make award without discussions. (x)  Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3,  Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, and DFARS  252.212-7000, Offeror Representations and Certifications -Commercial Items,  with its offer. (xi) The c lause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -  Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following addenda have  been attached to this clause: N/A. (xii) The clause at 52.212-5, Contract  Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes o r Executive Orders -  Commercial Items and DFARS 252.212-7001, Contract Terms and Conditions  Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Applicable to Defense  Acquisitions of Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following  additional FA R/DFARS clauses cited in this clause are applicable: 52.203-3;  52.203-6; 52.219-6; 52.219-8; 52.222-3; 52.222-19; 52.222-21; 52.222-26;  52.222-35; 52.222-36; 52.222-37; 52.222-39; 52.232-33; 252.225-7012; 252.225- 7014; 252.243-7002; 252.247-7023; and, 252. 247-7024. (xiii) The following  additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions apply: Standard  commercial warranty must be provided. (xiv) This acquisition is rated under  the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) as: N/A. (xv) Th e  following notes apply to this announcement: N/A. (xvi) Offers are due on 20  September, by 1200 Noon EST, at RDECOM Acquisition Center, Adelphi  Contracting Division, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-AC, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD  20783-1197. (xvii) For infor mation regarding this solicitation, please  contact Robert M. Tomko, 301-394-3691, Fax 301-394-1891 or email to  [Please use the link below]. Email submission of solicitation is preferred.