NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 215, Greenbelt, MD 20771

66 -- 256X256 PIXEL, MERCURY CADMIUM TELLURIDE (HGCDTE) INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAY (FPA) SOL 553-27465-920 DUE 081099 POC Mary E. McKaig, Contract Specialist for Simplified Acquisition, Phone (301) 286-4240, Fax (301) 286-1720, Email Mary.E.McKaig.1@gsfc.nasa.gov -- Lou Etta M Milstead, Contract Specialist for Simplified Acquisition, Phone (301) 286-4782, Fax (301) 286-1720, Email Lou.Etta.M.Milstead.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#553-27465-920. E-MAIL: Mary E. McKaig, Mary.E.McKaig.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA/GSFC plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the assembly, testing, and delivery of 256x256 pixel, Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe) infrared focal plane array (FPA). This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). NASA/GSFC intends to purchase the items from Rockwell Science Center of Thousand Oaks, CA. The FPA is to be utilized in an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) camera Mars lander technology demonstration and is being built in the Planetary Systems Branch at NASA/GSFC. This is a demonstration activity only and the FPA will not be used for flight. However, the device must be received by the end of the calendar year in order to meet the scheduled demonstration and instrument delivery. The Rockwell infrared FPA detector is fabricated using a proprietary process and has unique characteristics. It is the only device that can achieve the Government's performance goals. As part of our original proposal to build and demonstrate the Mars AOTF camera, extensive modeling was performed of the camera performance and it was found that the infrared detector array in the camera must have very specific properties in order for the camera to operate. These properties are: 1) Detector type: HgCdTe photovoltaic, MBE grown detector layer, lattice matched; 2) Format: 256x256 pixel, Rockwell TCM2001 multiplexer, 40 micron pitch; 3) Multiplexer well depth: Greater than 8 x 10^7 electrons; 4) Detector layer wavelength response: 0.8 to 2.3 microns; 5) Quantum Efficiency: Greater than 30%; 6) Operating temperature range: 160-260 K; 7) Dark Current: Less than 10^8 electrons sec at 260 K; 8) Operating pixels: Greater than 98% goal (>95% acceptable). Other classes of quantum detectors either exhibit dark current which is far too high at our operating temperatures (Indium Antimonide), or else lack the sensitivity and short wavelength response (Platinum Silicide and long-wave Mercury Cadmium Telluride). Thermal detectors such as bolometer and pyroelectric detector arrays are not adequately sensitive, because of the very narrow spectral bandwidth of our camera (R~400). Rockwell Science Center has long been the principal, recognized source for HgCdTe IR detector arrays which operate with high quantum efficiency at the wavelengths required by the Government (0.8 to 2.3 microns). Rockwell has developed devices in this wavelength range (the well-known NICMOS FPA's) for the IR channel on Hubble Space Telescope. Recently, Rockwell has developed a process of fabricating lattice matched detector layers in HgCdTe using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The result is a short wavelength detector material with much lower dark current (about two orders of magnitude lower) than that of competing detectors, including Rockwell's earlier generation NICMOS devices, for the same cutoff wavelength and operating temperature. These MBE devices allow us to extend the useful operating wavelength range of the Mars demonstration camera to 2.3 microns as required for the science, while operating at Mars surface temperatures, which can rise as high as 260 K. A market survey was conducted, and it was found that other sources could not satisfy the requirements stated above. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities with respect to providing the item as outlined above. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 15 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications ARE NOT acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html Posted 07/20/99 (D-SN356288). (0201)

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