Development of a Research Plan for Reducing the Thermal Connectivity of Peltier Cooling Alloys Operating at 10 degrees Kelvin | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a proposal call (CALL 0013) issued under the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Electronics Open 5 Year Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) VS 06-05. It is managed by AFRL's Space Electronics Branch (AFRL/RVSE) at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, within the Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorate. The call sits under Topic 2, Subparagraph 3: Advanced Electronic Materials, Devices, and Circuits for Space.

2) What is the main purpose of the call?

The purpose is to fund the creation of a well-supported research plan (a roadmap), not to immediately fund a full materials development program. The plan must focus on a specific technical bottleneck affecting cryogenic Peltier (thermoelectric) coolers used with long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) sensors operating around 10 Kelvin.

3) What technical problem is AFRL trying to solve?

AFRL is seeking a research roadmap to achieve a major reduction in thermal conductivity of thermoelectric (Peltier) alloys at very low temperature (around 10 K). The target is aggressive: at least an order-of-magnitude reduction (about a 10x decrease) in thermal conductivity at 10 K.

4) What temperature regime and application does this call focus on?

The technical focus is cryogenic operation around 10 Kelvin, specifically for Peltier coolers used with LWIR sensors.

5) What approaches does the announcement encourage for reducing thermal conductivity at 10 K?

The announcement highlights approaches that disrupt phonon heat transport at 10 K, especially methods that deliberately introduce structures on the length scale relevant to the phonon mean free path. Explicitly encouraged examples include:

• Nano-layered (nanolaminate/superlattice-style) structures
• Dispersed particulates engineered so their spacing matches the phonon mean free path in thermoelectric alloys at 10 K

The intent is to increase phonon scattering while preserving useful thermoelectric behavior.

6) Does AFRL require the plan to be supported by theory and modeling?

Yes. The plan is expected to be grounded in theory and supported by computer modeling, and it should discuss other applicable materials-science strategies for lowering thermal conductivity at cryogenic temperatures.

7) What should a strong research roadmap include, based on the call text?

Based on the description provided, AFRL wants a credible, step-by-step program plan that explains:

• Candidate material systems or architectures
• The underlying physical rationale (particularly phonon transport disruption at 10 K)
• Modeling approaches and how they support the roadmap
• Predicted performance (including the targeted thermal conductivity reduction)
• Fabrication or processing considerations
• How success would be measured

8) What is the main deliverable under this call?

The primary deliverable is a written plan of research that lays out methods to achieve the targeted thermal conductivity reduction for alloys used in Peltier cooling at 10 K, with enough rigor to guide later experimental work.

9) Is this effort classified or export-controlled?

The effort is unclassified, and the final technical report is assumed not to be ITAR-restricted.

10) What if a proposer needs government-furnished property, equipment, or facilities?

If the proposer needs any government-furnished property, equipment, or facilities beyond what is stated, those needs are expected to be identified in the proposal.

11) How much funding is available?

AFRL estimated total funding for this call at $55,000 in FY09. The award ceiling is listed as $55,000 and the award floor as $0. The amount is explicitly an estimate rather than a guarantee, and it is subject to government discretion and availability of funds.

12) How many awards does AFRL expect to make?

AFRL anticipated making about one award, but reserved the right to make multiple awards or none depending on proposal quality and program needs.

13) What is the anticipated period of performance?

The anticipated period of performance is six months of technical effort plus an additional three months for final report submission.

14) What is the expected award date?

The expected award date was on or about May 15, 2009.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the broader BAA.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for this call.

17) What type of award instrument will be used?

The anticipated instrument is a grant-type instrument. However, the Air Force reserves the right to choose the instrument that best matches the proposed work, including a grant, cooperative agreement, other agreement type, or a procurement contract.

18) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program).

19) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is science and technology research and development.

20) What is the proposal page limit?

The technical proposal (including the contract statement of work, C/SOW) is limited to five pages. The rules emphasize that the page limit is inclusive of essentially everything, including indices, photos, foldouts, appendices, attachments, resumes, and the C/SOW. Pages beyond the limit will not be reviewed.

21) What formatting rules apply to the proposal?

The proposal must be single-spaced and double-sided on 8.5 x 11 inch paper, using an easy-to-read font. The call specifies no smaller than 12 pitch fixed font or proportional font size 10 or larger; smaller type is allowed only in legible figures and tables.

22) Do title pages and tables of contents count toward the five-page limit?

No. Title pages, tables of contents, and similar cover material do not count toward the limit. Otherwise, each printed side counts as a page.

23) When was the proposal due?

The proposal due date and time was 1:00 p.m. MDT on April 6, 2009.

24) Does the proposal need to respond to this specific call area?

Yes. The announcement emphasizes that proposals must respond specifically to this open call area, not other baseline BAA topics unless a separate call is open for them.

25) How are late submissions handled?

Late submissions are handled under FAR 52.215-1(c)(3), as referenced in the announcement.

26) How should proposals be submitted for procurement-type contract submissions?

For procurement-type contract submissions, hardcopy delivery to the specified address at Det 8 AFRL/RVKE (Attn: Andrea Stone) at Kirtland AFB was required. Proposals sent to the wrong address were deemed ineligible.

27) Are faxed or emailed proposals accepted?

No. Faxed or emailed proposals were not accepted.

28) How should proposals be submitted for grant or cooperative agreement submissions?

For grant/cooperative agreement submissions, electronic submission was to be done through Grants.gov, and only through Grants.gov, following the baseline BAA instructions.

29) Is an intent-to-propose notice required?

Offerors were asked, as a courtesy, to email the contracting contact with an intent-to-propose notice, but it was not a binding commitment.

30) Who is the technical point of contact?

The technical point of contact is Ashwani Sharma (AFRL/RVSE), phone 505-846-0615, email ashwani.sharma@kirtland.af.mil.

31) Who are the contracting points of contact?

The contracting contacts listed are:

• Contracting Specialist: Andrea Stone, 505-843-2883, andrea.stone@kirtland.af.mil
• Contracting Officer: Shirley D. Lindom, 505-846-5935, shirley.lindom@kirtland.af.mil

32) Where should applicants look for amendments or updates to the call?

Proposers were directed to monitor FedBizOpps (the notice references FedBizOpps/EPS; in current practice this is typically SAM.gov) and Grants.gov for amendments that could extend or modify the call.