Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA RQKM 2013 0003
Apply for FOA RQKM 2013 0003
- The Air Force Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Supplier Producibility" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 14, 2013 and posted on Apr 19, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) funding opportunity focuses on strengthening the U.S. defense microelectronics supply base by moving an AFRL-developed gallium nitride (GaN) process out of the lab and into a dependable, competitive domestic production environment. The core technical aim is to transfer AFRL/RYD's 0.14 micrometer Aluminum Gallium Nitride/Gallium Nitride (AlGaN/GaN) on Silicon Carbide (SiC) manufacturing process to an industry partner and, through that transfer, stand up a U.S.-based "open foundry" capability that can fabricate monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) for all Department of Defense (DoD) sources. "Open foundry" here means the facility should not be limited to a single prime or captive customer; it should be able to run designs from multiple DoD organizations and contractors, at pricing and throughput that are competitive enough to meet real program needs rather than just prototype demand.
The program sits within a Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) emphasis, meaning it is not just basic R&D, but a push toward production maturity, repeatability, and affordability. A central benchmark is maturing the 0.14 micrometer AlGaN/GaN on SiC process to a Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of 6, which generally corresponds to demonstrating a manufacturing process in a relevant environment with a level of stability and control that supports low-rate or pre-production style manufacturing rather than one-off lab builds. To prove the transfer is real and faithful to the AFRL baseline, the awardee is expected to verify the process transfer by comparing foundry results against AFRL results, essentially showing that the same process recipes, device performance, and key characteristics can be reproduced outside the government lab with consistent outcomes.
Beyond transfer and baseline equivalency, the practical manufacturing goals are to increase yield and reliability while reducing unit cost for key RF and microwave functions that GaN MMICs commonly enable in defense systems. The solicitation calls out three high-value application areas: RF power amplifiers (where GaN's high power density and efficiency are critical for radar and electronic warfare), low noise amplifiers (where consistent noise figure and gain are essential for sensitive receivers), and high-frequency switches (important for front-end routing, T/R modules, and wideband RF architectures). In other words, the effort is meant to translate a proven advanced process into a production-capable supply chain that can deliver higher-performing parts with better yields (fewer scrap wafers/dies, more good devices per wafer), robust reliability (stable performance over time, temperature, and stress), and lower overall cost.
Administratively, this was issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program (CFDA 12.800). The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the government during execution (for example, technical coordination, data comparisons, and progress oversight) compared to a more hands-off grant. The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an estimated total funding level of $5,000,000, and it included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the recipient would need to contribute some portion of resources or funding as defined in the full announcement. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, implying broad applicant types could apply as long as they met any additional conditions described in the complete text.
Key dates show it was posted April 19, 2013, created May 14, 2013, with a closing date that moved from May 20 to May 30, 2013, and an archive date of June 19, 2013. The listed point of contact for access issues or assistance was Emily Coppel, Contract Negotiator, at 937-255-5370. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an industrialization and capacity-building effort: take a strategically important GaN-on-SiC MMIC process proven at AFRL, transfer it to an industry partner, validate it against the government reference, and then push it to a readiness level where DoD programs can rely on a domestic, open, scalable foundry source for affordable, high-yield, reliable RF components.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main goal of this AFRL funding opportunity?
The main goal is to strengthen the U.S. defense microelectronics supply base by moving an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) gallium nitride (GaN) manufacturing process out of the lab and into a dependable, competitive domestic production environment. The effort is intended to create a U.S.-based "open foundry" capability that can produce GaN monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) for Department of Defense (DoD) users.
Which AFRL organization developed the process being transferred?
The process to be transferred was developed by AFRL/RYD, as referenced in the opportunity description.
What specific semiconductor process is being transitioned?
The opportunity focuses on transferring AFRL/RYD's 0.14 micrometer Aluminum Gallium Nitride/Gallium Nitride (AlGaN/GaN) on Silicon Carbide (SiC) manufacturing process to an industry partner.
What does "0.14 micrometer" refer to in this context?
It refers to the process node (0.14 micrometer) associated with the AlGaN/GaN on SiC manufacturing process that AFRL is seeking to mature and transfer into a production-capable environment.
What is meant by an "open foundry" in this solicitation?
"Open foundry" means the resulting U.S.-based fabrication capability should not be limited to a single prime contractor or a captive customer. Instead, it should be able to run designs from multiple DoD organizations and DoD contractors, with pricing and throughput that are competitive enough to support real program needs (not only prototype-level demand).
What types of products is the open foundry expected to fabricate?
The open foundry capability is expected to fabricate monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) using the transferred AlGaN/GaN on SiC process.
Is this opportunity focused on basic research or manufacturing maturity?
It is positioned under a Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) emphasis, meaning the focus is on industrialization: production maturity, repeatability, and affordability, rather than basic research.
What Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) is the program targeting?
The solicitation targets maturing the 0.14 micrometer AlGaN/GaN on SiC process to Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 6.
What does MRL 6 mean in the context provided?
As described in the opportunity, MRL 6 generally corresponds to demonstrating a manufacturing process in a relevant environment with sufficient stability and control to support low-rate or pre-production style manufacturing, rather than one-off laboratory builds.
How is the awardee expected to prove the process transfer was successful?
The awardee is expected to verify the process transfer by comparing the foundry results against AFRL results. This comparison is intended to show that the same process recipes, device performance, and key characteristics can be reproduced outside the government lab with consistent outcomes.
What manufacturing improvements are specifically called out?
The solicitation emphasizes increasing yield and reliability while reducing unit cost for key RF and microwave functions enabled by GaN MMICs.
Which application areas are highlighted as high-value targets?
Three high-value application areas are specifically called out: RF power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, and high-frequency switches.
Why are RF power amplifiers mentioned as a key target?
The description notes RF power amplifiers as a priority area where GaN's high power density and efficiency are critical for defense uses such as radar and electronic warfare.
Why are low noise amplifiers included?
Low noise amplifiers are highlighted because consistent noise figure and gain are essential for sensitive receiver functions, according to the opportunity description.
Why are high-frequency switches included?
High-frequency switches are included because they are important for front-end routing, T/R modules, and wideband RF architectures, as stated in the solicitation summary.
What does the opportunity say about yield improvements?
Yield improvement is described in practical terms as fewer scrap wafers or dies and more good devices per wafer, contributing to lower overall cost and more dependable production output.
What does the opportunity say about reliability goals?
Reliability is framed as robust, stable performance over time, temperature, and stress, supporting DoD needs for dependable components.
What is the awarding agency and program context?
The opportunity was issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program, identified as CFDA 12.800.
What funding instrument is being used?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement.
What does it imply that the instrument is a cooperative agreement?
As summarized in the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial government involvement during execution (for example, technical coordination, data comparisons, and progress oversight) compared to a more hands-off grant.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level was $5,000,000.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the recipient would need to contribute some portion of resources or funding as defined in the full announcement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, indicating broad applicant types could apply, subject to any additional conditions contained in the complete announcement text.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on April 19, 2013. The closing date moved from May 20, 2013 to May 30, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was June 19, 2013.
Who was the listed point of contact for access issues or assistance?
The listed point of contact was Emily Coppel, Contract Negotiator, reachable at 937-255-5370.
What is the broader intended outcome for DoD programs?
The broader outcome is a domestic, open, scalable foundry source that DoD programs can rely on for affordable, high-yield, reliable GaN-on-SiC MMIC production, validated against an AFRL baseline and mature enough for program-relevant manufacturing needs.
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