Space Electronics Open 5 Year Broad Agency Announcement, Modeling and Experiment with Carbon Nanotubes for Applications in High Performance Circuits | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a proposal call (CALL 0017) issued under the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Electronics Open 5 Year Broad Agency Announcement (BAA VS 06 05). It requests a research study focused on determining the ultimate, theoretical performance limits of electronic circuits enabled by carbon nanotube (CNT) transistor capabilities, using analytically derived, empirically grounded device models translated into circuit-level simulation.

2) What is AFRL trying to achieve with this call?

The Air Force is seeking an end-to-end modeling and analysis effort that starts with strong analytical models of CNT devices (rooted in state-of-the-art measured electrical parameters) and ends with predictions of how well high-performance circuits could ultimately operate. The emphasis is on ultra-low-power and ultra-high-performance electronics relevant to space and defense applications.

3) Is the focus on fabricating CNT devices or on modeling and simulation?

The deliverables described are oriented around performance prediction rather than fabrication. The required output is essentially a report documenting analytical models and using them to assess ultimate electrical performance of representative circuits based on those models.

4) What specific CNT technologies are within scope?

The technical scope centers on two key CNT uses:

• Carbon nanotubes used as interconnects that could be integrated into or alongside present CMOS technology.
• Carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNT FETs) intended for nanoscale circuit design.

5) What kind of device models does the government want?

The call emphasizes analytical models that are physics- and parameter-based and rooted in state-of-the-art, empirically derived electrical parameters. In other words, the modeling is expected to reflect realistic measurements, not purely idealized assumptions.

6) What does "empirically derived electrical parameters" mean in this context?

Based on the call language, it means the CNT device models should be grounded in measured electrical behavior and state-of-the-art parameter values, rather than relying only on ideal or purely theoretical device assumptions.

7) How important is circuit-level simulation capability to this effort?

It is a major part of the work. The call explicitly asks offerors to translate the CNT device models into circuit-level simulation capability so CNT components can be used as devices in mixed-signal, analog, digital, and RF design flows.

8) Are there specific simulation languages or tools mentioned?

Yes. The call mentions exploration of Verilog-AMS for use in Cadence/Spectre simulations as part of enabling CNT components to be treated like usable devices in circuit simulations.

9) Does the call expect integration concepts with conventional CMOS?

Yes. The scope includes CNT interconnects that could be integrated into or alongside present CMOS technology, and it describes an end-to-end bridge from measured behavior to circuit simulation and performance extrapolation, including integration concepts with conventional CMOS.

10) What circuit types should be analyzed to demonstrate performance limits?

The call spells out example circuit classes that should be used to assess ultimate electrical performance, including:

• An analog RF oscillator (to extrapolate transmitter power and RF performance)
• A power amplifier (to extrapolate transmitter power and RF performance)
• A digital memory cell (to extrapolate ultimate processor performance)
• A mixed-signal converter element (to extrapolate ADC performance)

11) Are CNT resistors or interconnect effects part of the expected circuit primitives?

Yes. The call mentions circuits utilizing carbon nanotube resistors, reinforcing that interconnect/resistive elements as well as transistors may be treated as circuit primitives in the modeling and evaluation.

12) Does the opportunity include bio/chemical sensing applications?

Potentially, yes. The call notes that CNTs can show significant electronic property changes when exposed to molecular adsorbates. It frames sensing as an extension of the modeling work: if models can represent how CNT electrical characteristics shift due to adsorption effects, then detection behavior can be simulated and circuits could be designed to exploit those shifts for trace detection of biological warfare agents and chemical agents.

13) Is sensing required or optional?

The announcement presents sensing as a notable added angle and an extension of the same modeling work, rather than describing it as a standalone fabrication or test requirement.

14) What are the primary deliverables?

The required output is essentially a report that documents the developed analytical models and uses them to assess the ultimate electrical performance of representative circuits (such as RF oscillator, power amplifier, memory cell, and mixed-signal converter element).

15) Who within AFRL is the anticipated technical partner?

The effort is expected to be performed in close interaction with AFRL/RVSE, specifically the Electronics Foundations Group, indicating active technical engagement with the government team.

16) What award instrument will be used (contract, grant, or something else)?

The anticipated instrument is either a cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) contract or a grant. The overall listing also references cooperative agreement/grant/other/contract as possible instrument types, and AFRL reserves the right to choose the best fit based on the nature of the proposed research.

17) Is the program classified or unclassified?

The call states the program is unclassified.

18) Are ITAR restrictions expected to apply to the final report?

The call indicates the final technical report is assumed not to be subject to ITAR restrictions.

19) What is the expected funding level?

The call lists anticipated funding totals for the call (not guaranteed per award) of $25,000 in FY09, $50,000 in FY10, and $50,000 in FY11. The Grants.gov listing shows an award ceiling of $125,000 with no stated floor. These amounts are explicitly labeled estimates and are subject to change based on government discretion and availability of funds.

20) Is there a minimum award amount (floor)?

The Grants.gov listing shows no stated floor.

21) How long is the period of performance?

The period of performance is expected to be 33 months of technical work plus an additional 3 months for final report submission (approximately a three-year modeling and analysis effort).

22) What are the proposal page limits?

The technical proposal (including the contract statement of work) is capped at five pages, single-spaced, double-sided, on standard 8.5 x 11 inch pages, with readable font requirements. The limitation includes resumes, appendices, and attachments, and any extra pages will not be considered.

23) What is the submission deadline and time zone?

The due date for this call was 1:00 p.m. MDT on April 30, 2009.

24) When was award expected?

The anticipated award date was around May 29, 2009.

25) Was an intent-to-propose notice required?

Applicants were asked, as a courtesy, to email the contracting contact with an intent to propose notice.

26) How do submission methods differ for contracts versus grants?

Submission method depends on instrument:

• FAR-based contract proposals had to be mailed to the listed Kirtland AFB address (no fax or electronic submission allowed).
• Grant submissions had to go through Grants.gov (and not by mail, fax, or other electronic means).

27) Are amendments possible, and where should offerors look?

Yes. Offerors were directed to monitor FedBizOps and Grants.gov for amendments such as extensions or changes.

28) What NAICS code applies to this call?

The call is issued under NAICS 541712.

29) What other governing instructions apply besides the call text?

The call reiterates that baseline BAA VS 06 05 requirements apply unless specifically amended by the call. That means proposers would need to follow the broader BAA instructions for items such as evaluation criteria, proposal preparation, and award administration in addition to the call-specific requirements.

30) Who are the technical and contracting points of contact?

The technical point of contact is Dr. Ashwani Sharma (AFRL/RVSE at Kirtland AFB). Contracting points of contact include a contract specialist (Andrea Stone) and the contracting officer (Shirley Lindom).