CHIPS ACT - Develop a Governance Framework for the NSTC

AMENDMENT A001The above referenced sources sought notice is hereby amended to exend the due date for responses as follows:DELETE: January 16, 2023 @ 3:30 PM Eastern TimeADD: January 17, 2023 @ 3:30 PM Eastern Time END OF AMENDMENTThis is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS.The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) Act was authorized as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2021. The subsequent CHIPS Act of 2022 provided additional authorities and more than $50 billion in appropriations to implement programming. Reference https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ283/PLAW-116publ283.pdf.The role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the CHIPS Act, is to act as the financial steward of the CHIPS Incentives

Program as well as the scientific leader for the CHIPS Research & Development (R&D) Program. The CHIPS R&D program will stand up the following initiatives:National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC);National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP);Up to 3 new Manufacturing USA institutes;CHIPS Metrology Program;Industrial Advisory Committee; andWorkforce Development.The NDAA of 2021 also established the Subcommittee on Microelectronics Research (SML), under the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s, National Science and Technology Council, and charged the Subcommittee with the development of a national strategy on microelectronics research, development, manufacturing, and supply chain security. The SML’s National Strategy on Microelectronics Research will encompass the CHIPS R&D Portfolio, including the NSTC, and is being developed to address approaches to prioritize research and development to advance microelectronics, to grow the workforce, to leverage and connect the broader R&D infrastructure, including the Federal laboratories, enhance public-private partnerships and international engagement, and develop activities that address future challenges to the innovation, competitiveness, and supply chain security of the United States in the field of microelectronics.Section 9906(c) of the CHIPS Act directs the Secretary of Commerce, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, to establish a National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), to conduct research and prototyping of advanced semiconductors, CHIPS for America, and Appropriations in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260) (https://crsreports.congress.gov) technology, to strengthen the economic competitiveness and security of the domestic supply chain.The NSTC will be operated as a consortium, with participation from the private sector, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. Its work will be to (1) Emphasize advanced test, assembly, and packaging capability in the domestic semiconductor ecosystem; (2) Materials characterization, instrumentation and testing for next-generation microelectronics; (3) Virtualization and automation of maintenance of semiconductor machinery; and (4) Metrology for security and supply chain verification. DOC/NIST’s role in the NSTC will be to set up the organization and provide funding. There is an anticipation of program management and oversight functions that will be done by NIST CHIPS R&D Program.The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is performing market research to identify qualified Contractors for policy, technical, and analytical support to develop a governance framework for the NSTC, develop R&D policy support workplans, support stakeholder meetings, and provide subject matter support. Task areas are expected to include all of the following: -Assess and document governance frameworks, membership structures and funding mechanisms of various similar organizations, to inform the governance design for the NSTC; -Develop a total of five (5) R&D policy support workplans: (1) Policy coordination with CHIPS incentive program; (2) Federal coordination on R&D policy; (3) National security workplan; (4) Standards engagement; and (5) International engagement.Each workplan shall include all of the following relevant to each topic: (i) Sources considered; (ii) With whom should the Government engage relevant to each work plan? Other parties may include industry or government and/or other countries; (iii) How should the Government engage with other parties? (iv) What actions are required for the Government to complete; and (v) Other information that the Government should consider. -Develop CHIPS R&D program policy support workplan that coordinates with the CHIPS incentives program. The CHIPS incentives program is providing funding to eligible applicants to incentivize investment in facilities and equipment in the U.S. for the fabrication, assembly, testing, advanced packaging, production, or research and development of semiconductors, materials used to manufacture semiconductors, or semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The Contractor shall consider the applicant pools and the award portfolios, documented under the CHIPS Incentive Program, to identify potential gaps in funding. Using the results of the analysis, the Contractor shall identify any potential technology gaps that requires additional R&D support. -Develop a work plan for federal coordination on R&D policy that includes documenting relevant agencies and focuses within the semiconductor R&D ecosystem. The analysis must be done using existing policies and policies in development based on the Contractor’s knowledge of and access to the Federal entities. Based on this analysis, the Contractor shall develop a policy framework that complements existing policies and to cover the gaps. -Develop a national security workplan that focuses on assuring a sufficient, sustainable, and secure supply of older and current generation semiconductor chips for national security purposes and for critical manufacturing industries. The focus of the plan shall be from the supply availability standpoint and not from national defense - Develop a workplan for standards engagements that includes considerations for both domestic and international standards development and deployment. -Develop a workplan for international engagements with a focus on driving U.S. competitiveness. Analyze and document current international government driven initiatives that focus on supporting the semiconductor industry and identify opportunities for future international engagement.Information Technology SecurityContracts handling Government information must meet the requisite IT security and privacy controls to be compliant with security and privacy requirements defined by applicable federal laws, regulations, policies, and standards (e.g., the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, and Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publication 200).The Contractor is likely to be provided with NIST-owned computers and must utilize existing NIST systems that are compliant with federal laws, regulations, policies and standards referenced above. Contractor personnel must be U.S. citizens and/or green card holders and must undergo all processes necessary to be vetted as a NIST Associate. Only personnel approved by NIST as “NIST Associates” will be permitted to perform work under this project.REFERENCES-National Defense Authorization Act of 2021, Section 9902 https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6395/BILLS-116hr6395enr.pdfCreating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act of 2022 https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/592E23A5-B56F-48AE-B4C1-493822686BCBRequired Information for SubmissionNIST is seeking responses from responsible sources. Responses are being sought from all business sizes.Small businesses are strongly encouraged to respond. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, as domestic sources having annual revenues of $21.5M or less.After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small business are identified during market research, then a competitive procurement would be conducted via a small business set-aside.If a small business set-aside results, a Limitation Subcontracting clause will be applicable to the anticipated procurement action. Businesses meeting the classification of the set-aside cannot pay more than 50% of the amount paid to it, by the Government, to firms that are not similarly situated.Responses to this sources sought notice shall not exceed 15 pages in length and must demonstrate the respondent’s capabilities as indicated below.Responses submitted submitted shall include all of the following:-Organization name, Unique Entity Identifier for the Company’s active System for Award Management (SAM.Gov) website registration; Website; Contact Name, Telephone Number, and E-mail address.Interested parties that do not have an active SAM.gov registration are strongly encouraged to visit the SAM.Gov website immediately to begin the registration process. This process can take several weeks to complete. Parties responding to Government solicitations are required to have an active SAM.gov registration at the time proposals/quotations are submitted.-A discussion of all of the following: (1) Demonstrate relationships that include dealings with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; NSF; Department of State, DOD, and DOC/NIST to start.(2) Knowledge of and access to policies and protocols that support federal inter-agency coordination. Such policies and protocols include those in the public domain, those not in the public domain, and those currently in development by various agencies. (3) Knowledge of and experience with the current federal policy landscape on semiconductor research & development, manufacturing, market analysis, and federal policy related to international semiconductor industries. Knowledge and experience may be demonstrated through publication record including conference talks and journal papers, and/or previous work experience.(4) Project descriptions that document the Contractor’s experience, as applicable, working with Federal and other public sector institutions on relevant assignments.-Price InformationIt is requested that potential labor categories, labor rates, and other direct costs that might be used to accomplish the work be provided. All price information will be utilized for budgeting purposes. Therefore, it is preferred that labor rates be within 10-15% of the actual price. This estimate is non-committal and will be held by NIST as confidential.Any other price information respondents are willing provide will also assist the Government’s budgeting process. For example, prices charged for similar projects including labor estimates (level of effort), and other direct costs applicable to the projects. The above information and any other information considered pertinent to this notification must be submitted to Carol A. Wood, Contracting Officer, not later January 16, 2023, at 3:30 PM Eastern Time. Email submission is required.