Notice of Intent to Increase Ceiling on N66001-12-C-4044

This is a notice of intent to increase the ceiling of Contract N66001-12-C-4044 to the University of Southern California, awarded by SSC Pacific on behalf of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Microsystems Technology Office (DARPA/MTO) on 30 March 2012. Current performance ends on 31 July 2014. This effort is developing a multilayered biocompatible hermetic coating for integrated circuits. The aim of these coatings is to protect implantable integrated circuits. To achieve this goal this effort is developing both a novel deposition process and improve on existing instrumentation to investigate, optimize, fabricate, and validate multilayer, multi-material coatings with interleaved dielectric and metal layers deposited directly on functional integrated circuits. Tasking includes demonstration of a very-high-density hermetic feedthrough interconnect technology suitable for flip chip bonding to silicon integrated circuits; development of multilayer coatings using both diamond-like carbon, related dielectric films, and interleaved metal layers; and development of a encapsulation and packaging technology that will allow chronically-implanted electronics to operate in the body for decades. This current effort provides a plan to conduct a demonstration experiment to show 30-day functionality of an integrated test assembly soaking in saline at body temperature with an artificial signal. The NAICS code for this procurement is 541712. Due to the nature of Research and Development efforts, DARPA could not have reasonably estimated the results of the research from this program, which has seen breakthroughs that will benefit from continued research under this current contract. This action includes a ceiling increase of approximately $200,000. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotes and will be posted for 10 days. A determination by the Government not to compete based upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested parties may submit comments in writing to the Contract Specialist, Jen Perez, Code 22530, SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific who may be reached by telephone at +1 (555) 000-0000 or via email to contact@example.gov.