NIST Seeking Information to Properly Evaluate CHIPS Act Funding Applicants

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is asking small businesses to provide the agency with data and analysis on semiconductor manufacturing equipment and fabrication plants to properly evaluate businesses applying to receive funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. 

Under the law, NIST must allocate $50 billion in funding meant to strengthen the domestic production of chips and reduce U.S. dependence on semiconductors manufactured overseas, Nextgov reported.

According to a sources sought notice posted on SAM .gov, NIST is seeking wafer and facility level cost simulations for specific semiconductor technologies and geographical locations, data on sub-systems to trace the manufacturing equipment in U.S. fabs and their sub-systems, utilization rates of fabs by different types of semiconductor production markets, and data on 300 mm fabs in terms of process technology and capacity.

The agency is also looking for tools that can support its analysis of key performance indicators in the semiconductor and equipment supply chains, semiconductor supply chain operation forecasts, and cost and price modeling tools. 

Small businesses under the size standard of $19.5 million are encouraged to submit their responses by April 17.