J&A - Direct Bonding
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Army, specifically W6QK ACC-APG, has published a Justification & Approval (J&A) for a proposed sole-source award to DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC. This effort, titled "Direct Bonding for Compound Semiconductor," aims to develop and implement advanced direct bonding techniques for use in Dual Band Infrared Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs). The primary objective is to eliminate the use of epoxy in FPA production, thereby addressing current limitations in sensitivity and yield. This J&A was published on May 27, 2026.
Scope of Work
The acquisition focuses on the development and implementation of direct bonding (DB) techniques to remove or significantly reduce infrared absorbing epoxy. Key requirements include:
- Developing a manufacturing process capable of repurposing non-specification dual-band Infrared (IR) FPAs into High Definition Long Wave (HDLW) FPAs.
- Designing, fabricating, and testing FPAs utilizing direct bond hybridization (DBH) with a common IR-transparent material interface, such as ZnS.
- Key deliverables encompass the development of the DBH process and a manufacturing process for HDLW FPAs.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF)
- Estimated Ceiling: $8.4 million
- Period of Performance: 36 Months
- Funding Source: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) FY26-28 Mantech funding.
- Product Service Code: AC13 (National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense Military; Experimental Development)
Eligibility & Response
This procurement is justified for a sole source award to DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC. based on their unique capabilities and expertise, as supported by market research. While this document is a justification and not a solicitation for proposals, all notices required by FAR 5.201(b)(1)(i) will be published, and any proposals received shall be considered. Subcontracting requirements include the utilization of Small Business Concerns and adherence to Small Business Subcontracting Plans.
Additional Notes
The authority cited for this sole source action is Title 10 United States Code Section 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A). Market research, including a Sources Sought announcement and Request for Information (RFI), indicated that only DRS possesses the necessary capabilities. Previous sole source awards to DRS for related components further support this justification. This effort is expected to benefit programs such as 3GEN FLIR, Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure (DAIRCM), and Standard Missile 3 (SM3). For inquiries, contact Hanh Dinh at hanh.t.dinh.civ@army.mil.