Background Information:

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has done substantial research and development of microscale photovoltaic cells that harness energy from a variety of light sources and power devices in flexible, moldable, or flat-plate formats. This technology is covered by 46 US patent applications (4 have issued to date). SNL is seeking commercial partners who can invest in the further development of this technology to create manufactuarable products that could be deployed for the benefit of the US economy.

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Opportunity Description:

SNL is seeking a collaborative partnership with an industrial partner who has experience in the design, development, and manufacturing of semiconductor devices or solar technologies. The objective of this partnership would be the joint development and demonstration of a full scale prototype, moving the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 6 or 7, as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. Collaborators will work with SNL on the continued development and testing of microscale PV technologies and will provide a clear path to commercialization/deployment of the technology through refined product design, optimization for manufacturing, and Quality Assurance. Qualified partners will contribute resources, funds including funds for Sandia specialists (as needed), and in-kind support in the form of staff and facilities capable of handling, processing, and packaging microscale PV cells. Qualified partners will have the option to obtain, up to and including, an exclusive license to the intellectual property for reasonable compensation as part of the agreement.  Please see “Doing Business with Sandia” for a description of the various types of partnerships and agreements available.

What Sandia Brings to the Partnership:

Sandia brings substantive experience in the design, testing and manufacturing of microscale photovoltaic cells and systems and the research and development of solar harvesting solutions. Our expertise includes a state of the art fabrication facility on-site (MESA) and a team of exceptional researchers who have pioneered this technology. Our program objectives are based on the know-how that we have developed through many years of research and development in these areas. We will rely primarily on our industry partner(s) for manufacturing, marketing and other tasks that are product- and profit-focused. We would be open to having our partner(s) join existing relationships that we have established with other technology development and application-oriented organizations.

Information Sought:

A detailed description of relevant background experience, expertise, and capabilities that could be brought into a collaborative partnership with SNL is being sought. The following information is being requested. In addition, interested parties may provide additional relevant information as needed.

• Description of experience, expertise and capabilities in the design, development, and manufacturing of semiconductor devices, LEDs, or solar cells
• Description of other relevant experience, expertise, and capabilities
• Description of experience in taking technology from a TRL 3 to a TRL 6-7.
• Description of past experience partnering with Research and Development organizations such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), Universities, National Laboratories, or Government Laboratories to develop and sell products successfully.

Instructions to Responders:

Interested parties that meet the Mandatory Requirements provided below are invited to respond to this RFI. Any proprietary information should be properly identified and marked as such. Any information provided in response to this RFI will not be returned. Any and all responses are voluntary and SNL will not pay for any information submitted in response to this RFI. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Responses should be emailed to [email protected]  and should include the RFI title and submitting organization’s name in the subject line. Attachment size should not exceed 5MB and only the following document types will be accepted (.doc, .docx, .pdf). Responses should be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. MDT on August 31, 2014. An email notification will be sent acknowledging successful receipt of the response.

Evaluation Criteria:

SNL will evaluate all responses and select prospective parties with which to engage in further discussions based on the following criteria, pursuant to SNL’s Technology Transfer mission:

Mandatory:

• Potential partner must be able to meet the DOE requirement of enhancement or accrual of economic and technological benefits to the US domestic economy through the technology transfer.
  
  o   Required by DOE as embodied in the Technology Transfer Act of 1989.
• Potential partner must have experience, expertise, and capability using microsystems tools and manufacturing techniques familiar to the semiconductor industry
  
  o   The Sandia team has developed microscale photovoltaic cell technology with semiconductor, LCD, and microsystems tools and techniques foremost in mind.
• Potential licensing company needs to articulate a clear, consistent, and comprehensive growth strategy that can enable it to become a global leader in microscale photovoltaic cell production.
  
  o   Under the SunShot initiative, DOE seeks to make the US a global leader in PV. Consequently, any licensing arrangement with a DOE lab needs to reflect this initiative within the agreed upon milestones and commercialization goals. 
• Potential partner needs to be willing and able to fully adopt microscale PV manufacturing approaches.
  
  o   Successful commercialization would require a company to abandon traditional views of solar power and commit to the semiconductor manufacturing approach used in the design and development of MEPV cells.
• Potential partner must provide a business plan that specifies how microscale photovoltaic cell technology will be mass produced and commercialized. This business plan must break down what percentage of product design, simulation, fabrication, assembly, packaging, quality control testing, distribution, and installation will be done in the United States by US citizens at US-owned and controlled companies.
  
  o   The breakdown on where the work will be done will help DOE fulfill its US economic enhancement objective outlined in the DOE Prime Contract # DE-AC04-94AL85000.
  
• The terms of the partnership must comply with Federal Export Control requirements per the Department of State. o   Successful commercialization would require a company to abandon traditional views of solar power and commit to the semiconductor manufacturing approach used in the design and development of MEPV cells.
  
  o   Intended to embody the regulations in USC: Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse and DOE Prime Contract #DE-AC04-94AL85000.
• Potential partner must be able to provide funds-in to Sandia National Laboratories.
  
  o   This would enable scientists, engineers, and technologists on our microsystems-enabled photovoltaics team to provide substantive technical assistance in the commercialization effort.
  
  
  Desired:
• A US firm able to enter into a CRADA agreement with Sandia National Laboratories to develop specific manufacturing tools and techniques for microscale photovoltaic production and/or specific applications for microscale photovoltaic cells.
• Demonstrated experience, expertise, and capabilities in: the design, development, and manufacturing of semiconductor chips; microsystems components; the handling and assembly of microelectronic parts; and manufacturing of liquid crystal display products.
• Proven experience in translating immature technologies (TRL 3 – proof of concept) into market-driven products (TRL 7 – full scale prototype).
• Demonstrated successful partnering and teaming relationships with R&D organizations.
• Strong interest in commercializing microscale photovoltaics in a global market, including the ability to maintain, finance, and defend international patent filings.
• Willingness to further develop, protect, and commercialize improvements and new applications for microscale photovoltaic technologies.

SNL would consider teaming arrangements where two or more companies may form a team to satisfy the Desired Requirements.

Keywords: microsystems, photovoltaics, cells, solar, semiconductor, micro, energy, renewable