FA864921P0746
Purchase Order
Overview
Government Description
FX20C-TCSO1-0408: ENHANCED SILICON SOLAR CELLS FOR UAVS
Awardee
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Alexandria, VA United States
Pricing
Fixed Price
Set Aside
Small Business Set Aside - Total (SBA)
Extent Competed
Full And Open Competition After Exclusion Of Sources
Related Opportunity
None
Skydweller Us was awarded
Purchase Order FA864921P0746 (FA8649-21-P-0746)
for Fx20C-Tcso1-0408: Enhanced Silicon Solar Cells For Uavs
worth up to $49,721
by Air Force Research Laboratory
in February 2021.
The contract
was awarded
through SBIR Topic Phase I Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions
with a Small Business Total set aside
with
NAICS 541715 and
PSC AC32
via direct negotiation acquisition procedures with 353 bids received.
SBIR Details
Research Type
Small Technology Transfer Research Program (STTR) Phase I
Title
Enhanced Silicon Solar Cells for UAVs
Related Solicitation
Abstract
Solar cells for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) must be cost effective, lightweight, and high performance. Current solar UAVs leverage one of two cell technologies: Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) and silicon. GaAs cells are able to achieve high efficiency levels (above 30%) but their high cost ($100 - $200 per watt) makes them unaffordable for most applications. Silicon cells are far lower cost (roughly $1-$3 per watt), but their efficiency levels are lower (20-25%). A recent study published by our team has demonstrated the ability to enhance the performance of medium-grade silicon cells by 10% to 54% after applying a thin film layer of nano particles made of semiconductor oxides (ZnO) that captures energy in the UV spectrum and down-converts it to visible wavelengths that can be captured by silicon. If the same performance improvement can be achieved with the highest-grade silicon cells, then these lower-cost cells would reach performance levels only previously attainable with GaAs, but at 100X lower cost. This technology breakthrough would reduce the cost of solar-based UAVs by more than 50%. This project will demonstrate that by carefully selecting the thickness, composition and doping of ZnO nano particle layer attached to the silicon solar cell of nominal conversion efficiency 25%, we can attain a conversion efficiency approach numbers only previously attainable using Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs).
Research Objective
The goal of phase I is to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of proposed R&D efforts and determine the quality of performance of the small business awardee organization. STTRs are completed in conjunction with a research institution.
Partnered Research Institution
University of Tulsa
Topic Code
AF20C-TCSO1
Agency Tracking Number
FX20C-TCSO1-0408
Solicitation Number
X20.C
Contact
Allen Gardner
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 7/8/21
Period of Performance
2/8/21
Start Date
5/8/21
Current End Date
5/8/21
Potential End Date
Obligations
$49.7K
Total Obligated
$49.7K
Current Award
$49.7K
Potential Award
Award Hierarchy
Purchase Order
FA864921P0746
Subcontracts
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to FA864921P0746
People
Suggested agency contacts for FA864921P0746
Competition
Number of Bidders
353
Solicitation Procedures
Negotiated Proposal/Quote
Evaluated Preference
None
Performance Based Acquisition
Yes
Commercial Item Acquisition
Commercial Item
Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items
No
Other Categorizations
Subcontracting Plan
Plan Not Required
Cost Accounting Standards
Exempt
Business Size Determination
Small Business
Defense Program
None
DoD Claimant Code
Electronics And Communication Equipment
IT Commercial Item Category
Not Applicable
Awardee UEI
SSCMLWMA9NH3
Awardee CAGE
8JHU6
Agency Detail
Awarding Office
FA8649 FA8649 USAF SBIR STTR CONTRACTING
Funding Office
F4FBEQ
Created By
richard.porter.12@us.af.mil
Last Modified By
richard.porter.12@us.af.mil
Approved By
richard.porter.12@us.af.mil
Legislative
Legislative Mandates
None Applicable
Performance District
VA-08
Senators
Mark Warner
Timothy Kaine
Timothy Kaine
Representative
Donald Beyer
Modified: 7/8/21