Opportunity Information: Apply for CRANBAA18 002
The Department of Defense, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane issued a discretionary research funding opportunity titled "Forensic Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Associated with Microelectronics" (Funding Opportunity Number: CRANBAA18 002). The focus of the effort is to improve how microelectronic components are screened for counterfeit detection, with a clear emphasis on developing and applying advanced analytical methods that can reveal chemical signatures tied to authenticity, provenance, handling, or tampering.
At the core of the opportunity is research using mass spectrometry to perform forensic analysis of both organic and inorganic compounds associated with microelectronics. The government is specifically interested in Plastic-Encapsulated Microelectronics (PEMs), which are widely used in electronics and are also a common target area for counterfeiting and fraudulent refurbishment. PEMs contain encapsulating polymers, additives, fillers, flame retardants, and other chemical constituents that can vary by manufacturer, process, and time period. They can also pick up chemical traces from environmental exposure, cleaning agents, or re-encapsulation processes. The intent is to explore whether detailed chemical profiling, especially via mass spectrometry-based approaches, can become a reliable screening tool to help distinguish legitimate parts from suspect ones.
The funding mechanism for the award is a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the sponsor typically expects substantial involvement during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the associated CFDA number is 12.300. Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the opportunity is designed primarily for state universities and similar public academic research institutions rather than private industry or private universities.
From an administrative and planning standpoint, the opportunity was created on November 8, 2017, with an original closing date of December 8, 2017. The anticipated maximum funding amount (award ceiling) was $200,000, and NSWC Crane expected to make one award. Taken together, that points to a single, targeted R&D project of modest size, likely intended as a proof-of-concept or early-stage development effort that could demonstrate feasibility, generate reference data, or establish a workflow that might later be expanded.
In practical terms, a project aligned with this call would likely revolve around building forensic screening techniques that can detect and interpret chemical markers in or on microelectronic packages. This could include identifying polymer formulations, contaminants, residues from rework processes, or inorganic elements linked to fillers and manufacturing steps. Because the announcement highlights both organic and inorganic compounds, it suggests interest in a broad chemical picture rather than a single class of materials, with mass spectrometry serving as the primary analytical backbone for sensitive detection and comparative profiling aimed at counterfeit detection and screening.Apply for CRANBAA18 002
- The Department of Defense, NSWC - CRANE in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Forensic Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Associated with Microelectronics" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 08, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 08, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Forensic Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Associated with Microelectronics."
Who is issuing the opportunity?
The issuer is the Department of Defense, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CRANBAA18 002.
What is the main goal of the research?
The main goal is to improve how microelectronic components are screened for counterfeit detection by developing and applying advanced analytical methods that can reveal chemical signatures tied to authenticity, provenance, handling, or tampering.
What is the scientific focus of the effort?
The scientific focus is forensic analysis of both organic and inorganic compounds associated with microelectronics, centered on mass spectrometry-based approaches for sensitive detection and comparative chemical profiling.
What types of microelectronics are specifically emphasized?
The government is specifically interested in Plastic-Encapsulated Microelectronics (PEMs).
Why are Plastic-Encapsulated Microelectronics (PEMs) important in this call?
PEMs are widely used in electronics and are also a common target for counterfeiting and fraudulent refurbishment. The call emphasizes the need to screen these parts more effectively for signs of inauthenticity or tampering.
What kinds of chemical information might help distinguish legitimate parts from suspect ones?
The opportunity highlights the potential value of detailed chemical profiling that could reveal markers of authenticity or indicators of suspect handling. Examples described include differences in polymer formulations and constituents, traces from environmental exposure, residues from cleaning agents, or signatures associated with re-encapsulation or rework processes.
What chemical constituents in PEMs are relevant to the research?
PEMs can contain encapsulating polymers, additives, fillers, flame retardants, and other chemical constituents. These can vary by manufacturer, processing methods, and time period.
Does the opportunity focus only on organic compounds?
No. The announcement explicitly calls for forensic analysis of both organic and inorganic compounds, suggesting interest in a broad chemical picture rather than a single class of materials.
What analytical technique is emphasized in the announcement?
Mass spectrometry is emphasized as the core analytical approach to perform forensic analysis and develop screening methods for counterfeit detection.
What does the sponsor want mass spectrometry to accomplish here?
The intent is to explore whether detailed chemical profiling using mass spectrometry-based approaches can become a reliable screening tool to help distinguish legitimate microelectronic parts from suspect ones.
What kinds of chemical signatures are of interest?
Chemical signatures tied to authenticity, provenance, handling, or tampering. The description also references signatures that may arise from manufacturer-specific formulations, process variations, aging or time period differences, environmental exposure, cleaning agents, or re-encapsulation.
What is the funding mechanism?
The funding mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply for project interaction?
It implies the sponsor typically expects substantial involvement during the project, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 12.300.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Are private companies eligible to apply based on the provided information?
The eligibility statement provided limits applicants to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the opportunity is designed primarily for state universities and similar public academic research institutions rather than private industry.
Are private universities eligible to apply based on the provided information?
The eligibility statement provided specifies public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which indicates the opportunity is not aimed at private universities.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on November 8, 2017.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was December 8, 2017.
What is the anticipated maximum funding amount?
The anticipated maximum funding amount (award ceiling) was $200,000.
How many awards did NSWC Crane expect to make?
NSWC Crane expected to make one award.
What does the combination of one award and a $200,000 ceiling suggest about project scope?
It suggests a single, targeted R&D project of modest size, likely oriented toward proof-of-concept or early-stage development that could demonstrate feasibility, generate reference data, or establish a workflow that might later be expanded.
What kinds of project outcomes appear aligned with the call?
Projects aligned with the call would likely focus on building forensic screening techniques for microelectronic packages, including methods to detect and interpret chemical markers that may indicate authenticity or tampering. The description suggests outcomes such as feasibility demonstrations, reference datasets, or analytical workflows for screening.
What examples of target analytes or markers are mentioned or implied?
The opportunity references organic and inorganic compounds associated with microelectronics, including polymer formulations and constituents (polymers, additives, fillers, flame retardants) as well as chemical traces from environmental exposure, cleaning agents, or re-encapsulation processes. It also points to inorganic elements linked to fillers and manufacturing steps.
Is the effort aimed at screening and detection rather than general materials research?
Yes. The description centers on counterfeit detection and screening, with an emphasis on analytical methods that reveal chemical signatures relevant to authenticity and potential tampering.
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