ACAN 26-58077 Integrated High-Density Laser Diode
Burn-In and Characterization Platform
1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.
2. Definition of the Requirement
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), through the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC), requires the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, warranty, and support of an Integrated High-Density Laser Diode Burn-In and Characterization System (the "System").
The System must consist of a fully integrated high-density laser diode burn-in subsystem and a laser diode characterization subsystem operating within a common hardware, carrier, software, and data management architecture.
The System will support reliability screening, accelerated life testing, and electro-optical characterization of compound semiconductor laser diode devices fabricated at CPFC, including edge-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) and Fabry-Perot (FP) laser diodes in chip-on-carrier form factors.
The System must provide a fully integrated workflow that allows devices under test to remain mounted in a common carrier throughout burn-in and characterization processes without removal, remounting, repositioning, or re-alignment. The System must maintain consistent mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical interfaces throughout testing while providing full traceability of device performance data.
The requirement includes, but is not limited to:
- Two (2) integrated burn-in racks; • Fourteen (14) burn-in drawers; • Fifty-six (56) burn-in fixtures; • Fifty-six (56) burn-in device carriers; • A minimum of 384 independent source-measure channels; • One (1) automated laser diode characterization system; • One (1) tri-temperature control subsystem supporting operation from approximately -5°C to 85°C; • Four (4) characterization carriers compatible with the common carrier architecture; • Integrated software for burn-in management, characterization, device tracking, automated test sequencing, and data management; • Engineering and customization services required to configure the System for NRC-CPFC devices; • Factory verification activities and associated documentation; • Shipping preparation, crating, vacuum sealing, and handling services; • Delivery, installation, commissioning, training, and Site Acceptance Testing; • Warranty support and technical support services.
NRC will arrange any required field evaluation and site certification following installation. The Contractor shall provide the technical documentation and support necessary to facilitate the certification process.
3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
Suppliers that consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods and services described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities demonstrating how their proposed System meets all of the following minimum essential requirements.
A. Integrated System Architecture
The proposed System must:
- Consist of a high-density laser diode burn-in subsystem and a laser diode characterization subsystem supplied as a fully integrated solution;
- Utilize a common carrier architecture between burn-in and characterization processes;
- Include custom-designed carriers and fixtures configured for NRC-CPFC applications;
- Allow devices to remain mounted in the same carrier throughout burn-in and characterization activities without removal, remounting, repositioning, or re-alignment;
- Maintain consistent mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical interfaces during transfer between processes;
- Include integrated software capable of managing device identification, test sequencing, automated data collection, and data traceability across both subsystems;
- Be supplied as a commercially available solution from a single manufacturer responsible for overall hardware, firmware, software, carrier architecture, and system integration.
Solutions requiring separate software environments, third-party integration, separate carriers, adapters, or manual device transfer will not be considered compliant.
- The integrated software must support device identification and test history across subsystems and export data in open formats (e.g., CSV or equivalent).
B. Burn-In Subsystem Requirements
The burn-in subsystem must provide:
- A minimum of two (2) integrated burn-in racks;
- A minimum of fourteen (14) burn-in drawers;
- A minimum of fifty-six (56) burn-in fixtures;
- A minimum of fifty-six (56) compatible device carriers;
- A minimum of 384 independent source-measure channels;
- Automatic Current Control (ACC) and Automatic Power Control (APC) operating modes;
- Current drive capability of at least 500 mA per channel;
- Compliance voltage of at least 7 V;
- Temperature-controlled burn-in operation from approximately 45°C to at least 125°C;
- Integrated LIV measurement capability;
- In-situ electrical and optical monitoring during burn-in testing;
- Electrostatic discharge protection for devices under test.
The software must support monitoring and trending of:
- Threshold current;
- Slope efficiency;
- Series resistance; and
- Turn-on voltage throughout burn-in and ageing testing.
C. Characterization Subsystem Requirements
The characterization subsystem must provide:
- One (1) automated laser diode characterization system;
- One (1) tri-temperature control subsystem capable of sub-ambient operation;
- Four (4) compatible characterization carriers;
- Automated LIV characterization capability;
- Optical spectrum analysis capability;
- Automated optical alignment capability; • Fibre-coupled testing capability; • Automated test execution and data storage functionality.
The subsystem must support:
- Current ranges from approximately 10 mA to 1000 mA;
- Optical power measurements from approximately 1 mW to at least 400 mW;
- Wavelength measurements from approximately 900 nm to 1700 nm;
- Spectral resolution of 0.02 nm or better;
- Temperature control from approximately -5°C to 85°C;
- Dry gas purge capability.
D. Engineering, Installation, Training, Support and Electrical Compliance
The supplier must provide:
- Engineering and customization services necessary to configure the System for NRC-CPFC devices;
- Factory verification and associated documentation;
- Provision of current calibration certificates for measurement instruments used during acceptance testing;
- Shipping preparation, crating, vacuum sealing, and handling services;
- Delivery to NRC-CPFC in Ottawa, Ontario;
- Installation and commissioning of the complete System;
- On-site training for up to five (5) NRC personnel;
- Completion of a Site Acceptance Test or equivalent acceptance process - At least ten (10) business days prior to SAT, the supplier must submit a SAT Plan for NRC approval, including test cases and procedures, configurations/fixtures, identified test equipment and calibration status, acceptance criteria and tolerances, sample sizes, and data capture templates/file formats;
- A minimum twelve (12) month warranty;
- Technical support services and availability of critical spare parts.
The proposed System must be designed and manufactured to support field evaluation and site certification in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.
The supplier must:
- Provide electrical drawings, component information, and supporting technical documentation necessary to facilitate field evaluation and site certification;
- Support NRC and the certification body during the certification process;
- Ensure that a qualified installation representative is available during installation, commissioning, and certification activities to address technical questions and assist in resolving any identified deficiencies.
4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement.
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
- Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
- World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)
- Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
- Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
- Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
- Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
- Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
- Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement
- Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
- Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA)
- Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)
5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
Chroma ATE Inc. is the pre-identified supplier because it is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the required integrated high-density laser diode burn-in and characterization platform.
Chroma’s proposed solution provides the required combination of burn-in testing, electro-optical characterization, compatible device carriers, integrated control software, and coordinated data management within a single commercially available platform architecture. This is required for CPFC’s workflow because the laser diode devices are fragile chip-on-carrier devices that must maintain consistent mechanical, thermal, electrical, and optical interfaces throughout reliability testing and characterization.
Chroma is responsible for the platform’s hardware, carrier architecture, fixtures, control electronics, firmware, software, and system integration. This OEM-controlled architecture is necessary to meet NRC’s requirements for device handling, automated testing, data traceability, installation, training, warranty, and support.
To NRC’s knowledge, Chroma ATE Inc. is the only supplier capable of providing a commercially available integrated platform that meets all of the minimum essential requirements described in this ACAN. Independent burn-in and characterization systems requiring third-party integration, separate device carriers, manual device transfer, re-alignment, or separate software environments would not meet CPFC’s operational and technical requirements.
6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection: 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".
7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) – Article XIII (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Article 19.12 (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – Article 15.10 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) – Article Kbis-16 (2) (c): necessary to protect intellectual property;
Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement – Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement – Article 17.11 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement – referencing the WTO Protocol Amending the GPA, Article XIII (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement – Article 16.10 (1) (b) (iii): because of the absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) –Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons;
Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement: refer to CETA as the provisions of CETA are incorporated by reference into and made part of this Agreement. (CETA) Article 19.12 (b) (iii);
Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Limited Tendering Article 10.13 (b) (iii) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons.
8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
The Integrated High-Density Laser Diode Burn-In and Characterization system must be delivered on or before March 31, 2027 or at an agreed upon date between NRC and Chroma.
9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
CHROMA ATE, INC
7 Chrysler, Irvine CA 92618 USA
10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets all the advertised requirements.
11. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is: September 8, 2026 at 2pm EDT.
12. Inquiries and submission of statement of capabilities
Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to:
Katie Homuth | Senior Contracting Officer
Procurement and Contracting Services | Finance and Procurement Services Branch
National Research Council Canada | Government of Canada
K••••••••@••••••••.••.ca | 343-549-4539
