Production of a High Purity Ceramic Powder

The Air Force is seeking proposals for the direct to Phase II scale-up production of a high-purity ceramic powder, DAF26BZ02-DV010, with a projected CMMC Level 2 requirement. The objective is to achieve a production rate of at least one metric ton per year, maintaining high homogeneity and purity. The Air Force has developed a laboratory-scale process capable of producing 1 kg batches with established quality control. Proposers must demonstrate expertise in scaling co-precipitation and pressurized hydrothermal reactions to at least 50 kg batch scale or 20 kg/week via a continuous reactor, with desired experience in producing ceramic powder at 500 kg to metric ton scales with 99.9% purity. Phase II requires designing a scale-up plan to 500 kg, demonstrating a production rate of at least one metric ton per year, and delivering 500 kg of high-purity, contaminate-free powder meeting specific stoichiometric and secondary phase requirements. The delivered material should have spherical principle nanoparticles no more than 400 nm in diameter. Applicants will also provide cost estimates for material sale and reactor system fabrication. Phase III focuses on commercialization with ITAR/CUI eligible organizations and potential direct government procurement.