ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10441
Open Date: 14/07/2020
Closing Date: 22/09/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.1ED.08
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Electronics / EEE Components / Crystals
Technology Domains: EEE Components and Quality / EEE Component Technologies / Passive Components
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Electrical Department
Division: Data Syst & Microelectronics Division
Contract Officer: Erkelens-Sickinger, Franziska
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 14/07/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

High performance Quartz crystal oscillators are typically needed for the signal spectral purity (i.e. Phase noise), but also for their short-term frequency stability (i.e. On-board GNSS receivers for positioning and timing application, receiver for radio-occultation doppler measurements, asynchronous transmission protocols, etc). The drawback of using quartz crystal resonators is due to theirsensitivity to cosmic radiations that induce frequency jumps, frequency drift and, a reduction of the quality factor with impacts onthe phase noise.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- To understand the sweeping effect on material and demonstrate which specifications/properties have impact on quartz crystal radiation sensitivity- Evaluation of oscillator performances primarily affected by crystal sensitivity to radiation by analysis and test.- To identify technologies for crystal growing and/or resonator process for reducing the sensitivity to radiation, targeting both niche markets and larger volumes. Selection of processes and assembly techniques shall take anyway into account other peculiar requirement of space applications, namely shock and mechanical ruggedness.- Evaluation of the oscillator performances at different type (i.e. Proton, electron, neutrons) and level of radiation by test onrepresentative oscillator samples on which Quartz resonators manufactured with selected processes. Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news „Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”.