Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, SEA 03K21, 2531 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22242-5160

59 -- INFORMATION REGARDING SHIPBOARD ADVANCED CABLE CONNECTORS REQUIRED FOR THE ENGINEERING FOR REDUCED MAINTENANCE (ERM) PROGRAM POC Donald E. Cross, (703) 602-9121, ext. 228 The Naval Sea Systems Command requests information from connector r manufacturers regarding state-of-the art, Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) compliant, corrosion resistant, connectors for power, data, semi-rigid coaxial and waveguide applications to replace those currently installed in Navy Combat Systems equipment. Performance requirements include, self-seating connectors, low insertion loss, waterproof to 2 atmospheres, field installable, EME free to 50 kV/M @ 100 MHz, for normal topside cable applications. The system for connecting cables should include simplicity of design, alternative techniques in lieu of using connectors, and new ideas and innovations/inventions in order to significantly reduce shipboard maintenance. The manufacturers are requested to provide testing techniques to verify conformance to specifications or claims. Manufacturers responding will be provided a shipboard briefing and tour (at the manufacturer's expense) in order to see the actual problems in the high corrosion shipboard environment. Under the acquisition reform act, the Naval Sea Systems Command is seeking to obtain existing advanced cable connector technology for near term fleet improvements in reducing burdensome crew labor hour requirements in corrosion control. Interested connector manufacturers are requested to submit letters of their interest to the ERM for Connectors working group Chairman, Donald E. Cross, NAVSEA 03K21, (703) 602-9121, x228 not later than 31 August 97. A solicitation is not being issued at this time. If a solicitation is issued for this effort, a synopsis shall appear in the CBD and the solicitation will be posted on the INTERNET/WORLD WIDE WEB. Interested parties with INTERNET access can use WEB browsers such as NETSCAPE and MOSAIC to access the NAVSEA CONTRACTS WEB page at "http://www.contracts.hq.navsea.navy.mil/". Users with dial-up host connection to the INTERNET (such as America On Line, CompuServe or Prodigy) can access the NAVSEA CONTRACTS WEB page by using their INTERNET access software and the address listed above. (0224)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0477 19970814\59-0019.SOL)