Gemini 8-M Telescopes Project, Aura, 950 N. Cherry Ave, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719

36 -- DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF HELIUM MANIFOLDS SOL N980496 DUE 061098 POC Andrew Flach (Contracts Manager) 520-318-8537 WEB: General information about the Gemini 8m Telescopes, http://www.gemini.edu. E-MAIL: Click here to contact Contracts Manager via email., aflach@gemini.edu. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) is seeking a qualified vendor to design and fabricate a set of helium distribution manifolds for the closed cycle cooling systems at the Mauna Kea (Hawaii) and Cerro Pachon (Chile) observatories of the Gemini 8m Telescopes Project. These custom manifolds will be used in the return and supply sides of AURA's helium distribution system. They must be able to withstand pressures up to 375 psi, be free of contaminants that may infiltrate the rest of the helium system, and be compatible with standard Aeroquip self-sealing couplings. A set of drawings will be provided by AURA to define the manifolds at the conceptual level as part of the RFP. The Gemini 8m Telescopes Project is an international collaboration to build two 8 meter telescopes, one to be located on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the other to be located on Cerro Pachon in Chile. The Gemini project partners include the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Australia.The Gemini project is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under contract to the National Science Foundation. Firms that are interested in receiving the Request for Proposal for this procurement should send a letter of interest by 10 June, 1998, to the following address: Gemini 8m Telescopes Project, 950 North Cherry Avenue, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719-6732 (PO Box) 85719 (Street address), Attn: Contracts Manager, Request for Proposal No. N980496. Facsimile 520-318-8590. (0154)

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