National Radio Astronomy Observatory, P.O Box O, 1003 Lopezville Rd., Socorro, New Mexico 87801-7027

A -- DESIGN, FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF A PROTOTYPE ANTENNA FOR THE MILLIMETER ARRAY/LARGE SOUTHERN ARRAY RADIOTELESCOPE. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. SOL 232680 DUE 063099 POC Bill Porter, 804-296-0313 WEB: MMA Vendor Information/Request for Proposals, http://www.mma.nrao.edu/vendors. E-MAIL: Bill Porter, Business Manager, bporter@nrao.edu. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), operated by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation is seeking proposals for the design, fabrication and installation of a prototype antenna for the Millimeter Array/Large Southern Array (MMA/LSA) Radiotelescope. The MMA/LSA is a new instrument, recently approved for a three year Design and Development phase, which will consist of a large number of 12 meter diameter reflector antennas, operating at frequencies up to 900GHz. The instrument will be built at a high altitude site near the town of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The prototype antenna will be designed, fabricated, installed, and tested prior to any production, at a test site, in New Mexico. The contractor will provide the antenna and its drive system but will not provide any of the receiver electronics. Some of the technically challenging components required for the antenna include highy accurate reflector surface panels, a CFRP backup structure, metrology systems for measuring antenna deformations, high precision angle encoders and a high performance servo system. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on 30 March 1999. Request for Proposals will be automatically sent to those potential proposers who have already expressed an interest in submitting a proposal. Potential proposers other than those who have previously expressed an interest may request copies of the RFP from the POC listed above. Proposals must be submitted to the address listed in the RFP on or before 30 June 1999. Posted 03/29/99 (W-SN313704). (0088)

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