ESC/MCK, MILSATCOM Terminals Program Office, MITRE Bldg D, 50 Griffiss Street Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1620

59 -- RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACKS FOR THE PRODUCTIVITY RELIABILITY AVAILABILITY MAINTAINABILITY (PRAM) PROGRAM SOL n/a POC Peter Lewis, (781) 271-6370; John W. Wilder, Contracting Officer, (781) 271-6286 WEB: ESC Business Opportunities Web Page, http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil. E-MAIL: Click Here to E-mail the POC, lewisp@hanscom.af.mil. The MILSATCOM Terminals Program Office (ESC/MC) at the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, MA is seeking information to determine the availability of state of the art lithium-ion (Li-ion) Rechargeable Batteries as replacement batteries for the 1980's technology nickel cadmium (NiCd) and lead acid battery packs used in the MILSTAR Time Standard Module (TSM), Terminal Access Controller (TAC) and Atomic Frequency Time Reference (AFTR) line replaceable units (LRUs). The new battery packs will need to be form, fit, function replacements for the existing TSM, TAC and AFTR batteries. The TSM presently contains a battery pack consisting of twelve AA NiCd cells. The nominal voltage of that TSM battery pack is 15 Vdc, with a capacity rating (at 0.2C) of 700 mAhr. Its nominal discharge current is 10 mA, and its maximum discharge current is 70 mA. It is specified over a temperature range of: (1) Storage: -40C to +55C degrees; (2) Discharge: -20C to +55C degrees and, (3) Charge: 0C to +55C degrees. The TAC presently is specified to contain a battery pack consisting of one string of eight 1/2 AAA NiCd cells and two strings of three D NiCd cells each. The characteristics of the specified 1/2 AAA string are: (1) Nominal voltage: 9.6 Vdc; (2) Capacity: At C: 60 mAhr; at C/10: 70 mAhr; and, (3) Output current (typical):10 mA (@25C degrees); 10 mA (@75C degrees). The characteristics of each set of D cells are: (1) Nominal voltage 3.6 Vdc; (2) Capacity: At C: 3.5 Ahr; at C/10: 4.2 Ahr; and, (3) Output current (typical): 7 mA (@25C degrees); 7 mA (@75C degrees). The operating temperature for the 1/2 AAA NiCd cells and the D NiCd cells is -40C to +70C degrees. (Note: It is to be noted that the existing TACs contain a string of eight AAA batteries rather than the previously specified string of eight 1/2 AAA batteries). The AFTR presently contains a battery pack consisting of eight sealed Lead-Acid cells. The nominal voltage of that AFTR battery pack is 16 Vdc, with a capacity rating: C = 2.5 Ahr. The 20 hr rate (at 125 mA) is 2.7 Ahr. The 10 hr rate (at 250 mA) 2.5 Ahr. The 1 hr rate (at 2.5 A) is 2.0 Ahr. It is specified over a temperature range of: (1) Storage: -65C to +65 C degrees; (2) Discharge: -65C to +65C degrees; and (3) Charge: -40C to +65C degrees. ESC/MC is seeking this information to determine the availability of state-of-the-art Li-ion Rechargeable Batteries which offer the most increase in capability while yielding the greatest Operation & Support cost savings over time. Accordingly, ESC/MC seeks to incorporate new state of the art Li-ion batteries to improve current battery performance and eliminate current battery limiting conditions such as NiCd memory and limited NiCd charge life cycles. For example, to provide ESC/MC with the optimal operational capability, the following new Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack characteristics are desired: (1) Increased Capacity: The new battery packs for the TSM and TAC should provide a significant increase in capacity over the present NiCd battery packs, (2) No Memory Effect: The new battery packs for the TSM and TAC should be of such that they have no "memory effect" so that the charge can be topped off at any time. (3) Increased Number of Charge Cycles: The new battery packs for the TSM and TAC should be capable of providing improved charge/discharge life cycles versus current compared to the MILSATCOM NiCds before the capacity of those battery packs drops below 80% of their rated capacity. (4) Smart Batteries: The new battery packs for the TSM and TAC should contain technological advances so that a number of different battery characteristics, such as the number of charge/discharge cycles already undergone by the battery, the state of the charge of the battery, the capacity remaining in the battery, the age of the battery, etc. can be monitored either by being connected to a PC or by other means. (5) Shelf Life: The new battery packs for the TSM and TAC should have a shelf life of at least seven (7) years. Interested companies must contact the POC within seven (7) working days of publication of this announcement to declare their interest in participating in this market survey and to request a copy of the Source Control Drawings (SCDs) for the TSM, TAC and AFTR Battery Packs. Also, companies responding to this announcement must submit: (1) A brief technical description of their Li-ion rechargeable batteries (not to exceed five pages); (2) A description of the extent to which their batteries have undergone development and production; (3) A discussion by the company which would validate that the increased capacity, no memory effect, increased number of charge cycles, smart battery and shelf life requirements specified above can be met. Additionally, companies responding to this synopsis must provide a brief description of their related manufacturing and development experience (not to exceed two pages) to the POC. Responses must also include company name, address, point of contact, telephone number and facsimile telephone number. This market survey may not lead to a future procurement. It should not be construed as a Request For Proposal, an Invitation For Bid nor as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any response to this market survey. Responses should be addressed to: ESC/MCK, ATTN: Peter Lewis, 50 Griffiss Street, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1620. An Acquisition Ombudsman, Colonel Steven H. Sheldon, Director, Commander's Staff, has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during proposal development. You should only contact the Ombudsman with issues or problems you cannot satisfactorily resolve with the program manager and/or contracting officer. The Ombudsman role is to hear concerns, issues, and recommendations and communicate these to the appropriate government personnel. The Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality if desired. The Ombudsman does not evaluate proposals or participate in source selection. You can contact the Ombudsman at (781) 377-5106. Posted 09/30/99 (D-SN386912). (0273)

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