Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Procurement & Materiel, L-650, P.O. Box 5012, Livermore, CA 94551

36 -- SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY POC Don Potter, Contract Administrator, 925-422-8673 E-MAIL: Click her to contact the contract administrator via, potter5@llnl.gov. The University of California, as Management & Operations contractor for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), under the US Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting expressions of interest for suppliers of ultra-precision diamond flycutting machines for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) project. The NIF project will provide a facility that is capable of achieving fusion ignition utilizing solid-state lasers as the energy driver. In the NIF facility, a large number of lasers will be focused onto a small target located in the center of a spherical target chamber; the energy from the lasers will be delivered simultaneously, and within a few billionths of a second. The target will then implode, forcing atomic nuclei to sufficiently high temperature and density to achieve a fusion reaction. Additional information about the NIF project can be found at http://lasers.llnl.gov/laser.nif.html. The University contemplates the award of a contract for a special ultra-precision diamond flycutting machine designed to produce flat surfaces on Potassium di-Hydrogen Phosphate (KDP) crystals. The machine will also be used to produce a precise angle between the flat surface generated and the crystallographic axis of the KDP crystal. This angle is referred to as the "phase-matching angle", which is measured off of the machine by metrology that it is outside of this scope. The KDP crystals are referred to as the "workpiece", and have a nominal size and mass of 420mm x 420mm x 10mm and 5kg. A working prototype of the machine, referred to as "the prototype machine", was designed and built at LLNL, and successfully tested in 1999. Associated with the prototype machine is a mechanical design package that is complete minus protective covers and ancillary equipment. The prototype machine has a functioning control system and user interface. The machine to be purchased shall utilize the existing mechanical design of the prototype machine and may utilize the control system and user interface of the prototype machine. Interested candidates are invited to respond with an expression of interest which should include a brief description (no more than 10 pages including attachments) of qualifications with respect to the following attributes: experience and expertise in fabricating ultra-precision machines; suitable facilities and manufacturing staff; ability to rapidly convert to new efforts; and supplier management program(s) supported by an ISO-9001-level quality program. Expressions of interest are to assist the University in determining the potential for competition among qualified and interested candidates. This notice is intended to serve as the only notification of these requirements. The actual solicitation for award of a contract is not yet available. Expressions of interest are due on or before Thursday, March 30, 2000. Facsimile and telephone responses will not be accepted. Hand delivered/overnight submissions may be sent to 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550. Posted 02/29/00 (W-SN429707). (0060)

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