Subject:   LARGE BINOCULAR TELESCOPE PROJECT

PACKING & TRANSPORT PREQUALIFICATION

Dear Sir or Madam:

The LBT Corporation intends to solicit proposals for the packing and shipping of steel structures and equipment for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT).

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) will have two 8.4 meter diameter primary mirrors phased on a common mounting with a 22.8 meter interferometric baseline.  The telescope will make astronomical observations at optical and infrared wavelengths.  The telescope steel structure is presently being fabricated in Italy by Ansaldo Energia S.p.A. in Milan.  (Please review the enclosed photographs, Attachment 3).  After pre-erection in the factory, the telescope will be shipped to Safford, Arizona in Summer 2001.

The purpose of this Preliminary Inquiry is to allow LBT:

§          To IDENTIFY the potential bidders interested in participating in a forthcoming Request for Proposal for the packing and transport of the LBT Telescope structure from Italy to Arizona.

§          To SELECT from the positive responses received a limited number of companies, judged to be the  best qualified to meet LBT’s overall requirements, that will be invited to tender.

In order to qualify for the selection procedure, companies should provide a short list of similar accomplishments:  Including the country where it was performed, the name of the organization responsible for the overall operation and a point of contact who would be familiar with the level of experience associated with these previous tasks.  In addition, a description of the links and interaction that have been established between the packing company, the surface freight organization, the dock operations, and the interface with Customs in both Italy and the United States.   We would appreciate any other evidence that would support the capability of your operation in a complex commercial set-up necessary for the proper execution of a contract, to perform the following Description of the Work.

Description of the Work

The LBT Telescope structure is constituted of a series of elements having large dimensions and weight, realised in steel carpentry worked with machine tools. The telescope also includes a series of equipment such as mechanical, electrical, hydraulic etc. equipment, for a total of more than 500 tons.

All the materials at present are being assembled at Ansaldo Energia's workshop in Milan, Italy for the fabrication and pre-erection activities.

The supplier selected for the activities of packing and transport will have to withdraw the above-mentioned material at Ansaldo’s works in Milan, to pack it in adequate boxes and/or containers for shipping, to transport it to Safford, Arizona-USA, and to unload it at the base camp at the foot of Mount Graham. The list of the main materials is reported in Attachment 2.

Qualification to Propose

To be considered for award of the telescope packing and transport contract by LBT, potential bidders must have a demonstrated capacity to carry out packages, displacements and carriages by land and by sea of large dimensioned equipment in the international field, in particular for the geographic areas of Milan towards the ports of shipment for the USA and for the corresponding unloading ports near Safford.

We would be grateful to receive your answer and comments as soon as possible, but not later than

December 15, 2000

All positive replies, indicating title and reference of this Preliminary Inquiry, shall be sent to

 

DR. JOHN M. HILL

LBT PROJECT OFFICE/USA

STEWARD OBSERVATORY

933 N. CHERRY AVENUE

TUCSON, ARIZONA 85721-0065

U.S.A.

Tel: 520-621-3940

Fax: 520-626-9333

E-mail: jhill@as.arizona.edu

In this connection, we should also like to draw your attention to the enclosed “Acknowledgement of Receipt” (Attachment 1), which should be completed and returned to us within the time specified.

We look forward to receiving a positive reply from you.

We anticipate issuing an RFP in January 2001 with packing of the components in Milan to begin no earlier than May 2001.

Sincerely,

 

Dr. John M. Hill

List of Attachments:      1.   Acknowledgement of Receipt

2.      List of Main Components

3.   Photographs (2) (pre-erection hall in Milan) (3D telescope design)