Large Binocular Telescope

May 12, 1997

Mr. Joe Fabricator
615 Industrial Neighborhood
Pittsburgh, PA 12345-9999

telefax: (412) 123-4567

Dear Sir:

I am writing to inform you of the status of our upcoming Request(s) for Proposals by the Large Binocular Telescope Corporation for the fabrication and assembly of the steel structure of the Large Binocular Telescope.

The past year has been a very busy one in the life of the Large Binocular Telescope Project. In July 1996, we received permission from the federal courts to proceed with construction work on the site at Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona. Last fall we completed the clearing of the site and poured the concrete foundation of the telescope pier. We are now pouring the concrete for the enclosure ring wall and the remainder of the telescope pier. The casting process for the first 8.4 meter honeycomb primary mirror will be completed in September 1997. In February 1997, Germany and Ohio State University joined the project along with the previous partners Arizona, Italy and the Research Corporation. This provides the project with funding to build the complete binocular optical system. News on these various topics can be found on the world wide web at URL `` http://medusa.as.arizona.edu/lbtwww/lbt.html''
or a mirror site in Italy at URL `` http://lbtwww.arcetri.astro.it''.

The Large Binocular Telescope Corporation is requesting bids for components fabricated to our design rather than for a turnkey telescope with performance specifications. In approximately one month, we will be issuing a Request for Proposals on a series of work packages that include the heavy steel components of the telescope. A second set of telescope items will be put out to bid a few months later as will the steel structure of the rotating enclosure. We are asking for proposals from companies in both North America and Europe.

The first set of work packages includes a group of items such as the azimuth track and elevation rolling sectors which require machining a 14 meter diameter surface. Another group of items includes the mirror cells and the vacuum bell jar for aluminizing the mirrors which require a machine which can turn 9 meter diameter parts. Altogether about 300 tons of steel are involved altogether along with some pieces of the rotating enclosure. No optics are included in this request for proposals. We anticipate placing orders during the second half of 1997 and completing the steel fabrication and pre-erection of the telescope during 1999. This letter is being sent to all the companies on our vendor list ranging from suppliers of motors to the fabricators of the large steel structures.

Our goal is to distribute the first series of Request for Proposal Documents on June 16, 1997 and to receive replies from suppliers on August 12, 1997. However, there are some logistical matters that could delay these dates by a few weeks.

We are presently exploring ways to efficiently distribute drawings and documents to selected companies. It would be very helpful to our planning if you could answer the questions on the next page.

Sincerely,

John M. Hill
Director, LBT Project

1. Does your company have access to the world wide web?
   • Yes.
   • No.
2. Is your company accessible by email on the internet?
   • Yes, the email address is:
   • No.
3. Please indicate how you wish to receive our Request for Proposal documents:
   • We are happy to receive all documents over the world wide web with notification by email.
   • We are able to receive documents over the web, but prefer to receive critical communications on paper.
   • Please send documents on paper.
4. Please confirm that the company name and address on this letter is the correct destination for our request for proposal documents?
   • Yes, the mailing address is correct.
   • No, the correct address should be:
     
     
     
5. Please confirm that the telefax number on this letter is correct?
   • Yes, the telefax number is correct.
   • No, the correct number should be: