Gemini 8-M Telescopes Project, Aura, 950 N. Cherry Ave, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719

36 -- SMALL TELESCOPE ENCLOSURE DOME SOL RC970196 DUE 120597 POC Andrew Flach, Contracts Manager, 520-318-8537 WEB: General information about the Gemini 8m Telescopes Project, http://www.gemini.edu. E-MAIL: Click to contact Contracts Manager, aflach@gemini.edu. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) is seeking qualified vendors to provide an retractable enclosure approximately 1.5 to 2 meters in diameter to house a small 14 to 16 inch diameter telescope to be used at the Gemini Cerro Pachon Observatory. The enclosure must be fully retractable to expose the telescope to the ambient environment in all directions simultaneously. Remote operation of the enclosure should be possible through a standard electronic interface. The enclosure must be able to close incrementally to shield the telescope during windy periods. An automated system to sense poor weather conditions (high humidity, high wind, or precipitation) and shut the enclosure automatically is highly desirable, but is not required as part of the initial design. The Gemini 8m Telescopes Project is an international collaboration to build two 8 meter telescopes, one to be located on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the other to be located on Cerro Pachon in Chile. The Gemini project partners include the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The Gemini project is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under contract to the National Science Foundation. Companies that are interested in receiving the Request for Proposal for this procurement should send a letter of interest by 5 December, 1997, to the following address: Gemini 8m Telescopes Project, 950 North Cherry Avenue, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719-6732 (PO Box) 85719 (Street address), Attn: Contracts Manager, Request for Proposal No. RC970196. Facsimile 520-318-8590 (0325)

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