U. S. Army White Sands Missile Range, ATTN: STEWS-DOC-P (Mrs. Paul), White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5201

40 -- ARAMID FIBER CANDIDATE REPLACEMENT ROPES FOR THE AERIAL CABLE RANGE SOL DAAD07-95-Q-0006 DUE 021795 POC Contact Mrs. Josephine Paul, Contracting Officer, 505/678-4718 The U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) is seeking potential sources to provide rope test samples of candidate replacement ropes for the Aerial Cable Range (ACR). The intent of any further action resulting from this synopsis is to identify rope designs that exceed the mechanical characteristics of the existing design. All sources must have previous experience in manufacturing aramid fiber ropes with minimum break strengths of 400,000 pounds and be currently capable of manufacturing continuous lengths of 17,500 feet of these types of ropes. The primary component of the ACR system is a three mile free span of aramid fiber rope. The free span of rope serves as a test platform upon which test vehicles traverse, simulating aircraft platforms. The aircraft platforms used are a less expensive alternative to testing with remotely controlled drone systems or manned aircraft. The rope currently used at the ACR has the following characteristics. The basic rope design is a 36 strand nested co-laid construction. The existing rope has a nominal diameter under shipping tension of 2.4'' +/- .02''. The rope diameter at 150,000 pounds, on the tenth tension cycle from zero to 225,000 pounds, is 2.13'' +/- .02''. The total rope elongation at 150,000 pounds during the tenth tension cycle as described above is 2.1% +/- .07%. Rope weight per unit length is 1.7 +/- .1 pounds/ft. The minimum rated breaking strength of the rope and its eye splice terminations is 450,000 pounds. The rope currently used has the following bending fatigue characteristics and shall be used as a baseline. Resists cyclic bending fatigue at a nominal tension of 100,000 pounds when cycled through prototype trolley equivalent to 12,000 bending cycles. The trolley consists of an opposing bare aluminum (AL 6061-T6)sheave design with three support sheaves above the rope and two reverse bend sheaves below the rope. The two reverse bend sheaves and the top center sheave are fitted with disk/caliper brakes. The actuation of the bottom sheaves imparts a load of 4,000 pounds each on the rope, and allows for the development of suitable braking coefficients between the rope jackets and the bare aluminum sheaves. The braking system described above must be capable of developing a minimum brake towing force between the rope and sheaves of 2,000 pounds without sheave slippage. The rope must additionally maintain a minimum brake towing force of 1,250 pounds during the entire 12,000 bending cycles. The two bottom sheaves impart a load of 4,000 pounds each on the rope during the entire test. Due to the proprietary nature of the existing rope design no further design details are available. Interested sources capable of providing a candidate rope sample exceeding all the above requirements must provide the Contracting Officer with the following information demonstrating this capability within 15 days of this publication. 1) List of contracts demonstrating previous experience in manufacturing aramid fiber ropes with minimum break strengths of 400,000 pounds. Include contract number, contract source, description of rope design, applicable quality assurance test reports, and length of rope provided. 2) Technical data sheets with test results outlining the mechanical characteristics of ropes described above. 3) Complete documentation of the tests to include: test plans, drawings of the test setup,actual test data logs from the load cells, and other instrumentation, and measurement logs with a description of the technique used. 4) A detailed description of the manufacturing procedure to be used in manufacturing a continuous length of 17,500 feet of rope. Include an estimate of manufacturing time (maximum time allowed 180 days). 5) A brief description(including mechanical specifications) of the candidate rope design that will exceed the mechanical requirement and bending fatigue capabilities of the existing rope design. This synopsis is for information only and is not a request for proposals. Written responses must be received in this office within 15 calendar days after publication of this notice. The Government will not pay for any effort expended in responding to this announcement. The Government intends to procure rope specimens from at least two responsive sources as a result of this announcement. Details about rope specimen lengths, deliverable technical data, rope tests to be conducted, etc. will be included in a request for quotation. Ropes purchased will be tested at independent testing laboratories to determine whether they can meet or exceed the existing specifications. Future ACR replacement ropes may be purchased from the source(s) which can best meet the technical requirements of the ACR. (0030)

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