BPM Cables - Flexible LMR for ALS-U

The University of California, on behalf of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), is soliciting quotes for Flexible Cables under RFQ AA-2026-05 to support the Advanced Light Source Upgrade (ALS-U) project. The requirement is for the manufacture, testing, labeling, and delivery of LMR-195FR coaxial cable assemblies with SMA(M) straight connectors in three specified lengths—2.0FT, 2.5FT, and 3.5FT—each with a strict ±10 ps phase tolerance. All units must be produced with color-coded heat-shrink labels, marked with a unique serial number and item number in a controlled format, and supplied in equal quantities across four colors: Blue, Red, Green, and White. The first article must be delivered within eight weeks of contract award and undergo formal approval before production can commence, with the production batch of 984 units scheduled to follow within eight weeks after first article approval. The RFQ was initially released on April 10, 2026, with the response deadline extended to April 30, 2026, and revised through multiple amendments that added Question & Answer documents to clarify requirements. All offers must include completed representations and certifications, including the Past Performance Reference Information Form regardless of value, and a Rep Cert Form if the quote exceeds $150,000. The offeror must certify compliance with all mandatory requirements in the RFQ and agree to manufacture per the Statement of Work. Offerors are required to comply with specific technical and regulatory standards, including adherence to LBNL’s Acceptance Criteria List AL-1887-9968 for testing, NRTL certification of all electrical components, and environmental compliance with R2 and E-Steward recycling standards. Packaging must protect against physical damage and bending beyond the cable’s minimum bend radius, though no MIL-STD packaging is mandated. Labeling must follow strict formatting rules with black text on color-coded sleeves placed 50 mm from the end of the heat-shrink tubing. No barcoding requirements are specified. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price solicitation, with pricing submitted in volume tiers for the production batch, subject to option exercise up to 15 weeks after first article delivery. The place of performance and delivery is LBNL in Berkeley, California, under FOB Destination, freight prepaid and add terms. Payment is managed through LBNL’s Accounts Payable Office with