BPM Cables (Semi Rigid) for ALS-U

The University of California, acting on behalf of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is soliciting proposals for the manufacturing and delivery of 1,120 semi-rigid cable assemblies for the Advanced Light Source Upgrade Project under RFP No. AA-2026-04. The cables, designated as SMR141-525MM and SMR141-650MM, must meet stringent technical specifications including an operational frequency range of 0.05–18 GHz, low signal loss using PTFE 141 cable, and SMA connectors rated for 200°C operation. Deliverables include full production, 100% testing, vacuum and thermal validation, and submission of a First Article Inspection Report prior to production release. All assemblies require permanent color-coded heat shrink labels with unique serial numbers and item numbers, placed 80 mm from each connector, and must comply with the project-specific Acceptance Criteria List and LBNL quality assurance protocols. The contract is structured in milestone-driven batches, beginning with first article units to be delivered within six weeks of award, followed by production batches contingent on approval of prior phases, with final delivery of the majority of units due within 12 weeks of hold point approval. Proposals are to be submitted in three volumes—cover letter, technical, and business—and must include mandatory documentation such as the completed Price Proposal Schedule, Representations and Certifications, Past Performance Reference Form, and ALS-U Quality Evaluation Survey. While pricing details are not specified and marked as "To Be Determined," offerors must provide realistic, reasonable, and complete cost proposals without being evaluated on a lowest-price basis; instead, award will follow a trade-off approach emphasizing technical merit, manufacturing capability, delivery schedule, past performance, and quality assurance. The contract includes unique clauses requiring compliance with the Buy American Act, strict export control notifications and indemnification, duty-free entry support under ITA-338P, and full transfer of technical data ownership to the U.S. Department of Energy. All shipments are FOB destination, prepaid, and must be delivered to Building 69 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA. Invoices must be submitted via email in PDF, Word, or RTF format to the designated accounts payable office, and the Procurement Representative, Arielle Anoop, is the sole authorized point of contact for contract modifications. The proposal deadline was extended to May 5, 2026, and all submissions