ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO8999
Open Date: 06/09/2017
Closing Date: 10/11/2017 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 17.1TT.40
Prog. Ref.: CC for Advanced Tech
Budget Ref.: E/0505-01C – CC for Advanced Tech
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / “Communication – BB (Antennas excluded)” / Other
Techology Domains: RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Technologies and Equipment / RF Devices
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Product Division
Contract Officer: Engels, Wilhelm
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 06/09/2017
Update Reason: Tender issue

Objective:Objective of this activity is to develop fast locking connectors for cable assemblies compatible with standard SMA jack connectors. Targeted Improvements:Increased layout density for payload equipment in the order of 20% together with up to 10%-30% reduction in assembly, integration and testing (AIT) time of payloads.Description:Today SMA connectors are tightened to a specific torque using a torque wrench by AIT operators during the integration phase. The need to have sufficient space to access these connectors and to use a torque wrench requires a specific area around the connectors to be reserved in the interface design. The removal of the need to use a wrench would allow an increased freedom in the design of the equipment interfaces and locations.The torqueing operations are also time consuming for AIT operators, during what is often a schedule-critical phase of spacecraft production, to ensure that the correct thread alignment and torque are achieved.The activity will consist of the design, manufacture and test of asuitable fast locking SMA connector, including mechanical testing and thermal cycling. Several connector engineering models shall bemanufactured and tested to validate the mechanical robustness, repeatability and quality of the cable connection. Validation of theassembly process and AIT operations shall also be conducted. These fast locking SMA connectors shall not require any modificationwith respect to the counterpart standard SMA connector. Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news “Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”.

If you wish to access the documents related to the Invitation to Tender, you have to log in to the ESA Portal.