Questions and Answers 13 April 2026.pdf

This is a Questions and Answers document dated 13 April 2026 issued by the Contracting Officer for a gearbox testing requirement related to Strategic Ground Sensors.

The document clarifies three technical specifications for gearbox performance testing. Question 1 addresses pressure testing parameters, establishing that the gearbox must be pressure tested to 5 PSI +/- 1 PSI and maintain pressure for a minimum 12-hour period, with expected temperature increases not exceeding 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Mobile 629 gear oil must be circulated through the gearbox at a minimum rate of 1.4 liters per minute, with beginning and end temperatures documented in the test report. Question 2 clarifies the No Load Break-In Performance Test, which runs at 1800 RPM for 24 hours with directional reversal every 6 hours. Although designated as a no-load test, the two gearboxes collectively support the entire weight of a Radar dish weighing approximately 600,000 pounds, shared between two Azimuth gearboxes. Question 3 specifies that total backlash must be measured and reported from the motor shaft to the output pinion both before and after the no-load break-in test, with acceptable backlash ranging between .008 inches and .027 inches from the input to the pinion gear. The document is issued by Brandon A. Jones, NH-03, DAF, Contracting Officer AFLCMC/ESGK-R.