Attachment_1-_Specifications.pdf

U.S. ARMY

YUMA PROVING GROUND

SPECIFICATION FOR

METEOROLOGICAL BALLOONS

Specification for Meteorological Balloons U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground

1.0 REQUIREMENTS

1.1. General

Meteorological balloons supplied in accordance with this specification shall meet all requirements herein. Balloons shall be capable of being safely and successfully released by one person from outside the inflation building or from a launch shelter in the environmental conditions of 3.2.2.

1.2. Environmental Conditions

The meteorological balloons shall meet all specification requirements when subjected to all combinations of the encountered environmental conditions.

1.2.1. Storage Environment

Meteorological balloons, when stored in the Contractor-provided individual packaging, shall meet the requirements of this specification after exposure to all combinations of the following conditions, for a period of 18 months after delivery to USAYPG:

Condition Range Air Temperature 0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F) Air Relative Humidity 15% to 75% Dust 1 million particles per cubic m, various sizes Altitude -50.0 m to 3.0 km (164 ft to 9.85 kft) Radiation Sunlight through office windows and ultraviolet light from office fluorescent lights

1.2.2. Flight Environment Conditions

Meteorological balloons, when configured for a flight, shall meet the requirements of this specification when exposed to all combinations of the following conditions during both day and night flights:

Condition Range Air Pressure 3.0 hectopascals (hPa) to 1070.0 hPa where the minimum air pressure for a particular balloon designation is limited to the actual atmospheric pressure at the minimum specified bursting altitude

Air Temperature -70°C to 50°C (-94°F to 122°F) Air Relative Humidity 0.0% to saturation Dust 1 million particles per cubic m, various sizes Wind speed in flight 0 m/s to 165 m/s (0 ft/s to 541 ft/s)

Hydrometeors (liquid and frozen precipitation)

0.0 mm to 150.0 mm per hr (0 to 5.9 in/hr)

Maximum Icing Conditions

0.0254 cm (0.01 in) in 6 mins

Radiation and Atmospheric Chemistry

Exposure during flight to all radiation and chemicals occurring in the atmosphere up to the minimum specified burst altitude over the USA, US Possessions, and adjoining ocean areas.

1.3. Flight Performance Requirements

1.3.1. Flight Preparation

Meteorological balloons shall meet the requirements of this specification after being inflated and tied off with a string. The meteorological balloon shall be adequately sealed when the string is tied.

One person shall be able to successfully and routinely accomplish both preparation and launch of the balloon in the environment of 3.2.2. Preparation shall include, but not be limited to, removing the meteorological balloon from its individual packaging; inflating the meteorological balloon from empty; tying off the meteorological balloon to prevent inflation gas escape; and attach the tie string connecting the balloon and the radiosonde.

1.3.2. Inflation Gas

Performance requirements of this specification shall be met when hydrogen gas only, natural gas only, or helium gas only is used to inflate the balloon.

1.3.3. Payload

Flight performance requirements shall be met with no more than a 325gm (0.72lbs) payload

1.3.4. Performance Percentage Requirements

At least 95.0 percent of the balloons shall meet the minimum burst altitude and minimum average ascension rate in the table below when the sample size is at least as large as required by 3.3.5.

Type of meteorological balloon

Minimum Burst Altitude (km)

Maximum Average Ascension Rate (m/min)

150gm 16.0 360.0 350gm 24.0 360.0 600gm 30.0 360.0

1.3.5. Balloon Launch

One person shall be able to launch the balloon, radiosonde and parachute from outside a balloon launch shelter in the environment of 3.2.2.

1.3.6. Federal Aviation Administration Requirements

The balloon shall meet all requirements of Federal Aviation Requirement 101 (14 CFR 101.31 to 101.39).

1.3.7. Dispersal of Inflation Gas

The inflation gas of the extensible balloon shall be released to the atmosphere. Burst balloons shall not return to a low altitude with inflation gas in them.

1.4. Physical Specifications

1.4.1. Material

Balloons must be produce using natural latex. They should burst into small pieces, being environmental friendly and be biodegradable.

1.4.1.1. Electrostatic Control

Meteorological balloon material shall not contribute to, or permit the buildup of, electrostatic charges on the meteorological balloon surface. An antistatic agent, if required, applied to the balloon meeting 3.0 Requirements is not prohibited.

1.4.1.2. Uniformity

Balloons shall have a uniform texture and have a consistent aerodynamic cross-section during flight. Balloons should not have a teardrop shape during flight.

1.4.1.3. Dusting

Balloons must be produced with a non-toxic, dry, powdered material which effectively prevents adhesion of the balloon. The powder shall not react with helium or hydrogen. The powered material shall not contribute to the formation of an electrostatic charge during preparation, release, or flight of the balloon.

1.4.1.4. Inflation Gas

Balloons shall not react with hydrogen, natural gas, or helium inflation gas. Sounding balloon material shall not expel or emit any chemical that will react with hydrogen, natural gas, or helium gas.

1.4.2. Maximum Meteorological Balloon Size

Balloon Type

(grams)

Neck Diameter

(cm)

Neck Length

(cm)

Flaccid Body

Length (cm) Free Lift

Nozzle Lift

(grams)

Gross Lift

(grams)

Bursting Altitude

(km) 150 3.0 12.0 75 480 760 880 16.0 350 3.0 12.0 118 585 835 1185 24.0 600 3.0 12.0 157 870 1120 1720 30.0

1.4.3. Neck

The neck shall not rip, shred, perforate, or separate from the balloon body when filled or removed from the inflation nozzle. The edge (free end) of the neck shall be free of nicks or folds.

1.4.3.1. Construction

Balloons must be of one piece construction. The balloon neck must be capable of being launched in very high winds and with extremes gust without separating at the attachment point where the neck and balloon meet. Therefore the neck shall be manufactured with the balloon and not attached to the balloon later.

1.4.3.2. Neck functional requirements

a. The neck shall provide a means to inject the inflation gas during preparation and prevent the loss of the inflation gas.

b. The neck shall provide an ergonomic handle for the person to hold the balloon during its release.

c. The neck shall transmit the restraining forces from the operator encounter during the release in very high winds and with extremes gust to the rest of the balloon so that so that the balloon is not overstressed.

d. The neck shall provide a means to attach the tie string connecting the balloon and the radiosonde.

1.5. Manufacturing Requirements

1.5.1. Environmental Impact

Meteorological balloons required by this specification and factory equipment used to produce meteorological balloons required by this specification shall not cause exposure to hazardous substances exceeding the recommended limits provided in United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, Minimal Risk Levels for Hazardous Substances in all of the following circumstances:

a. Meteorological balloon preparation.

b. Flight of the meteorological balloons.

c. Contamination of ground water and streams after flight due to leaching of chemicals from the meteorological balloon.

d. Ingestion of meteorological balloon remains in the ground water and in water bodies.

e. Disposal of meteorological balloons.

f. Exposure of Government employees visiting the factory(s) in preparation for, during, and after manufacture and test of meteorological balloons.

All other environment exposure limits imposed by other Government or Government agencies having jurisdiction are also required as though textually incorporated herein. This includes, but is not limited to, those requirements to protect the factory employees and the community(s) where the factory(s) is (are) located. The Contractor shall supply Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to the Contracting Officer (KO) with the samples for the balloons and dusting material.

1.5.2. Configuration Control

No change shall be made in design, material chemistry, or production process after submission of Samples without prior written approval by the KO.

1.5.3. Physical Percentage

At least 99.0 percent of the meteorological balloons of each lot shall meet the size requirements of 3.4.2. The mean arithmetic deviation of the actual weights of individual balloons in a lot shall not differ by more than 10.0 percent.

2.0 DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this contract, the following definitions will apply:

(a) CLIN: Contract Line Item Number

(b) CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR: The official Government representative delegated authority by the Contracting Officer to administer a contract. This individual, normally working in an appropriate contracting or procurement career field, advises on all contractual matters.

(c) CONTRACTING OFFICER (KO): A person duly appointed with the authority to enter into and administer contracts on behalf of the Government. The KO is the only person who can legally commit the Government and only the KO, as the Government’s agent, can modify the contract/order. The KO is the final authority for determining the adequacy of the Contractor’s performance. KO decisions arising under or relating to the contact are final.

(d) CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR): An individual designated in writing by the KO to perform specific technical and administrative functions within the scope and limitations of their written appointment (e.g., surveillance of Contractor’s performance, accept services). The COR is not empowered to make any contractual commitments or authorize any changes to the order/contract or in any way obligate additional funds by the Government; such authority rests solely with the KO.

(e) CONTRACTOR. The Contractor, its subsidiaries and affiliates, joint ventures involving the

Contractor, or any entity with which the Contractor may have merged or any individual or entity that assisted or advised the Contractor in the preparation of a proposal under this solicitation.

(f) DFARS: Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement

(g) GOVERNMENT: USAYPG, hereinafter referred to as the Government, the KO, or the

COR as applicable.

(h) FAR: Federal Acquisition Regulations

(i) FLIGHT TEST PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGE: The flight test performance percentage is 100 times the ratio of the number of balloons meeting their performance requirements to the total number of valid flights.

(j) IAW: In Accordance With

(k) INVALID FLIGHT: For the purposes of balloon requirements and testing, an invalid flight is one where either a) the radiosonde or ground station fails prior to the balloon reaching its minimum burst height or b) the balloon struck some object in the launch process or c) the flight environment conditions are outside the requirements of this specification.

(l) MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet - OSHA Form 20 or equivalent form containing health hazard information about chemical products.

(m) OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(n) POP: Period of Performance

(o) SAF: Subject to the Availability of Funds; IAW FAR 52.232-18 – Availability of Funds, The Government’s obligation under this contract is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.

(p) VALID FLIGHT: For the purpose of balloon requirements and testing, a valid flight is one where either a) the balloon meets its performance requirements regardless of the cause of the flight termination or b) a properly launched flight is terminated by balloon burst and the flight environment conditions are within the requirements of this specification regardless of whether the balloon has met its performance requirements.

(q) USAYPG: U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground