USNO requires continued storage in a secure, climate-controlled storage facility in a dry environment for two remaining crated, 1.8 m aperture telescopes weighing approximately 30,000 pounds apiece and their ancillary equipment.

The telescopes have been maintained in storage at Horizon Moving and Logistics in Tucson, AZ since  in 2010. The telescopes are deemed delicate with optical-mechanical components as well as sensitive electronics. Given the large size and weight of the crates (with packing material, roughly 70,000 pounds in total), moving the telescopes to another secure storage facility even within the city limits of Tucson, AZ would constitute an unacceptable risk to the safety of the telescopes as well as an unnecessary expense to the government. Replacement costs for one of the telescopes would readily exceed $5M USD. Given these risks, movement of the telescope components should only occur when needed for final deployment.

The purchase order will have a twelve month firm fixed-price period of performance with up to two twelve-month optional periods associated with this requirement.