Request For Information (RFI) For Metro - Replace 800 MHZ EDACS Radio System Project No. 31AW1201 Metropolitan Transportation Center 181 Ellicott Street Buffalo, New York 14203 Date: December 12, 2012 RFI Number: AW1201
Table of Contents NFTA Contact Information... 1 Confidentiality... 1 Abbreviation and Terminology... 1 Purpose of the RFI... 1 Introduction... 1 RFI Response Information... 3 RFI Schedule... 3 i
NFTA Contact Information Direct all inquiries to: John J. Wojcik Sr. Project Manager 181 Ellicott Street Buffalo, NY 14203 716 855-7427 Email: John_Wojcik@NFTA.com Confidentiality This is a publically advertised RFI and all information included in the RFI document or in discussions connected to it may be disclosed publicly. Abbreviation and Terminology AVL Automatic Vehicle Location CAD Computer aided Dispatch EDACS Enhanced Digital Access Communication System OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer RFI Request for Information RFP Request for Proposal RFQ Request for Qualifications Purpose of the RFI The NFTA plans to rehabilitate or replace its existing 800 MHz radio system. With this RFI the NFTA requests information regarding Transit Radio companies and their products and services. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain system capabilities, delivery lead times and other market information for planning. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. The information collected may be used to formulate requirements of a future RFP, RFQ or Bid. The NFTA prefers responses directly from OEMs or IVR Hosting Firms. A regional/local vendor may assist the OEM or hosting firm with the RFI. Introduction In 1995/1996, a 4-channel (3 voice + 1 control), Enhanced Digital Access Communication System (EDACS) radio from Ericsson/GE was purchased and commissioned for the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA) to support transit operations in the Niagara-Buffalo region. The radio system was used to provide voice and data communications for a newly acquired Harris FleetLynx Computer Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system. The radio system was configured as a trunked simulcast EDACS system, with three base stations located at Lancaster, Boston and the HSBC building in downtown Buffalo. Seven years later (2002), an additional two channels were added to the system, resulting in a total of 6 channels (5 voice + 1 control). Page 1
The primary EDACS simulcast location was the Lancaster site, where simulcast control point equipment and RF site equipment were co-located. GE MASTR III repeater stations were employed on all 6 EDACS channels along with 3 conventional FleetLynx data channels. The antenna system was comprised of a single transmit antenna associated with a 6 channel transmitter combiner (EDACS), a second transmit antenna associated with a 3 channel transmitter combiner (Data), and a single receive antenna associated with a 12-channel receiver multicoupler (EDACS and Data). The second simulcast location was the Boston base station where GE MASTR III repeaters were employed on all 6 EDACS channels and 2 conventional FleetLynx data channels. The antenna system consisted of one transmit antenna associated with a 6-channel transmitter combiner (EDACS), a second transmit antenna associated with a 2-channel transmitter combiner (Data), and one receive antenna associated with a 12-channel receiver multicoupler (EDACS and Data). The third simulcast location was the HSBC site located on the rooftop of the HSBC Center in Buffalo, NY. GE MASTR III repeater stations were employed on all 6 EDACS channels and 3 conventional FleetLynx data channels. The antenna system consists of one transmit antenna associated with a 4-channel transmitter combiner (EDACS), a second transmit antenna associated with a 2-channel transmitter combiner (EDACS), a third transmit antenna associated with a 3- channel transmitter combiner (Data), and a single receive antenna associated with a 12-channel receiver multicoupler (EDACS and Data). The backup site location was established at 181 Ellicott St. in Buffalo, NY. One GE MASTR III repeater station was employed on a single conventional channel utilizing an antenna system consisting of one transmit/receive antenna and a duplexer. NFTA s dispatch equipment was also located at the Operations Control Center (OCC), at 181 Ellicott St. in Buffalo, along with the System Manager, CEC, and other related dispatch equipment. In 2007, the next generation of revenue vehicles were outfitted with ACS CAD/AVL equipment. The data channels were then dedicated to the two systems with the Fleetlynx system operating on data channels 1 and 2, and the ACS system operating on data channel 3. Data channel 3 has since been turned off at Lancaster, but would be turned on should backup of HSBC be required. In 2009, in response to a re-banding mandate for Nextel, Harris was engaged to re-tune the radio system in accordance with NFTA s reconfiguration plan to National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) Band operation, reducing both bandwidth and frequency deviation. The NFTA has approximately 1,400 subscriber units. Page 2
RFI Response Information The NFTA requests that each respondent provide the following information. 1. Company History and General Information 2. Radio Product Lines a. Catalogue Provide a catalogue of all available radio products. b. Base Product Identify technical features that are considered standard for each product. c. Product Options - Identify parts or technical features that are considered optional for each product. d. Customizable features - Identify products that offer customizable features. e. Identify software & licensing agreements. 3. Exclusions 4. Product life cycle 5. Training 6. Warranties 7. Service requirements 8. Product Cost: Do not provide a budget or quote for this projects. The NFTA is only interested in obtaining publicly advertised published rates, GSA rates or NYS OGS contract rates. RFI Schedule Advertise RFI December 12, 2012 RFI Due Date January 4, 2013 RFI Technical Presentations Week of January 14, 2013 **Note: Although Technical Presentations are listed in the schedule the NFTA may elect not to entertain Technical Presentations. RFI responses will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. of the due date listed in the schedule above. Responses will only be accepted in the electronic format listed below: Paper responses will not be accepted. Responses shall be submitted on the NFTA Engineering website at www.nftaengineering.com. This website is primarily used to receive bids for capital projects; any reference to bid on the website will be synonymous with RFI Response. Instructions for submitting responses are available on the website. The contact person for question or issues regarding the website is John Blazier, Phone (716) 855-7649, email john_blazier@nfta.com. Responses must be in a.pdf format in files no larger than 10 MB. File names must adhere to the following naming convention: Page 3
NFTA Proj. No._company name_##_of_##.pdf For example: If the electronic responses is 15MB in size, it will have to be separated into two files each no larger than 10MB. The file name for the first file would look like the following example: 31AW1201_XYZ Consultants_01_of_02.pdf End of RFI Page 4