Proposer questions are in Times New Roman plain text. Answers to proposer questions are in Times New Roman italics. General Q1. RFP Extension. Due to the large number of Buildings requiring In-Building coverage and the need to accurately test the coverage of these site we are requesting an extension to the RFP of at least 2 weeks, so the somewhere in the area of the 14th 21st of October to enable to evaluate these sites to determine if BDA s are required and give a more precise RFP response. A1. The Proposal Submission date has been extended to Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Proposals must be received by 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Q2. Can you please supply the RFP in word format so we can do the Point by Point response? A2. Yes. A Copy of the DCC RFP in Word format is available on the website at www.dccwf.org. Q3. Can we get a copy of the Proposer s Conference Sign-In Sheet? A3. Yes. A copy of the Proposer s Conference Sign-In Sheet is available on the website at www.dccwf.org. Section 2 Q4. In Section 2.9.4 Proposal, Part b) Section 2: Technical Requirements, part i. on page 23 it says Proposers must provide in this section their plans for accomplishing the Radio System Technical Requirements as specified in RFP Section 4. Can you confirm it should say Section 5 as Section 4 relates to the existing system? A4. Yes. Radio System Technical Requirements are specified in RFP Section 5. Q5. In Section 2.9.4 Proposal, Part b) on page 24 where Production COTS is mentioned, Production COTS The proposed capability is provided by a fully-functional commercial-off-the-shelf production product or component. The table must indicate the Proposer s reference (one or more of the corporate references provided in response to the Qualifications section of the RFP) at which the capability is in use. What is meant by the reference to a table above? A5. The term table was used to refer to a compliance matrix or table intended to indicate the Proposer s Compliance status and Availability status for each technical requirement. A table is NOT required however. Proposers are to provide a written response under each requirement indicating both Compliance status and Availability status. Page 1 of 10
Q6. Section 2.9.5(f) Section 5: Corporate Data - Requires that proposer provide "current tax documents evidencing legal status and federal tax identification number." Please clarify what documents are necessary to satisfy this requirement. Also, what document is required as evidence of bonding or application for bonding? A6. Proposers may submit a FTIN W9 and copies of their incorporation papers as evidence of their legal status and federal tax identification number. For evidence of bonding or application for bonding, the DCC is looking for a letter of obligation or a bonding insurance form or similar evidence that the Proposer has obtained or is in the process of obtaining bonding. Section 4 Q7. Section 4.1(a): The RFP says the Communications room for the prime site is located at the Taylor Police Department located on 23515 Goddard Road. On page 135 of the RFP it details the Microwave Network which goes to the Taylor PD Tower at 23515 Goddard but the microwave does not go to the Taylor Radio Site Tower at 25360 Ecorse Road. Is there any plan to have microwave at the Taylor Radio Site Tower or will the only connectivity to this location be the Comcast fiber optic ATM? In fact the Taylor PD DMA Network Logical diagram on page 138 of the RFP does not show any connection to the Taylor PD Tower Site, unless it is called something different? A7. The microwave diagram included on page 135 is hereby replaced by the following diagram: See www.dccwf.org website for the updated tower diagram. Q8x. Can you detail what the Comcast fibre optic ATM modules are at each site, make model, current number and type of connections (e.g. Ethernet), are there any Bandwidth limitations? A8. The only ATM interface that connects directly to the Motorola 800 Megahertz equipment is through a NMCE-6/DS1A module which provides Circuit Emulation of the T1s provided by Motorola. There are six ports on each module, uses B8ZS/ESF Line Encoding/Framing with an Unstructured Service Framing allowing full bandwidth of 1.544Mb clear channel service per DESDS1 port. Connectors used RJ-48c UTP with a Maximum Line length of 655ft. Q9. What is the plan for the future Microwave Network to be up and running (dates)? A9. For the purposes of this RFP, Proposers shall assume that the future Microwave Network will NOT be up and running prior to installation and testing of the new trunked radio system. Q10. What is the proposed plan for Installation of the P25 Network, have any dates been planned for expected installation and final acceptance testing? We need to know so we can determine Page 2 of 10
connectivity and what Switch and Routers types we offer as there are big differences between the Microwave and Fibre models and we want to make sure we quote the right types. A10. For the purposes of this RFP, Proposers shall assume that the future Microwave Network will NOT be up and running prior to installation and testing of the new trunked radio system. Q11. Section 4.1.d. DMA has a conventional 800 MHz channel at each site. Will this equipment need to be replaced? A11. No. The conventional repeaters at each site shall remain in place and are not part of the trunked radio system RFP. Q12. Section 4.1.1.a: In reference to the grandfathered provision, is it correct to assume that the current antennas and feedline may be changed with a new equivalent version so as long as it does not increase the wind or tower loading? Or, are Proposer restricted to using the existing feedline and antennas? A12. The DCC believes that the grandfathered provision will be met as long as the effective wind and weight loading on the tower is not increased. Existing antennas and line do not need to be reused. Q13. Section 4.1.2.c: Currently several of the other PSAP's utilize Alarms, Door Controls, Jail Cell Phone control, and Conventional radios for their daily operations. Their current CentraCom can only support these functions at the Taylor PSAP where the CEB is located. Does DCC wish to see a console configuration whereas the other PSAP's can integrate local I/O's, Alarm Indications, Conventional channels, or other Command & Control functions into the radio console system? A13. Additional capabilities at other PSAP s are not a requirement of this RFP, though vendors are free to detail optional capabilities and associated cost. Q14. Section 4.1.6.b: What are the new freqs assigned by Rebanding for the conventional channels and will TX combiners for the P25 system need to support them? A14. The conventional channels after rebanding will be as follows: Riverview Tower Site (20863 Grange Road): Taylor PD Site (23555 Goddard Road): Ecorse Tower Site (71 Cicotte Street): Flat Rock Tower Site (26848 Will Carlton): 851.6250 MHz 852.5000 MHz 851.8250 MHz 851.6000 MHz Those channels WILL need to be included in the combiner plan with the other channels at each site. Page 3 of 10
Q15. Section 4.1.6.b: Are the current conventional channels operating strictly as a 'conventional fail safe' backup or do they provide for any Interoperability needs, i.e. 'patched to a talkgroup' via a system InterOp Lock or a Console Operator Patch? A15. The conventional channels are simply used as conventional failsafe backup, and are not presently patched to any other channels or talkgroups. Q16. Section 4.2.a: Please clarify if DCC would like the Proposer to include pricing for remote alarm and monitoring services for the P25 radio system? A16. Remote alarm and monitoring services are not required as part of this RFP, but Proposers are encouraged to describe and price any additional monitoring capabilities they feel may be of interest or benefit to the DCC. Q17. Section 4.5.b: Has DCC considered performing the rebanding at the time of the migration to the new P25 system as there may be a significant cost savings to DCC? A17. For the purposes of their proposals, vendors shall assume that Rebanding of the DCC system will be complete at the time of contract award. Q18. Section 4.5.b: Has DCC already engaged support for the rebanding effort with a Technical Entity or Consultant? A18. The rebanding effort is outside the scope of this RFP. Q19. Section 4.5.b: Has the Technical Entity or Consultant performed any Intermod studies with the new Trunking frequencies, Conventional channels, and any other frequencies currently utilized at the tower sites? A19. The rebanding effort is outside the scope of this RFP. Any intermodulation studies being performed as part of the Rebanding effort are not presently available as part of the trunked radio system RFP process. Q20. Section 4.5.b: Has the Technical Entity or Consultant performed any interference studies with those new frequencies to ensure operation by co channel / adjacent channel users will not affect performance? Page 4 of 10
A20. The rebanding effort is outside the scope of this RFP. Any interference studies being performed as part of the Rebanding effort are not presently available as part of the trunked radio system RFP process. Q21. How many Talkgroups need to be accessed by the Consoles? A21. Consoles must be capable of controlling a minimum of twelve talkgroups per dispatch screen, with a minimum of six pre-programmed screen configurations per console position. Each console must be capable of accessing or monitoring a minimum of 72 different talkgroups across those 6 screens. Section 5 Q22. Section 5.1 (d), - Technical Requirement: Please clarify the definition for DAQ 3.4. References from TSB-88.1-C allows for some repetition under DAQ Delivered Audio Quality 3.4. i.e., speech understandable with repetition only rarely required, with some noise/distortion. A22. Per TSB-88.1-C, dated February 2008, DAQ 3.4 shall be defined as Speech understandable with repetition only rarely needed. Some Noise/Distortion. For the purposes of this RFP, the important distinction is that while the DCC recognizes that some noise and/or distortion may be present, the message content should still be understandable, and retransmissions to get the message across shall not be needed and shall not be a part of the coverage acceptance test as they might be if occasional repetition were required. (Compare to DAQ 4.0: Speech easily understood and DAQ 3.0: Speech understandable with slight effort. Occasional repetition necessary due to Noise/Distortion. ) Q23. Certain definitions of DAQ 3.4 are stated as "Speech understandable with repetition only rarely required, and with some noise and/or distortion". Will DCC accept this definition in lieu of "Speech understandable without repetition, but with some noise or distortion present"? A23. Per TSB-88.1-C, dated February 2008, DAQ 3.4 shall be defined as Speech understandable with repetition only rarely needed. Some Noise/Distortion. For the purposes of this RFP, the important distinction is that while the DCC recognizes that some noise and/or distortion may be present, the message content should still be understandable, and retransmissions to get the message across shall not be needed and shall not be a part of the coverage acceptance test as they might be if occasional repetition were required. (Compare to DAQ 4.0: Speech easily understood and DAQ 3.0: Speech understandable with slight effort. Occasional repetition necessary due to Noise/Distortion. ) Q24. To provide a Coverage Guarantee for inside building coverage of the 98 buildings listed we may have to conduct measurements inside the buildings, will DCC be able to arrange for access into these building to conduct the testing to make sure we meet the RFP requirements? A24. Yes. The DCC will do its best to help coordinate access to these buildings. Page 5 of 10
Q25. In regards to the ISSI Section 5.4 Point 7 says Note: If the system is not initially compliant with the above ISSI standards, the proposer shall detail all costs and technical impact of upgrading the system to compliance. Then is 5.5.14 General Interoperability Requirements is details the specifications of the ISSI. Does this mean that Downriver CC will Accept the Radio System without the ISSI working initially and then at a later date we can upgrade the system to include the ISSI to the 4 other agencies? A25. Yes, however a firm cost to accomplish the ISSI connections must be included in the Proposal and shall be part of the Contract. Q26. Can DCC confirm that the Proposer has the option to bid either the: 1. Entire RFP, or 2. Infrastructure Only, or 3. Radio Subscribers Only? A26. Yes. Proposers may submit proposals for the Entire System, Infrastructure Only, or Radio Subscribers Only. If the Proposer proposes Infrastructure Only, then the Proposer must also provide 5 high tier portable radios for acceptance testing purposes. If the Proposer proposes Radio Subscribers Only, then the Proposer must include offerings for all tiers and types of radios called for in the RFP. (Not just low tier mobiles and portables, for example.) Q27. Section 5.5.11.a: In reference to the five interconnection to the public switched telephone network, is it correct to assume that the system should support 5 simultaneous calls utilizing up to 1/3 of the total talkpaths available on the system? A27. The system shall be equipped to support 5 simultaneous telephone interconnect calls. The DCC shall decide whether to restrict the number of calls allowed at any given time. 5.5.11.b, 5.5.11.c, and 5.5.11.d are intended to give DCC personnel control over the availability of that feature. Q28. Section 5.5.11.a: Does DCC plan on using POTS circuits, T1, or PRI? A28. For the purposes of this proposal, Proposers should assume an interface to POTS lines. Q29. Section 5.5.11.a: Will DCC require the capability for an interface to record Interconnect Calls or will the responsibility for an interface reside solely on the Logging Recorder vendor? If DCC currently has a Logging Recorder that they desire to utilize, will the interface be Analog, Digital, or IP? A29. The DCC does not currently use telephone interconnect, and therefore does not currently record any telephone interconnect calls. In the event that the DCC elects to purchase the telephone interconnect option, the DCC intends to record the telephone interconnect calls on the Wyandotte PD s DSS logging recorder, using analog audio inputs. Page 6 of 10
Q30. Section 5.5.11.b: Where DCC has referenced 'Dispatcher', does this mean that a Telephone Interconnect Option via the console subsystem would be acceptable? A30. No. Section 5.5.11.b simply means that the duration of the call must be controller by either the administrator, or a dispatcher, or both. Console patches to the phone system do not meet the intent of the Telephone Interconnect System described in Section 5.5.11. However, Proposers are welcome to describe additional alternative means to provide telephone system access, including console patches. Q31. Section 5.5.14: Can you please provide the WACN and System ID assigned to the Wayne County trunked radio system? A31. Wayne County s WACN and System ID will be provide to the selected Proposer at the time of contract award. Q32. Section 5.9, General Radio Requirements: Several references are made stating subscribers must be upgradable to P25 Phase II operation. Please define how the upgrade is to be achieved, i.e. software only, software and hardware etc. Are proposers required to include costs including material and labor to upgrade subscribers to P25 Phase II operation? A32. Proposers must describe the method by which their radios can and will be upgraded to P25 Phase II operation. Proposers must define whether their radios can be updated via software updates only, or whether they require some hardware replacement. Proposers must include per unit costs to upgrade their proposed radios, including hardware, software, and labor costs. Q33. Section 5.11.1, xiv.1: The specification for the portable radio antennas is a rubber coated flexible antenna that shall not exceed five (5) inches in length. The current system was designed using a dipole antenna on portables (approx 71/2 ) to maximize coverage. A ¼ wave antenna will significantly degrade coverage. In order to keep coverage performance consistent from current system to new system, will an antenna longer than 5 be allowed? A33. Coverage testing shall be performed with portable radios using the same antennas that officers use their day to day operations. Antennas longer than 5 will not be allowed for coverage testing. Q34. Section 5.14 -Dispatch Console Requirements: Table 5.14-1 PSAP Console Locations and Number of Consoles at Each PSAP identifies 1 console for the Wyandotte Police Department. However, during the site visit it was observed that there were 3 dispatch consoles in operation at Wyandotte. Also, the table identifies 4 consoles at the Taylor Police Department. Please confirm / clarify quantity of consoles required at these locations. A34. The three dispatch consoles currently in operation at Wyandotte PD include: Wyandotte, Lincoln Park, and Southgate. There is only 1 full dispatch console at the Taylor PD. Q35. Section 5.14.a: Does DCC require the ability for 'Roaming Profiles' so that a user from any PSAP can travel to another PSAP and load up their 'Profile'? Page 7 of 10
A35. Proposers should describe their ability to allow users to move to another dispatch center location and to either log onto pre-stored dispatch configuration screens stored at that location or to load or access their own portable dispatch configuration profile. Q36. Section 5.14.5 Provision for Recording: The proposer shall interface new 800 MHz radio system to the existing logging recorders at each PSAP. The manufacturer and model number of the logging recorders are shown in Table 5.14-1. What is meant by this is the Recorder only used to record the audio in and out of the consoles at these 16 locations or is it to record calls not through the console? These being only Analog Recorders they will not have direct CSSI into the Network, what calls are intended to be recorded by these recorders? Every call on the Network including Individual Calls or just certain Talkgroups or console positions? A36. Each logging recorder presently records the audio from five talkgroups used by that agency directly from the radio system switch. The logging recorders do not presently record console select or unselect audio. Q37. Section 5.14.7.a: Is the bidder required to interface new console systems with existing 911 equipment to allow the dispatcher to utilize a single headset for both Radio and Phone? A37. Yes. Q38. Section 5.14.9.b: In the instance where two or more Talkgroups on the DCC P25 system are patched together, does DCC wish the Patch to be handled thru the console utilizing two or more talkpaths or a Dynamic Regroup\System\SAID based Patch where only one talkpath is used? A38. The DCC greatly prefers process whereby the patched audio uses a single RF channel. Patched audio must be heard by users (including radios, consoles, and logging recorders) that have selected or are monitoring any single talkgroup that is a member of the patch. Q39. Section 5.15.1.c: Are we to assume that the 72 inch antenna spacing restrictions in addition to any other specifications delineated in this section do not apply to the Taylor Tower should such specifications increase the tower loading? A39. Yes. The 72 inch antenna spacing requirement shall be waived at the Taylor tower if such spacing will increase the wind or weight loading on that tower. Q40. Section 5.16 Recommended Site Interconnection Network/System: a. What is the status of the future link microwave paths? Page 8 of 10
b. What date can the proposer assume the paths are in full operation? c. Who is the vendor for the microwave? d. What is the capacity of the paths? e. What is the available bandwidth allowed for use for the proposed system? f. Should the proposer include microwave connectivity to the tower sites in our proposal? A40. For the purposes of this RFP, Proposers shall assume that the future Microwave Network will NOT be up and running prior to installation and testing of the new trunked radio system. Proposed system designs should be based upon the current system connectivity configuration. Section 7 Q41. Section 7.7 - Technical Support for Ongoing Operations and System Expansion & Pg 28, iv., Maintenance Cost Detail: Please provide detail on services required during the post warranty period (years 2 11). What are the requirements for items such as response, software updates, scheduled preventative maintenance visits and other requirements for the maintenance plan? A41. The requirements for maintenance support are the same as for the initial warranty period. Ongoing maintenance and support should be viewed and priced as an extension of the initial warranty period. Section 8 Q42. Section 8.1 Training Requirements: Under 8.1, d., ii. System Technician training details requirements for this audience. Table 8.3-1 does not include System Technicians. Please clarify the requirement and who the audience will be. A42. The requirement for System Technician Training is hereby removed. Appendix A Q43. Appendix A Must Cover buildings for Radio Coverage: Are coordinates available for all referenced buildings? Can a list be provided for All Schools in Trenton? A43. Addresses for the Trenton Public Schools facilities can be found at: http://www.trenton.k12.mi.us/index.aspx?item=161&school=1 Additional Information On page #128 of 144 of the RFP, Brownstown Business Center Buildings N&S is listed. Only one address is listed, but it involves 10 buildings. Brownstown Business Center-North involves 5 buildings and has address ranges of 20495-20501 Pennsylvania & 17800-18650 Dix-Toledo, and Brownstown Business Page 9 of 10
Center-South involves another 5 buildings with address range of 19661-20001 Brownstown Center Drive. Page 10 of 10