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Attachment J6 - 030ADV24R0043 – 06/13/2024 – pp. 6
Questions and Answers
| 1 |
| Is there a floor plan that can be made available? |
| The Library cannot provide a floor plan. |
| 2 |
| My firm would like to schedule a site survey on 6/11/2024 any time before 1000. Is there any way your team can accommodate access during that time? |
| No. As per the solicitation, the only site visit took place on 05/31/2024. |
| 3 |
| My team would like to attend this site visit but cannot do so this Friday (05/31/2024). Can we request a second site survey date? |
| No. As per the solicitation, the only site visit took place on 05/31/2024. |
| 4 |
| When are you anticipating this project to be awarded? |
| See section B of the solicitation for the period of performance start and end dates. The Library does not have an anticipated award date at this time. |
| 5 |
| When are you anticipating this project to be completed? |
| See section B of the solicitation for the period of performance start and end dates. The Library does not have an anticipated award date at this time. |
| 6 |
| There is mention in the RFP of a “KVM matrix” as well as a system that is “IP capable”. Can you clarify which solution you prefer, IP Networked devices or a standalone proprietary “Matrix”? |
| The RFP calls for a replacement of the current matrix system with a matrix system. |
| 7 |
| Should the integrator quote replacement shelf spare parts for everything that can fail and/or be swapped? Should we quote shelf spares that are listed on documents? |
| Please quote shelf spares that are listed on documents. |
| 8 |
| What is the difference between Hot Spare Units and Shelf Spare units? |
| Hot spare units are wired up and ready to be put into operation. Shelf spares are on the shelf |
| 9 |
| Who’s supplying the 65” multi-viewer displays? If the integrator is responsible for these, which displays do you prefer? |
| The 65” displays are library provided. |
| 10 |
| Are you expecting ALL new equipment to be powered off “NEW” UPS’s? Or does that only pertain to the main matrix / Core Infrastructure and all Tx / Rx units maybe powered off of existing rack PDU’s? |
| The new UPS are for the Core infrastructure only. |
| 11 |
| Will you notify integrators via email when the answers are published in SAM.gov? |
| It is the offeror’s responsibility to check the solicitation posting for amendments. All amendments will be posted on the solicitation page on SAM.gov. |
| 12 |
| I didn't see the amendment posted so I wanted to follow up here. I will be in WDC tomorrow morning so I was hoping to confirm a site visitation. Is a site visit possible for tomorrow, 6/11/2024, before 1000? |
| No. The solicitation stated that a site visit was held on May 31st. |
| 13 |
| Explain the use case scenario for “The KVM system will be capable of at least 3 multi-viewer outputs capable of displaying at least 8 configurable desktop outputs."? |
· Do you consider this request basically a static video wall or multiviewer showing dedicated KVM sources on a single 4K/60 screen?
· Are the same sources replicated across three 4K/60 screens on each of the 3 multi-viewers or is what will be displayed on each multiviewer unique and actively configurable with sources being changed frequently?
· Will the operator need to interact with any of the 8 configurable desktop outputs on any of the 3 multi-viewer 4K/60 displays with a keyboard and mouse or are these screens purely for monitoring purposes?
· Which KVM sources will be displayed on the 3 multi-viewer 4K/60 displays?
1- Yes.
2- The three (3) displays will be designed to support unique sources. The sources will be changed infrequently after initial installation.
3- For Monitoring purposes only.
4- These displays will be primarily used for the monitoring of the video encoding servers. There is no plan to monitor the 4k sources on these displays.
| 14 |
| In terms of redundancy and redundant options, what is desired and where? |
· Redundant power? On all TX and RX units? KVM switching infrastructure?
· Any redundant auto-failover data path connectivity on KVM RX and TX units?
· Any auto-failover redundancy in terms of the KVM switching infrastructure? Primary and secondary KVM switches, MLAG network infrastructure, redundant KVM management controllers?
1: KVM infrastructure only 2: Not required 3: Not required
| 15 |
| Any plans to control the switching of the KVM via an API and external media controllers or via a shared Web GUI? |
| The KVM drawing shows a PC based control platform. |
| 16 |
| Are you looking for an out of band KVM switching matrix system that relies on proprietary switching hardware which never touches a TCP/IP network for security reasons or KVM over IP using COTS network switches, or a hybrid of the two? Please state your preference and reasoning. |
| The existing network and security infrastructure will not support IP based KVM. |
| 17 |
| System Monitoring and logging -- Do you require SNMP component level KVM system health monitoring such as power status, temperature status, link connectivity status, active video and usb status etc? Do you require a System Log that time stamps all activity on the KVM by KVM TX and RX connectivity and user access? |
| This is not a requirement. |
| 18 |
| Much of the video sources seem to be Full HD or less. |
· What are native resolutions and refresh rates of all the computer sources?
· Is there a mixture of aspect ratios such as 4:3, 16:9, 21:9 etc. and if so what are they?
For HD sources we require support for resolutions up to 1900x1200 with 4:3, 16:9 with refresh rates up 60hz.
For 4K sources the requirement is 3840x2160.
| 19 |
| What are native resolutions and refresh rates of the displays? |
Is there a mixture of aspect ratios such as 4:3, 16:9, 21:9 etc. and if so what are they?
Please see the response to question 18.
| 20 |
| Do you plan to replace any older displays or KVM drawers that only have VGA as the input type and might be 4:3 in terms of aspect ratio? If so, what will you standardize on? Video Input type and Native resolution and refresh rate? |
| We will replace the KVM drawers as they age. We anticipate that after depleting our current stocks, the newer units will have HDMI or DP connectivity with HD displays they may also have a 16:9 aspect ratio. |
| 21 |
| Room to grow and future-proofing - Eventually conjoining the KVM needs of the film and audio labs to the new KVM for the video lab is a stated goal. |
· In designing the scope and scale of the Video Lab KVM system, how do you suggest we consider the need for growth?
· Do you have a percentage of growth value?
· As you know some KVM extenders often come with video transmission limits such as up to Full HD video only and cost much less than KVM units that support video at up to 4K/60 and beyond, do you intend to future proof the new investment with KVM units that support video at up to 4K/60 and beyond even though you are still mainly a Full HD facility?
The current RFP is for a replacement of the existing KVM systems only. Features that pertain to system scalability can be highlighted but not priced into the proposal.
All 4K future installation will be part of a future solicitation. This requirement is for only the work described in Section C.
| 22 |
| Do you have any or currently plan to virtualize any computer sources? |
| We have no current plans for virtualization. |
| 23 |
| Is mouse panning across multiple displays connected to multiple different KVM sources to individually control each source from a single keyboard and mouse a requirement or of any interest in your workflow? If so, how many displays per workstation and how many workstations will need this feature? |
| This is not a requirement. |
| 24 |
| Is eliminating desktop clutter, as in fewer displays and individual sets of keyboards and mice at a given workstation, of interest? Would having the ability of looping in a computer source local to the user's position in the KVM receiver so that the user could switch between KVM sources and the local computer on the same display using a single keyboard and mouse, of interest? |
| This is not a feature of the current KVM. If this feature adds additional cost, please show this in the pricing. |
| 25 |
| Is a passive video loop out from any of the KVM computer sources needed? |
| This is not a requirement. |
| 26 |
| Are you interested in having KVM users and groups with various privileges and levels of access? Do you want the KVM users to authenticate to Active Directory? |
| This is a feature of the current KVM system. |
There is no authentication to Active directory on this network.
| 27 |
| Do all of the KVM receivers need to see all of the KVM sources or will there be some segregation? Please clarify by KVM sources and workstation locations. |
While it is easy for a 4K/60 KVM receiver to see either a 4K or Full HD source, a Full HD receiver will not easily see a 4K source without downscaling. Currently you only have a few 4K sources and many Full HD displays -- will you require downscaling for the 4K sources so that they can be seen on full HD KVM workstations?
Yes, for all HD sources. Only the 4K receivers need to see the 4K sources.
| 28 |
| How much of a concern is your budget and what impact will it have on considering the features and flexibility of the KVM system? |
| Please refer to solicitation Section M. |
| 29 |
| Is there any need for the KVM to manage, transmit and share computer audio? If so, please clarify. |
| Yes, The encoders will use the audio functionality in QC workflow from the robot encoders to the operators. This is analog 2 channel audio from the workstation. |
| 30 |
| Other than standard USB keyboards and mice, is there any need for the KVM to manage and transmit any other USB devices? If so, please clarify. |
| There is no requirement for additional USB connectivity. |
| 31 |
| If conditions such as heat and distance require fibre connectivity rather than CATx for certain or a small handful of KVM devices, will that be acceptable? |
| Yes. |
| 32 |
| Please clarify – "Encoders shall also be accessible via an adjacent located KVM rackmount system at the same time as the central KVM switch." |
Would simply having a KVM receiver from the central KVM switch connected to pull-out KVM drawer suffice as it can access any KVM source/encoder as well as share video and USB access with other distributed KVM workstations also connected to the central KVM switch?
System fault tolerance requires that Encoders have a separate system to allow for local KVM in the Encoder racks. This is done currently by utilizing the VGA outputs and PS2 connectivity from the encoders. The video cards are dual output with DVI and VGA connectivity. The screens are duplicated. This is to allow for local operation of the Encoders away from the operator positions for maintenance, troubleshooting and repair.
| 33 |
| Is there a need for remote access to KVM sources from outside of the LOC? |
| This is not a requirement. |
| 34 |
| Can you provide the current rack elevation of the rack in which the KVM system is expected to reside? |
| The rack is a standard 19” 45RU Broadcast rack with 36” depth. The entire rack is dedicated for KVM system use; however, we do not anticipate using the entire rack. |
| 35 |
| For our cable length estimates, we need to know the distance from Rack 5 in RM 3110 to all the various locations listed in the proposal. Could you please confirm if the estimates are measured from these specific points? |
| This is confirmed. |
| 36 |
| Will any destination displays/KVM drawers be replaced? |
| Not in this requirement. |
| 37 |
| Do the MV output displays need to be included in the proposal? We didn’t see any 65” displays in the locations identified. |
| The 65” displays are supplied by the Library. |
| 38 |
| Can we propose independent devices that can be logically locked together for the dual-display outputs, or is there a preference for a single device with dual outputs? |
| The functionality of this device(s) is a requirement. The form-factor is up to the offeror. |
| 39 |
| Can the solicitation due date please be extended by another 7 business days? |
| The Library is working on a tight schedule. There is no time in the schedule to extend the proposal submission date. |
6/13/2024 Page 1 of 1
Library of Congress