1-TSC RFP 26-12 Campus Data Cabling Services.pdf

SECTION 1. INQUIRIES AND INTERPRETATIONS

Responses to inquiries which directly affect an interpretation or change to this Request for

Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFP) will be issued in writing by the College as an addendum.

All such addenda issued by the College prior to the time that proposals are received shall be considered part of this RFP, and the Respondent shall be required to consider and acknowledge receipt of each addendum in its proposals. Only those inquiries the College replies to by addenda shall be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be without legal effect.

SECTION 2. POINT OF CONTACT

The College requires that Respondents restrict all questions regarding this RFP to the TSC bidding platform (Bonfire). Any formal questions and/or concerns regarding this solicitation including terms and conditions, submission requirements, technical requirements and contract award shall be made in written through the TSC e-procurement software:

https://tsc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities through the project messages and vendor discussions section.

It is Texas Southmost College’s (TSC) intent to respond to all appropriate questions and concerns; however, TSC reserves the right to decline to respond to any question or concern.

The assigned purchasing agent is:

Mrs. Monika A. Garcia

Coordinator of Purchasing

Commissary 208

80 Fort Brown

Brownsville, Texas 78520

Phone: 956-295-3425

Fax: 956-295-3408 monika.garcia@tsc.edu

SECTION 3. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Pre-proposal conference: A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the TSC Purchasing and Contract Services, Commissary Building, Room 208, Brownsville, Texas 78520. The pre-proposal conference will also be available virtually, if desired, you can join via Microsoft teams using the following access site: RFP 26-12 "Campus Data Cabling Services" Pre-proposal meeting | Meeting-Join |

Microsoft Teams

Proposal submittal deadline: College will accept proposals until Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at

2:00 p.m. local time. Proposals in print format shall be submitted to the TSC Purchasing and

Contract Services department located at Commissary Building, 80 Fort Brown; Brownsville, Texas 78520 in attention to Patricia G. Saldivar, Director of Purchasing. At 3 :00 p.m. proposals will be read aloud in Commissary 214 Conference Room of the Fort Brown Campus. The proposal opening will also be available virtually, if desired, you can join via Microsoft teams meeting using the following access: RFP 26-12 "Campus Data Cabling Services" Proposal Meeting | Meeting-Join |

Microsoft Teams https://tsc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities mailto:monika.garcia@tsc.edu https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MTY1NmI3NjEtZDQzZS00MDZkLTkwYmItNTVjMWJjMmY2NWMw%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226930cbf3-5f31-4171-8308-fd36d4a650e2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%222bea31dd-c681-4d42-8290-0788c31936a5%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MTY1NmI3NjEtZDQzZS00MDZkLTkwYmItNTVjMWJjMmY2NWMw%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226930cbf3-5f31-4171-8308-fd36d4a650e2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%222bea31dd-c681-4d42-8290-0788c31936a5%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTlhYmRhNDUtNzQ0OC00NWY1LWJiMWUtYjIyY2YyZjRiYmNj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226930cbf3-5f31-4171-8308-fd36d4a650e2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%222bea31dd-c681-4d42-8290-0788c31936a5%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTlhYmRhNDUtNzQ0OC00NWY1LWJiMWUtYjIyY2YyZjRiYmNj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226930cbf3-5f31-4171-8308-fd36d4a650e2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%222bea31dd-c681-4d42-8290-0788c31936a5%22%7d

Hand-delivered or mailed proposal(s) must be received on or before the time and date specified above to the point-of-contact identified above. College delivery hours are from

Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except during holidays and other College closures. Late submissions will be returned to the Respondent unopened.

Electronic proposal(s). TSC now uses Bonfire, an online vendor registration, e-procurement, and contract management solution as an alternate method for vendors to submit proposals electronically. This is a secured electronic bidding system approved by the Information

Technology department that will maintain the submissions sealed until the RFP opening date.

Bonfire allows vendors to register to do business with TSC, notification of solicitation opportunities, and submit proposals electronically. If you are interested in submitting a proposal electronically, please see below link that will take you directly to Bonfire so you may register and be able to view details about this solicitation https://tsc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. To assist with the online application and view submission instructions, please refer to “Submission

Instructions for Suppliers” sheet.

The College will not accept submissions delivered by telephone, email, or facsimile (fax).

Proposals properly received will not be returned to Respondents.

SECTION 4. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS

All proposals must be complete and convey all of the information requested to be considered responsive. If the proposal fails to conform to the essential requirements of this RFP, TSC alone will determine whether it is a candidate for further consideration.

Pursuant to Texas Education Code, Chapter 44, Subchapter B, and TSC board policy manual, a College shall select the Respondent that offers the best value for the College based on its published selection criteria and on its ranking evaluation. In determining the best value, the

College is not restricted to considering price alone but may consider any other factors stated in the selection criteria. All properly submitted proposals will be reviewed in consideration to the following selection criteria factors in determining to whom to award a contract.

Selection Criteria Weights

(1) The pricing and delivery date of goods and services. 15

(2) The respondent’s qualifications and experience. 15

(3) The respondent’s ability to provide goods and services. 15

(4) The respondent’s past performance on comparable projects. 15

(5) The respondent’s ability to comply with delivery schedules. 10

(6) The respondent’s service support policy and customer satisfaction. 10

(7) The impact of the ability of the College to comply with laws and rules relating to Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB).

(8) Principal place of business in the State of Texas and/or number of employees in this state.

(9) Any other relevant factor provided in response to the request contained herein. 5

(10) Ability to provide timely professional services by having corporate or branch offices within the Texas Southmost College District.

Total 100 pts https://tsc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

SECTION 5. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Please provide a response to the each of the following sections:

1. THE PRICING AND DELIVERY DATE OF GOODS AND SERVICES. Criteria One:

Pricing Form.

2. THE RESPONDENT’S QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.

• Provide a detailed description of your company, including the total number of supporting personnel related to providing the services required in this RFP.

• Provide resumes of the team that will be directly involved in the project, including their experience with similar projects. Attach a brief biography describing the experience of the person assigned to handle this account.

3. THE RESPONDENT’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE GOODS AND SERVICES.

• This evaluation criteria will take into consideration the requirements submitted in response to questions included in Section 7 (Scope of Work) of this RFP if any.

• Demonstrate company’s understanding, knowledge and experience of providing the services of the type and kind required in this RFP.

• Provide a list of any lawsuits or litigations in which the company is or was a party, for the preceding ten (10) years, and the resulting outcomes. If the company becomes a party of any lawsuit within 60 days after proposal submission, the proposer must notify TSC immediately.

• Provide a statement if the company has filed bankruptcy within the past ten (10) years.

4. THE RESPONDENT’S PAST PERFORMANCE ON COMPARABLE PROJECTS.

Identify and describe the respondent’s past performance for providing services to higher education institutions (including TSC), school districts, and/or other public entities that are most related to this project within the last ten (ten) years.

*Provide institution name/client name

*Representative name, contact information

*Location

*Project Name

*Description of services provided

*Years of service

*Project Size

If available, provide color images (photographic reproductions) of proposed good and/or services and other information such as specifications, manufacturer’s data sheet, etc.

5. THE RESPONDENT’S ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH DELIVERY SCHEDULES.

Describe and discuss your proposed approach and methodology in providing the services of the type and kind required in this RFP as well as a detailed implementation plan with projected start and end dates of completion for each task from delivery of service to TSC.

6. THE RESPONDENT’S SERVICE SUPPORT POLICY AND CUSTOMER

SATISFACTION. Describe your warranty and maintenance service support policy.

7. THE IMPACT OF THE ABILITY OF THE COLLEGE TO COMPLY WITH

LAWS AND RULES RELATING TO HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED

BUSINESSES.

Please indicate if the company is a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certified by the State of Texas. Y N .

8. PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS (CORPORATE OFFICE) IN THE STATE OF

TEXAS AND/OR NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THIS STATE. Provide number of employees in the State of Texas.

9. ANY OTHER RELEVANT FACTOR PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO THE

REQUEST CONTAINED HEREIN. Must be able to provide a 25 year Panduit Certification

PLUS warranty on all copper and fiber permanent cabling links.

10. ABILITY TO PROVIDE TIMELY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BY HAVING

CORPORATE OR BRANCH OFFICES WITHIN THE TEXAS SOUTHMOST

COLLEGE DISTRICT OR SURROUNDING VICINITIES.

REFERENCES: Reference checks are a part of TSC’s procedure for evaluation. Reference checks may be in writing or by telephone. The submission of reference information authorizes

TSC to request release of information concerning related projects from the references provided.

Provide a minimum of 3 references. The references should include institution/client’s name and representative name who served as the day-to-day liaison including telephone number and e-mail address.

SECTION 6. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION FORMAT AND INSTRUCTIONS:

Hand-delivered or mailed proposal(s)

Submittals should be on letter-size (8-1/2”x11”) paper and assembled with spiral-type bindings or staples. Pre-printed material should be referenced in the submittal and included as labeled attachments. Each part of the proposal should be separated by use of a divider sheet with an integral tab for ready reference.

All submittals should include a Table of Contents for the Proposal and page numbers for each part of the Proposal as well as any separate attachments. Supplementary information not required should be clearly identified in the Table of Contents and provided as a separate part.

Submit one (1) copy of the proposal in print format and one (1) copy of the proposal in electronic format. The electronic copy shall be submitted in a USB/Flash Drive or in a CD in the same envelope as the hard-copy (print format) original proposal.

Electronic proposal(s)

Please follow the “Submission Instructions for Suppliers” sheet to submit via the public portal.

Prepare your submission materials based on the requested information and documents. Each part of the proposal should be separated as instructed in the portal.

The maximum upload file size is 1000 MB. Please do not embed any documents within your uploaded files, as they will not be accessible or evaluated. Please note that text fields have a limit of 2000 characters. Uploading large documents may take significant time, depending on the size of the file(s) and your Internet connection speed. Prepare your responses in advance to ensure they fit within the length restrictions.

Upload your submission at: https://tsc.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/47870. It is strongly recommended that you give yourself sufficient time and at least ONE (1) day before closing time to begin the uploading process and to finalize the submission. An email confirmation receipt with a unique confirmation number will be received after you finalize the submission.

Minimum system requirements: Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or

Mozilla Firefox. JavaScript must be enabled. Browser cookies must be enabled. Please contact

Bonfire at Support@GoBonfire.com for technical questions related to your submission. You can also visit their help forum at https://bonfirehub.zendesk.com/hc

Important Proposal Submittal Documents: The following documents, at minimum, must be filled out, signed by an authorized representative, and returned as part of the proposal submittal:

1. Exhibit A – ANTI-COLLUSION CERTIFICATION

2. Exhibit B – EXECUTION OF OFFER

3. Exhibit C – CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE

4. Exhibit D – FELONY CONVICTION NOTIFICATION

5. Exhibit E – PROHIBITION OF BOYCOTTING ISRAEL FORM

6. Exhibit F- VENDOR CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH SB 253

7. Pricing Form.

8. Certification of Franchise Taxes of Account Status.

9. Certification of Authority to conduct business in the State of Texas (or other state).

10. Proof of Insurance (for services).

11. Completed Form 1295.

12. Sample of all proposed contractual documents that may result from this solicitation such as: contract, agreement, terms and conditions sheet, etc. (Not signed)

SECTION 7. SCOPE OF WORK:

TSC is accepting proposals from qualified Awarded Respondents to provide a general cabling specification for the installation of data, fiber, optic, and voice cabling infrastructure for TSC’s voice/data networks in accordance with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth in this

RFP. This RFP provides Respondents with the information necessary to prepare and submit proposals for consideration by the College.

https://tsc.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/47870 mailto:Support@GoBonfire.com https://bonfirehub.zendesk.com/hc

The Respondents are responsible to bring to the attention to the TSC project manager for resolution any instances where these documents may conflict. This specification takes precedence over previous cabling and associated infrastructure specifications.

The Respondents must demonstrate the ability to supply and provide all materials, equipment, labor and all other incidental material, tools, appliances, delivery and transportation as required to complete potential projects as described in the scope of work provided in this RFP.

Respondents must include list of tools and equipment needed to perform repairs for these kinds of industrial services.

General Requirements

Awarded Respondent shall provide a 25 year Panduit Certification PLUS warranty on all copper and fiber permanent cabling links.

This is a system performance warranty guaranteeing for 25 years from acceptance that the installed system shall support all data link protocols for which that copper Category or fiber OM designation is engineered to support according to IEEE and TIA standards.

The certification plus warranty may be applied only if the cabling channel links are comprised of Panduit connectivity and cable, or Panduit connectivity, Panduit Cable, and cables approved under certification plus warranty program.

Upon acceptance of warranty, Panduit will mail a notification letter to the installer and a notification letter and warranty certificate to Texas Southmost College.

Technologies

TSC's voice and data networks encompass a broad spectrum of technologies and are distributed to numerous campus sites throughout TSC’s service territory. Installed cables will be used for ethernet, high and low speed data applications, used in analog and digital voice, not to exclude other existing and future voice/data technologies. This specification will include indoor and outdoor cable installations, horizontal and backbone cabling, telecommunications closet and equipment cabling, equipment hardware as well as routing and support infrastructure.

Flexibility

Flexibility is required due to the dynamic nature of the voice/data communications industry.

Quantities of products and services defined in this specification are for bid pricing purposes only.

TSC may purchase all or none of the products and services stated in this specification.

Applicable Regulatory References

Responsibility of Awarded Respondent.

Knowledge and execution of applicable standards and codes is the sole responsibility of the awarded Respondent.

In cases where listed standards and codes have been updated, awarded Respondent shall adhere to the most recent revisions, including all relevant changes or addenda at the time of installation.

Anywhere cabling standards conflict with electrical or safety codes, awarded Respondent shall defer to NEC and any applicable local codes or ordinances, or default to the most stringent requirements listed by either.

Any code violations committed at the time of installation shall be remedied at the awarded

Respondent’s expense.

ANSI/TIA

ANSI/TIA-568-C.0 (September 2010) Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer

Premises.

TIA-568-C.0-1 (September 2010) Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises-

Addendum 1, Updated Reference for Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling.

ANSI/TIA-568-C.1 (February 2009) Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling

Standards.

TIA-568-C.1-2 (November 2011) Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard, Addendum 2 General Updates.

ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 (August 2009) Balance Twisted Pair Communications and Components

Standards.

ANSI/TIA-568-C.3 (June 2008) Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard.

ANSI/TIA-568-C.3-1 (December 2011) Optical Fiber Cabling Component Standard- Addendum

1, Addition of OM4 Cabled Optical Fiber and array connectors.

ANSI/TIA-568-C.4 (July 2011) Broadband Coaxial Cabling Components Standard.

ANSI/TIA-942-A (August 2012) Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers.

TIA-569-C (May 2012) Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces.

ANSI/TIA-606-B (June 2012) Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure.

TIA-607-B (September 2011) Generic Telecommunications Grounding (Earthing) and Bonding for Customer Premises.

TIA-758-A (August 2004) Customer-Owned Outside Plant Telecommunication Infrastructure

Standard.

TIA-1152 (September 2009) Requirements for Field Test Instruments and Measurements for

Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling.

ANSI/TIA-862-A (April 2011) Building Automation Systems Cabling Standard.

TIA-1005 (March 2009) Industrial Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for

Manufacturing, Process & Refining.

ANSI/TIA-1005 (March 2009) Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Industrial

Premises.

TIA-1005-1 (March 2010) Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Industrial Premises;

Addendum 1 - Industrial Pathways and Spaces.

TIA-1179 (July 2010) Healthcare Facility Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard.

ISO/IEC.

ISO 11801 - Generic Cabling for Customer Premises.

National Electric Codes

National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) (IEEE C2-2012)

National Electrical Code (NEC) (NFPA 70)

OSHA Standards and Regulations – all applicable

Local Codes and Standards – all applicable

BICSI

Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, 12th Edition.

Information Transport Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM), 6th Edition.

ANSI/BICSI 002-2011, Data Center Design and Implementation Best Practices.

ANSI/NECA/BICSI 568-2006, Standard for Installing Commercial Building.

Telecommunications Cabling

NECA/BICSI 607-2011, Standard for Telecommunications Bonding and Grounding Planning and Installation Methods for Commercial Buildings.

ANSI/BICSI 001-2009, Information Transport Systems Design Standard for K-12 Educational

Institutions.

AV Design Reference Manual, 1st Edition.

Network Design Reference Manual, 7th Edition.

Outside Plant Design Reference Manual, 5th Edition.

Wireless Design Reference Manual, 3rd Edition.

Respondent’s Qualification Requirements

Awarded Respondent shall be a current Panduit Certified Installer. A copy of corporate certificate must be included with quote.

Awarded Respondent shall have service facilities within 120 miles of project location.

At least 20 percent of the technicians on the job must have a current Panduit Certified Copper

Technicians certificate to install Panduit Copper Distribution Systems.

At least 30 percent of the technicians installing any Fiber Distribution Systems must have a current Panduit Certified Fiber Technicians certificate to install Fiber Distribution Systems.

The awarded Respondent must provide a project manager to serve as the single point of contact to manage the installation, speak for the Awarded Respondent and provide the following functions:

•Initiate and coordinate tasks with the TSC Project Manager and others as specified by the project schedule.

•Provide day to day direction and on-site supervision of awarded Respondent’s personnel.

•Ensure conformance with all contract and warranty provisions.

•Participate in weekly site project meetings.

•This individual will remain project manager for the duration of the project. The awarded

Respondent may change Project Manager only with the written approval of TSC.

The awarded Respondent shall employ at least one BICSI Registered Communication

Distribution Designer (RCDD).

References

Awarded Respondent shall provide with a list of three reference accounts where similar Data, Voice, Fiber Optic Cable, and related equipment installation work was performed within the last year or twelve month period in higher education environment.

Insurance Requirements

Awarded Respondent must be insured and shall provide with proposal a Certificate of

Indemnification, Certificate of Insurance, and meet all required insurance and licensing policies as specified by TSC’s Risk Management office and any Federal, State, and local organization pertaining to data, voice and fiber optic cable installation.

Awarded Respondent’s vehicles brought into TSC’s premises, shall comply with all requirements of all Federal, State, and local agencies. Vehicles shall meet current DOT, state and local, safety inspections where required.

Termination of Services

TSC reserves the right to terminate services if at any time the TSC determines that the awarded

Respondent is not fulfilling their responsibilities as defined within this document.

The awarded Respondent shall be restricted from the premises and compensated for the percentage of work completed satisfactorily.

General

Awarded Respondent’s appearance and work ethics shall be of a professional manner, dress shall be commensurate with work being performed.

Awarded Respondent is responsible for the removal and disposal of all installation and construction debris created in the process of the job. All work areas will be cleaned at the conclusion of the workday and no tools or materials shall be left in a manner as to pose a safety hazard.

Awarded Respondent shall abide by the regulations set by TSC’s security department pertaining to access to and conduct while on TSC’s property and shall obey speed limits and parking regulations.

Awarded Respondent shall have the responsibility to obtain any of the necessary permits, licenses, and inspections required for the performance of data, voice, and fiber optic cable installations.

System Performance Warranty

Awarded Respondent shall provide a 25 year Panduit Certification PLUS warranty on all copper and fiber permanent cabling links.

This is a system performance warranty guaranteeing for 25 years from acceptance that the installed system shall support all data link protocols for which that copper Category or fiber OM designation is engineered to support according to IEEE and TIA standards.

The Certification plus warranty may be applied only if the cabling channel links are comprised of Panduit connectivity and cable, or Panduit connectivity, Panduit Cable, and cables approved under certification plus warranty program.

Upon acceptance of warranty, Panduit will mail a notification letter to the installer and a notification letter and warranty certificate to TSC.

Warranty Commitments of Awarded Respondent

Installation firm must be a current Panduit Certified Installer (PCI) in good standing and shall include a copy of the company PCI certification with the proposal.

Awarded Respondent shall name a supervisor to serve on site as a liaison responsible to inspect and assure all terminations are compliant to factory methods taught in Panduit Technician

Certification Training and according to all Standards cited in the Regulatory References section of this RFP document.

Awarded Respondent liaison shall have a current, up-to-date Panduit Certified Technician (PCT) certificate in both copper and fiber. Copies of the copper and fiber certificates of the Panduit liaison shall be submitted with the proposal.

Awarded Respondent agrees all components comprising active links shall be of the same copper

Category or fiber OM designation as the system being installed. Awarded Respondent shall under no circumstances mix different Categories or OM classes of cable or termination devices

(connectors) within the same link or system.

Awarded Respondent shall install all racking and support structures according to cited TIA

Standards in such fashion as to maintain both Standards and Manufacturer recommendations for uniform support and protection, segregation of different cable types, maintenance of maximum pulling tensions, minimum bend radius, approved termination methods as well as adhering to industry accepted practices of good workmanship.

Awarded Respondent is responsible for understanding and submitting to Panduit all documents required prior to project start to apply for this warranty. These include but are not limited to the project information form and SCS warranty agreement.

Awarded Respondent is responsible for understanding and submitting to Panduit all documents required at project end. These include completed warranty forms, passing test reports and drawings of floor plans showing locations of links tested.

Test results shall be delivered in the tester native format (not Excel) and represent the full test report. Summaries shall not be accepted. Contact Panduit for a current list of approved testers, test leads and latest operating systems.

The awarded Respondent will correct any problems and malfunctions that are warranty-related issues without additional charge to TSC for the entire warranty period. The warranty period shall commence following the acceptance of the project by TSC and written confirmation of warranty from Panduit.

Awarded Respondent agrees all components comprising active links shall be of the same copper

Category or fiber OM designation as the system being installed. Awarded Respondent shall under no circumstances mix different Categories or OM classes of cable or termination devices

(connectors) within the same link or system.

Awarded Respondent shall install all racking and support structures according to cited TIA

Standards in such fashion as to maintain both Standards and Manufacturer recommendations for uniform support and protection, segregation of different cable types, maintenance of maximum pulling tensions, minimum bend radius, approved termination methods as well as adhering to industry accepted practices of good workmanship.

Awarded Respondent is responsible for understanding and submitting to Panduit all documents required prior to project start to apply for this warranty. These include but are not limited to the project information form and SCS warranty agreement.

Awarded Respondent is responsible for understanding and submitting to Panduit all documents required at project end. These include completed warranty forms, passing test reports and drawings of floor plans showing locations of links tested.

Safety Requirements

All cabling work being performed on Texas Southmost College property or under contract to

TSC’s Technology Department must comply with TSC Rules for safe operations, any state or local safety regulations and meet the requirements of OSHA Safety and Health Standards. The

Texas Southmost College Project Manager will maintain a copy of TSC Rules for Safe

Operations for reference.

It is the responsibility of the awarded Respondent to immediately correct any unsafe working practices on the part of awarded Respondent personnel. Unsafe working environments or conditions created by awarded Respondent personnel will be reported immediately to the Texas

Southmost College Project Manager.

Any liability for correction of conditions created by the awarded Respondent’s personnel rests with the awarded Respondent.

The awarded Respondent shall be solely and completely responsible for conditions of the job site (as pertaining to the materials and equipment specified), including safety of persons and property during performance of work.

No act, service, drawing review or construction observance by any Texas Southmost College employee, representative or engineer may be construed as a review or approval of the adequacy of the Awarded Respondent(s) safety measures, in, on, or near the construction site.

Working Conditions

Site Access

All cable installations must be pre-approved by the Texas Southmost College Project Manager to insure that the necessary arrangements have been made for proper access to Texas Southmost

College sites.

A twenty-four hour prior notice shall be submitted to the Texas Southmost College Project

Manager for any work schedule changes.

Awarded Respondent shall display badges or passes as mandated by Texas Southmost College’s

Security Department Rules and Regulations.

Scheduling

Coordination of site surveys and the issue of Texas Southmost College owned materials and equipment will be the responsibility of the Texas Southmost College Project Manager. Once said equipment and materials are in the awarded Respondent’s possession, it is the awarded

Respondent's to safeguard the material and equipment from damage or theft.

Information required by the awarded Respondent to price and complete a defined scope of work will be furnished to the awarded Respondent by the Texas Southmost College Project Manager in a Scope of Work document and at the time of the site survey (if necessary) and will be maintained by the awarded Respondent until the completion of the job.

It is the awarded Respondent’s responsibility to begin work promptly according to the start dates and to complete work by the proposed completion date listed on the cable Run Request Form.

The awarded Respondent must notify the Texas Southmost College Project Manager in writing of any delays; at that time they shall come up with a mutually agreeable project schedule.

The awarded Respondent will coordinate with the Texas Southmost College Project Manager working hours and job site access issues.

The awarded Respondent will coordinate with the Texas Southmost College Project Manager to minimize outages to the existing systems.

Any service interruption required by the awarded Respondent must be requested in writing, and scheduled with the Texas Southmost College Project Manager.

The awarded Respondent shall not proceed with the requested service interruption until written approval is granted by the Texas Southmost College Project Manager.

All problems, and questions relating to a particular job, will be referred to the Texas Southmost

College Project Manager and no changes shall be made without his/her written approval.

Harmony Clause

Awarded Respondent shall coordinate and work in harmony with other trades on the project as well as with Texas Southmost College personnel.

Material Specification

Substitution Policy

Any awarded Respondent wishing to offer structured cabling products or associated hardware other than those specified shall submit a request for product substitution in writing no less than one week in advance of proposal.

Written requests for substitution shall be accompanied by all drawings, specification sheets and engineering documents, as well as third party laboratory performance test results proving equivalency in transmission performance and mechanical function.

This written documentation shall be accompanied by three (3) each samples of the substitution product being offered for evaluation by Texas Southmost College.

Equal product acceptance must be received from Texas Southmost College in writing.

Awarded Respondent shall be responsible for and assume all costs for removal and replacement of any substituted product installed without prior written approval. Such costs shall include but not be limited to labor, materials as well as any penalties, fees or costs incurred for late completion.

Horizontal Copper Cabling

Data cabling in this specification will be Unshielded Twisted Pair (exceeds the proposed Category

6). Texas Southmost College’s wiring configuration is T568B.

In the telecom room, horizontal Category 6 shall terminate on angled modular panels populated with black Category 6 jacks. Since the panels are angled, horizontal managers are not needed.

Patching in the telecom room shall be with yellow factory-terminated Category six patch cords.

All cabling in TR shall be dressed with blue hook and loop cable ties.

Horizontal Category 6 cable shall route directly to the work area in star-wired topology with no breaks or splicing unless part of pre-planned zone strategy as indicated by project documents.

Work area Category 6 jacks shall be blue and mount in a single-gang or double-gang, off-white flush mount faceplate as specified in the project documentation. Specific plates to be used are in

Appendix A - Materials section of this document.

All data cabling shall meet or exceed the requirements described in the Regulatory References

Section of this specification.

Texas Southmost College pre-approved Category 6; four-pair UTP cable is Panduit PUP6504BU-

UY.

Fiber Optic Backbone

All fiber cable will terminate in rack mount fiber enclosure appropriately sized to the amount of cable expected to be installed when fully populated.

Intra-building Fiber Backbones.

New intra-building fiber cable links shall be comprised of plenum rated OM3, 50 micron, non-armored, indoor tight-buffered construction.

Indoor fiber backbones shall be of 12 or 24 strand construction.

All intra-building non-armored fiber cable shall be routed through inner duct or conduit for mechanical protection in route.

In links exceeding 300 meters, Awarded Respondent shall use OM4 50 micron for distances up to 500 meters.

All intra-building fiber backbones shall be of 12 strand or 24 strand count.

For addition to legacy systems, Awarded Respondent shall match the cabling installed and in no case mix different types of fiber in the same links unless explicitly called upon to do so in the project documentation.

Terminations of indoor fiber shall be OptiCam LC connectors appropriate to the fiber type.

All terminations will be contained within appropriately sized rack-mount fiber enclosures.

Inter-building Fiber Backbones.

Outdoor inter-building fiber backbones shall be armored, singlemode, indoor/outdoor loose tube cable.

All inter-building fiber shall be of 24 or 36 strand count.

Outdoor fiber backbones shall be transitioned to indoor tight-buffered cable in the entrance facility using fan-out kits.

The location of the transition to indoor, tight-buffered cable may be anywhere in building and not be confined to traditional demarcation point because of indoor/outdoor rating of cable. See project documentation for location of transition point.

Transitions to inside cable shall be made with fan-out kits and be contained within wall mount or rack mount fiber.

Singlemode terminations shall be made using singlemode OptiCam LC connectors.

Aerial Fiber Runs

An aerial cable run is defined as a cable installed and terminated to specifications in a typical aerial environment.

Aerial runs must follow the guidelines as specified by the TIA and BICSI standards listed in the

Regulatory References section of this document.

Information in cases of aerial installation will be in the project specific documentation.

Cable Pathways

Ladder rack shall be 12" or 18" Panduit Wyr-Grid in 10 foot sections in MDF, TR, and pathways of significance.

Contract is responsible for bonding to ground all metallic pathways as specified in the TIA 607-

B Standard.

Different types of cable media shall be segregated as indicated by Standards and accepted Industry

Best Practices.

Fiber optic cable in smaller bundles shall be mechanically protected at every point by routing through one of the following:

•Conduit

•Innerduct

•Panduit Fiber Runner

Fiber Runner, fiber duct shall be yellow in color and used in telecommunications rooms and equipment rooms concentrating large amounts of fiber.

Fiber Runner, where used, shall be mounted parallel to ladder rack using mounting hardware built to that purpose.

Pathways under no circumstances shall exceed a 35% fill upon installation per manufacturer’s calculations (fill tables). Awarded Respondent is responsible for confirming pathways are appropriately sized.

Cable routed through plenum areas shall be dressed and bundled with red plenum-rated cable ties.

Cables not supported by Panduit Wyr-Grid must be supported Panduit J-Pro Cable support system in an accessible pathway.

Racks and Cabinets

Typical telecommunications rooms shall mount equipment and cableplant on 19" black aluminum two post racks, 84" in height.

Each rack shall be outfitted with appropriately sized vertical cable managers with front and rear channels.

Vertical manages shall under no circumstances exceed a 35% fill upon installation per manufacturers calculations (fill tables). Awarded Respondent is responsible for confirming pathways are appropriately sized per chart below:

•On rows containing multiple racks, Awarded Respondent shall outfit the racks with inter-bay routing paths at the top, middle and bottom of the racks as depicted in the illustration below:

•Note on above illustration, outsider vertical managers on end of row racks may not need as large vertical cable managers.

•Since patch panels are angled, horizontal cable managers between patch panels are not needed.

•Large equipment rooms or secure areas requiring communications cabinets shall use cabinets designed for the type of equipment mounted: switches or servers.

For authorized cabinets see Appendix A - Materials at the end of this document.

Construction/Installation Guidelines

Pre-installation Inspection

Awarded Respondent will visually inspect all cables, cable reels, and shipping cartons to detect possible cable damage incurred during shipping and transport.

Visibly damaged goods are to be returned to the supplier and replaced at no additional cost to the

Texas Southmost College.

If post-manufacture performance data has been supplied by the manufacturer of cables or connecting hardware, copies of such data are to be kept for inclusion in the post-install/testing documentation.

All materials are to be new and unused.

General Guidelines

All work will meet or exceed the requirements of all Standards and Codes referenced in this document.

Cables will be routed to follow hallways or designated paths and placed above ceilings, under raised floors in under floor duct systems, in conduit or cable trays, in modular furniture, and in hollow wall cavities.

In most cases cable will be concealed by these architectural elements and supported according to cited TIA Standards and BICSI recommendations.

In areas where complete concealment is not possible, cables may be routed in a non-metallic surface mounted raceway with the written permission of the Texas Southmost College Project

Manager.

Cable installed in a plenum air space shall in all cases be plenum rated NEC CMP or must be installed in a sealed metallic conduit. Cable ties used in plenum spaces must also be plenum-rated.

Cables running from a common point shall be run in bundles and all cables will be secured to building steel using J-hooks. Larger bundles shall be routed on CPI ladder rack.

Cables shall be protected against damage from sharp or jagged edges and shall not be placed in a manner that would create a safety hazard.

Care must be exercised not to exceed cable manufacturer’s recommended maximum pulling tension while installing cables.

Bridged taps and splices will not be allowed as part of copper twisted pair horizontal cabling unless part of a planned zone cabling strategy. Such zone cabling will be described in the project documentation.

All Category 6 copper patch cords shall be factory terminated. Hand-pressed modular plugs are not allowed and will not be accepted.

All penetrations requiring core drilling or the alteration of the building structure will be done by approved personnel and coordinated with Texas Southmost College Facilities Department unless directed in writing by the Texas Southmost College Project Manager.

All through penetrations of cable, conduit, or materials needed to facilitate the installation of cabling shall be fire stopped in accordance with Federal, State, and local fire codes and applicable standards.

Equipment racks, cabinets, ladder racks, and other related passive equipment shall be of the type specified in the Materials Specifications Section (Appendix A) of this specification.

Rack and equipment layout and location will be supplied by the Texas Southmost College Project

Manager. No changes to equipment layout and location will be allowed without the prior written approval of the Texas Southmost College Project Manager.

Floor mounted racks shall be permanently attached to the floor using lag bolt and lag shields for masonry type floors or appropriate fastening hardware for other types of flooring as approved by

Texas Southmost College. Racks installed adjacent to each other will be fastened together using proper bolt, nut, and washer combinations.

Wall mounted racks and equipment shall be securely fastened to the wall in a manner recommended by the manufacturer utilizing the specified mounting hardware.

Ladder rack shall be fastened using the proper hanging and connecting hardware, secured in a manner consistent with recommended weight load spacing recommendations.

Patch panels, wire cable management hardware, and other related passive equipment will be attached to racks and mounting rails with at least two screws per mounting bracket and located in accordance with the Rack/Cabinet Equipment Elevation Form contained in project documentation on a per job basis.

All equipment shall be free from imperfections and defects.

All cabinets and racks shall be grounded and bonded to specification of BICSI, Telecommunications Methods Manual and ANSI/TIA 607-B Bonding and Grounding Standard.

See grounding section in this document for details.

The Awarded Respondent will ensure that all cable and equipment are properly labeled according to the Labeling section of this document.

Care must be exercised in the installation of Category 6 cabling to minimize the degradation of transmission performance.

The Awarded Respondent shall neatly dress and tie cables to eliminate cable stress caused by tension in suspended cable runs, insure that cable bundles are not over tightened with cable ties.

Category 6 cables must not go below a minimum bend radius of four times the cable diameter.

Cables shall be placed at the sufficient distance from equipment that produces high levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI’s) as recommended in Standards in Regulatory References section of this document.

Fiber links shall have a minimum of 3 meters service loop in the telecommunications rooms.

Copper horizontal links shall provide not less than 12" service loop in the work area, such slack to be stored in the ceiling or behind the faceplate so long as care is taken not to violate bend radius.

Copper horizontal links shall have 3 feet of service loop in the telecommunications rooms.

Cables shall be routed in accordance with all related specifications listed in the project-specific documentation provided for that project. Any deviation requires written permission by the Texas

Southmost College Project Manager.

Termination procedures will be in strict compliance with Category 6 related specifications listed in the STANDARDS AND REFERENCES SECTION of this specification and per manufacturers methods taught in the Panduit Certified Technician class.

Maintenance of Patch Fields

Any persons with Awarded Respondent or Texas Southmost College adding or moving copper or fiber optic patch (equipment) cords shall do so in a neat, workmanlike fashion in keeping with the original system concept and according to all industry best practices as outlined in cabling standards and applicable BICSI publications referenced previously in this document.

All copper patch cords in patch fields shall be yellow, all patch cords in the work area – orange.

Persons performing such moves, adds or changes (MACs) shall further adhere to the following:

•Awarded Respondent shall use existing cabling management pathways and take care to place cable like with like, maintaining original segregation strategies for separating fiber and copper cables as well as any separation necessary between different types of copper cables.

•Cables shall be dressed neatly within patch management pathways with care taken to maintain minimum bend radius of not less than 1 times the cord outer diameter for copper and not less than a 1" bend radius for fiber jumpers as per ANSI/TIA 568-C.0.

•All patch cords used shall be of same copper Category or fiber OM/OS designation or higher than the media used in the permanent links.

•Patching in all cases shall be done using factory terminated cords manufactured for that purpose.

Hand terminated patch cords will not be accepted.

•All patch cords or jumpers must be completely contained within supplied cable management paths. Cables draped across the front cabinets or racks will not be accepted.

•Any persons moving fiber optic patch cords for any reason will clean the connector with lint-free wipes and 99% or higher isopropyl alcohol before replacing the connector in a port.

•Any persons with Texas Southmost College or Installing Awarded Respondents performing moves, adds or changes within patch field will label additions to the system according to the labeling guidelines outlined in this document.

•Any persons with Texas Southmost College or Installing Awarded Respondents performing moves, adds or changes within patch field will record the move according to documentation guidelines outlined in this document.

Bonding and Grounding

Awarded Respondent is responsible for bonding to ground all newly placed equipment and installed racks or cabinets per the TIA 607-B Standard.

Details of bonding are as follows:

•All newly installed racks and cabinets shall have installed a vertical busbar mounted along one equipment rail to serve as a clean, low-resistance bonding place for any equipment not equipped with a designated grounding pad.

•Smaller equipment without an integrated grounding pad shall be bonded to the vertical busbar through the use of a thread-forming grounding screw that is anodized green and includes serrations under the head to cut through oxidation or paint on the equipment flange.

•Larger equipment (chassis switches) with a designated grounding terminal shall be bonded to the vertical busbar with and EBC (equipment bonding conductor) kit built to that purpose.

•Awarded Respondent shall take care to clean (wire brush, scotchbrite pads) any metallic surface to be bonded down to bare metal and apply a film of anti-oxidation paste to the surfaces prior to effecting the bond.

•All bonding lugs on racks and busbars shall be of two-hole irreversible compression type.

Mechanical lugs and single-hole lugs will not be accepted and shall be removed and replaced at

Awarded Respondent's expense.

•Every rack or cabinet shall have an individual bonding conductor into the grounding network, serially connecting (daisy-chaining) of racks is expressly forbidden and will not be accepted.

•Rack Bonding Conductors (RBC) may tap into an overhead or underfloor aisle ground, or may run to the wall-mounted grounding busbar in smaller Telecommunications rooms containing 5 racks or less.

•A minimum of every other rack or cabinet shall be outfitted with a properly installed and bonded

ESD (electro-static discharge) port along with a wrist strap and lead to be used by any technicians servicing network equipment. On four post racks and cabinets these ESC ports and straps shall be provided on front and back to be accessible and able to reach any active equipment needing servicing.

•Armored cables shall be properly bonded to the earthing system with a kit built to that purpose.

For examples of rack and cabinet grounding refer to the illustrations below:

Properly Bonded Cabinet

Properly Bonded Two-post Rack

For complete list of bonding materials see "10 Materials Lists" at the end of this document.

System Labeling

When making additions to legacy (brownfield) systems, Awarded Respondent shall adopt the circuit designation and labeling strategy of the existing systems unless instructed otherwise in project documentation.

Note in legacy systems, station and patch panel jacks are labeled in groups of 48 to match the number of ports in a typical Cisco blade. Typical designators are 1-01, 1-02, 1-03….1-48. Next group is 2-01, 2-02…..2-48, etc.

In new installations (Greenfield), Awarded Respondent shall develop and submit for approval a labeling strategy based on the TIA 606-B Circuit Designation and Labeling Standard.

This labeling scheme shall, at a minimum, clearly identify all components of the system: racks, cables, panels and outlets, grounding, pathways and spaces like telecommunications rooms.

The labeling system shall designate the cable origin and destination with a unique identifier for the cable within the system.

Racks and patch panels shall be labeled to identify the…