Amendment 4 Q and A.pdf

Q.1. The NXDN protocol is propriety to Kenwood/ICOM. Will the VA remove this requirement, as it limits fair competition?

A.1. Yes, the NXDN protocol has been removed see revised attachment A.

Q.2. Does the VA accept that NXDN protocol is not approved for public safety use by any national organization?

A.2. The NXDN protocol has been removed see revised attachment A.

Q.3. Nexlog is propriety to Eventide Communications. Will the VA remove this requirement, as it limits fair competition?

A.3. Nexlog has been removed see revised attachment A.

Q.4. What are the specific run time requirements of the UPS'?

A.4. The requirement is 2-4 hours of battery backup.

Q.5. The VA has invested heavily over the years in a P25 protocol series radio. They have roughly purchased over a million dollars in various Motorola APX6000, APX7000 and APX8000 P25 portable devices. In the "Salient Characteristics Police Dispatch Center 36C24921Q0192" document, it is a requirement that the base stations has a non P25 NXDN protocol, which could imply the VA is moving over to a NXDN protocol system. Is the VA aware that Motorola's APX6000, APX7000 and APX8000 P25 portable devices are not compatible with the NXDN protocol and as such would not pass radio identification nor would pass emergency alarms?

A.5. The NXDN protocol has been removed see revised attachment A.

Q.6. It is a requirement to establish radio communications between VA PD and state/local law enforcement and emergency management entities through TACN. TACN is a P25 system. The control station radio used to interoperate with TACN, as described in the "Salient Characteristics Police Dispatch

Center 36C24921Q0192" document, uses the NXDN protocol. Is the VA aware, the NXDN protocol is incompatible with P25 and will not operate on TACN?

A.6. The NXDN protocol has been removed see revised attachment A.

Q.7. "Repeaters at all 4 campuses to ensure optimal communications with no deadspace." How many repeaters at each facility and what are the repeater locations?

A.7. We have one repeater at Nashville (Bldg. 1 Comm Closet) and Murfreesboro (Bldg. 1). Chattanooga and Clarksville have one each in their comm closet.

Q.8. "Repeaters at all 4 campuses to ensure optimal communications with no deadspace." Should the contractor confirm that more repeaters are required, does the VA have federally and NTIA approved spectrum from the VA Spectrum Management Office to operate? Who's responsibility is it to acquire new frequencies?

A.8. No.

Q.9. "Repeaters at all 4 campuses to ensure optimal communications with no deadspace." Please note that "no deadspace" is effectively requiring vendors to provide a 100% coverage guarantee for an undefined service area, which no vendor would be able to commit to. In-building solutions can enhance dead-spots within a building, but these could be prohibitively expensive depending on the coverage gaps. Are there floor plans available with identified dead spots to determine proper coverage requirements? Alternately, if VA is satisfied with their coverage today at all locations, please consider revising the requirement to have vendors provide comparable coverage to what exists today.

A.9. See revised SOW.

Q.10. Referencing the "911 Call Taking Equipment": Does the government require the proposed system to interface directly with TVHS Central Office Private Branch Exchange (PBX) eliminating the need for a new PBX or Local Session Controller (LSC)?

A.10. No

Q.11. Referencing the "911 Call Taking Equipment": In addition to the Nextlog recorder, does the government require each call taker position to automatically record calls at the console level to instantly replay conversations? This capability is above and beyond the system-wide archiving, digital logging recording capability.

A.10. No.

Q.12. Referencing the "911 Call Taking Equipment": Does the government require the call taker core to be fully and inherently redundant with an automatic failover function?

A.12. Yes.

Q.13. Referencing the "911 Call Taking Equipment": Should the vendor proposed solution be JITC certified?

A.13. Yes.

Q.14. Repeater frequencies were provided for VA Memphis and VA Mountain Home as well as the TVHS.

Is there a requirement to integrate them all together?

A.14. No.

Q.15. Reference "A.3.c. We have a repeater at all campuses; we don’t have the information on the over the air protocol." Please confirm that vendors are to propose new repeaters at all four campus locations, including antenna and line. If so, please also provide information about antenna heights, equipment locations, line length so vendors can quote an accurate design.

A.15. Information to be verified by the vendor.

Q.16. Reference "A.4. We operate Motorola 6000, 7000 AND 8000 portables, all of which have the emergency button feature." These subscribers are capable of operating in P25 digital conventional.

Please confirm that the required 4 repeaters and 4 VA control stations are required to operate in P25 digital mode, or if not, please confirm in what mode the system will operate.

A.16. P24 Digital.

Q.17. The Dispatch furniture has a requirement to include "heating." Could the government define what part of the furniture needs to be heated and elaborate on this requirement?

A.17. Heating not required.

Q.18. A Five (5) year warranty is requested for the "911 Call Taking Equipment." Should extended warranty pricing be added to Item Number 0001? Should the vendor list warranty pricing as a sub item?

A.18. Yes, the vendor shall provide sub line pricing for the warranty requirement if necessary.

Q.19. A Five (5) year warranty is requested for the "Radio Dispatch Console Equipment." Should extended warranty pricing be added to Item Number 0002? Should the vendor list warranty pricing as a sub item?

A.19. Yes, the vendor shall provide sub line pricing for the warranty requirement if necessary.

Q.20. A lifetime warranty is requested for the "Dispatch Room ...structural components" and a five (5) year warranty on all electrical. Should extended warranty pricing be added to Item Number 0004?

Should the vendor list warranty pricing as a sub item?

A.20. Yes, the vendor shall provide sub line pricing for the warranty requirement if necessary.

Q.21. A Five (5) year warranty and a software update subscription is requested for the "Logging

Recorder." Should extended warranty and the software upgrade subscription pricing be added to Item

Number 0005? Should the vendor list warranty and subscription pricing as a sub item?

A.21. Yes, the vendor shall provide sub line pricing for the warranty requirement if necessary.

Q.22. The following question was asked in Q&A #1: "What warranty is desired for the desks?" The government's response was, "Minimum 3-year warranty on desks (consoles)." Could the government first clarify if the 3-year minimum warranty was related to the "Radio Dispatch Console Equipment" or the Dispatch room furniture? Additionally, could the government clarify the warranty required on both the "Radio Dispatch Console Equipment" and the Dispatch room furniture since the government's answer to the question seems to be in conflict with the warranty requirements on Attachment A? If warranty requirements have changed, could the government release an updated solicitation, detailing the changes?

A.22. Minimum 3-year warranty on desks (consoles) is required.

Q.23. In a response to a question regarding dispatch furniture, the government said the following, "No-static carpet (interlocking square type) for flooring." However, the government does not specify flooring as a requirement in either the SOW or Attachment A. Is flooring a requirement for the updated dispatch center? Other than dispatch furniture, are there any other room development requirements? If there are additional requirements, could the government release an updated SOW detailing such requirements?

A.23. There is no requirement for flooring in this procurement.

Q.24. Is training required on any of the new equipment being provided by the vendor? If so, what type of training is required (ex. in person or online)? How many users need to be trained? Which equipment should users be trained on?

A.24. Training for 11 dispatchers will be needed on all software/hardware. Initial training needs to be in person. Training will need to include radio software/hardware, recording equipment.

Q.25. Does the customer need a total of 3 workstations, with 1 each Call Taking and 1 each Radio

Dispatch?

A.25. Yes, full redundancy with the ability for each operator to have the same function and control as one another. Each operator should have a call taking center and a radio dispatch center at their workstation. A total of 3 Call Taking Centers and 3 Radio Dispatch consoles should be provided and installed.

Q.26. How many phone lines and what is the protocol?

A.26. 2 cisco lines for 911 and 2 cisco phones for non-911. Total of 8-10 lines capability, all IP.

Q.27. How many radio channels on each console?

A.27. 4 radio channels.

Q.28. Do all 4 repeaters need to be replaced? With ancillary components (cabling and antenna)?

A.28. Yes – all 4 repeaters should be replaced, and new components installed to ensure they’re all the same age perform the same.

Q.29. Do you have a rack available for the equipment?

A.29. No, vendor should provide the equipment rack.

Q.30. What is the expectation for installation and integration for the new system?

A.30. With the potential of extended lead times the vendor shall provide lead times in their quote. The expected time of completion is 5 months from time of award to completion.