Bid Questions and Answers.docx

Bid question and answers for LB-2735

1. This is an earnest bid proposal or has the school already received a bid and just needs 3 bids to compare to? I ask because I have bid on school proposals in the past where the school had essentially already chosen a winner but had to have 3 quotes to meet a qualification before officially awarding a bid. I don’t want to waste my time if my proposal will not be given serious consideration

There has not been any decision on the robots to be purchased. This is not a simplified bid process (three quotes required). This is a sealed bid process and subject to the State of Wisconsin procurement policies PRO-301 and PRO-304 for competitive purchases.

1. Can the robot be a collaborative robot?

In order to maximize student learning opportunities and meet industry workforce needs, all the robots cannot be collaborative robots.

1. Will robot brand be a deciding factor?

Brand is a factor only such that student learning opportunities need to be industry relevant. In addition, as stated elsewhere, “This is a sealed bid process and subject to the State of Wisconsin procurement policies PRO-301 and PRO-304 for competitive purchases”

1. What are required capabilities of the online learning management system?

The major robot manufactures have online learning platforms. Upon completion, each student should have the necessary skills to understand robot movement and fault recovery, how to work safely in and around the robot cell, teach jobs and modify points, and be able to program typical gripper operation instructions. Primary topics to include: Programming Pendant Hardware, Programming Pendant Screen, Setting Up a Tool, Jogging Coordinates & Axis Keys, Alarms & Errors Recovery, Second Home - Specified Point, Creating New Job and Job Selection, Path Creation, Position/Path Confirmation & Playback, Job Editing, Non-Motion Commands, Programming I/O Instructions for Tool Operation, Monitoring & Operating Universal Inputs/Outputs, Control Instructions, Arithmetic Variables & Instructions, Conditional Constructs. The eLearn course is to be self-paced learning tool that allows users to access information and move through the learning material. The course content and structure is based on an assessment of concepts and skills taught at an reputable certified and major industry accepted robot training facility. Must have self-assessment through progress check and mastery challenge testing. Examples of online learning platforms from the three major robot manufacturers:

1. From Fanuc: https://www.fanucamerica.com/fanuc-america-product-support/fanuc-product-training/robodrill-robotics-training/elearn-fanuc-robot-training

2. From ABB: https://new.abb.com/service/training/abb-university/united-states/robotics

3. From Motorman: https://www.motoman.com/en-us/service-training/academy/training/online/intro-to-robotics

4. Is there a particular number of robot carts that we should quote based upon, or are we just quoting based on qty=1? This affects if we are able to “bundle” everything together and then dived the total cost by the total number of carts, or if we need to itemize certain items with their own individual pricing aside from the main robot cell package.

“…together and then dived the total cost…”. “dived” being divided, the quantities are not determined, factors affecting the determination include certain budget considerations. However, the bid calls for complete carts/cells, not itemized items.

1. How many “learning management system” bundles would you like per robot cell? One is needed for every student in order for them to be certified upon course completion.

Each student would be eligible to be certified upon course completion. The estimate (when the robots cells & course is to be implemented, Spring 2021) is forty students.

1. How many “3d software simulation” seats would you like included per robot cell? Ours come in a pack of 20 so we might need to quote this as a separate line item vs the main robot cell package.

The bid calls for complete carts/cells, not itemized items/separate line items (i.e., Must include software seats for 3D simulation of a fully functional production environment) We estimate forty students per year, and the robots cells & course is to be implemented Spring 2021.