Q and A 09.03.2024.pdf

Questions and Answers

EMCS Upgrade – FA4626-24-Q-0050

Malmstrom, AFB, MT

Question: Going through the CLIN 0001 Breakdown we had some concerns on the Software Maintenance portion. The list appears to be slightly outdated as there are some software maintenance licenses that have recently expired or will potentially be expired by the time contracts are written.

Answer: Upgrading the SMA will facilitate the upgrade of the JACE to N4—both will need to be done if they expire before the contract goes into effect.

Question: PWS 1.1 describes connecting the JACE controllers to an existing N4 Web Supervisor. Do we need to include any licenses for the existing N4 Web Supervisor?

Answer: The N4 Supervisor is already installed and operational (Licensed). It will need to be configured with graphics, trends, histories, ect. It should mirror the existing v3.8 Supervisor that is operational.

Question: PWS 1.3 describes replacing 28 JACEs and upgrading 38 JACE controllers (total of 64) . Attachment 3 only lists 26 controllers that are to be replace but shows all 64 devices. Which are the 2 devices that are to be replaced?

Answer: This is a miscount. There are 26 to be replaced.

Question: Are there any specialty drivers required for the JACEs to be upgraded from AX to N4?

Answer: Some Jaces have LonWorks trunks for VFD’s. One is running a ASIC interface.

Question: Attachment 3 lists the quantity of devices for each JACE. Is it possible to know how many RS-485 links each JACE has? Specifically for the ones to be replaced.

Answer: The majority of the JACEs are connected to the building controllers via Cat5 cables and a switch. A few have a 485 trunk for specialty purposes. The Device count for each Jace is in column 2 of the spreadsheet.

Question: Will remote access to the existing N4 Web Supervisor be granted to the successful contractor?

Answer: There is no remote access.

Question: Will backups of the existing AX JACE controller stations be provided to the successful contractor?

Answer: Backups are being made on the existing AX Supervisor and can be accessed if needed.

Question: What version of Niagara is the existing supervisor running currently? Is this supervisor also needing to be upgraded to 4.13?

Answer: The existing Supervisor is running AX v3.8. This will need to be upgraded to 4.13

Question: What data is expected in the graphics? What histories/trends are to be collected and at what intervals? Are their proposed alarm requirements?

Answer: Histories, Trends and Meter data should mirror existing Supervisor. Roughly 30 days’ worth on the JACE and nightly data is uploaded to the Supervisor and stored on the rack. The graphics should also mirror closely what is already on the supervisor. Base layout page, jump page to access different buildings, specialty pages for Alarms, Heating/Cooling systems, Force Protection shutdown, Schedules, and so forth. Any alarms in the JACEs are required to be brought up to the N4 supervisor and show up in the alarm portal.

Question: Are any of the existing JACEs using proprietary modules/software?

Answer: There are a handful of JACEs running Lonworks trunks and one that has a ASIC interface.

Question: Tridium publishes updates to the Niagara system on their own cadence. It is not unusual to go >3 months between any patches/new versions are released. Further, is this requirement specifically for security patches to 4.13/the chosen version installed only or for any future release/update of N4 going forward (4.13->4.14->4.15->etc)? What determines the end of this support period?

Answer: It is recommended patches only be installed if the current installed version is unstable or has security concerns. They should be available to us but not necessarily installed.