Michigan Automated Weather Observation System.Q.A..pdf

Michigan Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) Network Upgrade Request for Proposal No. 230000002566

Questions and Answers

1. Schedule A - Statement of Work Contract Activities, 2.5.12 Operator Terminal (OT) -Will the existing Operator terminal be reused or is a new one required for each site?

a. The intention is to re-use the current operator terminal. However, if the current terminal will not interface with the proposed equipment, then a new operator terminal will need to be included.

2. Schedule A - Statement of Work Contract Activities, 3.2 Key Personnel - "Contractor's Key Personnel must be on-site at location during delivery & installation" -Will equipment be installed at time of delivery? Will MDOT personnel perform the installation work or will the contractor? How many days are anticipated for installation at each site?

a. Contractor's Key Personnel need not be onsite at delivery. However, Key Personnel must be available via phone to assist in any questions during upgrade installation. The intention is to install the equipment near delivery time, but logistics, approvals and weather may cause delays. It is our intention as part of this RFP that MDOT personnel will perform the installation work. We are anticipating 5 days for each site to upgrade, plus or minus for individual sites necessary ancillary work. We are not requiring the Contractor’s Key Personnel to be on-site during delivery and installation, be we are requiring them to be available via phone throughout the process during normal business hours.

3. Based on paragraph 3.2., we must include in our bid travel costs and on-site labor for one individual while equipment is being received and throughout the installation process. In accordance with the scope section, the State will perform the actual work of receiving the product and installing it. -How much time is the individual expected to be on-site at each location?

a. No time is expected for the contractor to be on-site

4. Are multiple trips to each site expected? If so, how many?

a. If any on-site visits are required, they will be priced outside of this contract.

5. What type of work will this individual be expected to perform? For example, will they be physically assisting with installation work, providing verbal technical assistance, etc.

a. This individual will be expected to be available via phone call during normal business hours to assist in any errant inventorying of the deliveries, any questions of the installation/upgrade process, and assistance with troubleshooting any anomalies that appear throughout the installation and re-commissioning process.

6. Is the State of Michigan aware that 3 of the 4 certified non-Fed AWOS III+ systems are distributed by a single parent company (ADB SAFEGATE), that it is the only company with FAA certification of systems that include the CL31 and HMP155 sensors, and that they control the rights to Vaisala AWOS within the United States? The ceilometer (e.g. CL31) represents a large portion of the cost of an AWOS. As a result, this public solicitation so heavily favors this single, large, foreign owned company that it is practically impossible for the only other company that meets the requirements (Mesotech, a US owned small business) to compete.

a. The State of Michigan remains vigilant in seeking out new options that may present a better value to the Michigan aviating community. The State of Michigan is seeking an avenue of upgrade that is in the best financial interest of its taxpayers. By requesting an RFP that is inclusive of both scenarios (one that includes multiple potential venders who are able to upgrade each site with their certified components and one that allows re-purposing existing infrastructure and components that is already of current and supported technology), the State is able to leverage its decision making based on the best value to the Michigan taxpayers.