ATR_VCS_Procurement_-_Answers_to_18JUN_Questions_150-156Addtl.docx

Questions on ATR Voice Switch Bid – 18 June 2014 #150-156 Additional

150. ATR states they need a new "hybrid" system, with its new core being able to support both new IP-based EI's, as well as existing TDM EI's.

QUESTIONS:

How does ATR expect a new vendor's red and black cores, to integrate with the current vendor's (proprietary) TDM EI design? Please re-explain your hybrid requirement, defining what your TDM EI's consist of, what TDM EI and T1 protocols you can provide, and how you see the new core connecting out to and/or controlling your legacy TDM EI devices?

VCS 2.0 states the system “shall provide”. There are no requirements which state “shall interface with” any of our existing EIs.

The hybrid objective requirement is in place to give the government flexibility regarding our migration from TDM to VoIP.

The threshold requirement (minimum) is for vendors to provide the government with VoIP EIs. However, if the vendor is able to provide TDM EIs as well, that would ease migration issues and be advantageous to the government.

151. VCS 3.0 - The system shall interface with Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) communication devices.

(a) What is the physical interface between the new Core and the T1 channel banks?

(b) Is the PTT signaling handled per 6-wire E&M Type 5 interface?

a) The government has no knowledge of the “new Core’s” physical interface, as it is vendor dependent. The vendor is responsible for describing the Core’s physical interface to the government in sufficient detail, and the government will be responsible for making the physical connection to the channel banks. The current core connects to the channel banks, via an RJ-45 patch panel.

b) PTT signaling varies between COTS devices. The current system supports Type I through V interface types. The specific interfaces for each COTS device will be discussed after contract award.

152. VCS 3.6.4 - The new system shall be capable of controlling connected radios via RS-232 or Ethernet.

(a) Is the PHYSICAL control connection to the radios RS-232 or is this done through a T1 network where the RS-232 is sent as a DS0?

(b) If the RS-232 is sent through the T1 network, is the vendor supplying an RS-232 interface to a customer furnished T1 line card as part of a T1 channel bank?

a) The physical control connection is RS-232 out of the core.

b) RS-232 commands are not sent through a T1 network

153. VCS 3.3 - The new system shall be capable of exchanging 2-way analog audio with COTS 4-wire devices.

QUESTION:

What is the PHYSICAL interface to the 4-wire device? Please identify the four signal lines.

Physically, the current system interfaces via RJ-45 patch panels The signal lines adhere to the telecommunications standard for “4-wire E&M”.

154. Please provide break down of 40 ATR radios between Black and Red sides.

All radios are BLACK

155. How many radios will we need to support on the Red and Black sides for the demo?

For the demo, 1 BLACK URC-200 radio

156. Is The URC-200 radio for the demo going to present its analog interface to the demo core? If not, please provide the model information of the T1 channel bank and its port cards to be interfaced with.

For the demo, it will be a direct connection to radio