Final_Answers_to_Vendor_Questions_v2_8_14_2018_STT.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 18 KB Posted Aug 14, 2018

Attached to: Land Mobile Radio System Deployment
Solicitation number: NB671000-18-01463
Issued by: Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology

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File	Type	Posted
FBO_combined_synopsis.pdf	PDF	Aug 9, 2018
Answers_to_Vendor_Questions_8_8_2018_STT.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Aug 9, 2018
Appendix_A_Safety_Checklist.pdf	PDF	Aug 9, 2018
9_Aug_updated_FBO_SOW_LMR_System.pdf	PDF	Aug 9, 2018

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Sheet1

Item	Question	Response
1	Is it permissible to install a coaxial cable entry port on the north west wall of the communication shelter?	No, the RF entry panel on the northeast side shall be used.
2	Is it possible to get the coaxial cable size and antenna specs that will be used for this project?	The Contractor shall provide the coaxial cable, antennas, and any associated hardware. The SOW was changed to reflect that requirement.
3	Does the existing cable management system (Ice Bridge) need to be removed?	Yes. Removed and replaced. Existing cables need to be mounted to the new ice bridge.
4	The ESS racks in the equipment list are normally hard wired to the electrical utility panel. Who is responsible for the parts and licensed electrician that will be required to accomplish this?	The Contractor is responsible for hard wiring the equipment to include parts and a licensed electrician.
5	Will permitting be required for the external ground trenching and/or anchor point repair or replacement? If so, who will be responsible for obtaining those permits?	Excavation permits (and plans) should only be required if digging deep, not if trenching 18” to install a ground ring or so. Locates should definitely be obtained as utilities are not always where they should be or at appropriate depths. The anchor point repair may require more of an excavation and should have a permit done for safety’s sake. The contractor should be providing the information through the COR for Safety to approve the permit. Usually as long as you had the locates, the permit was a given.
6	Would NIST consider having a tower analysis performed to determine an engineered solution for anchor point repair or replacement?	The award will be based on Best Value to NIST. Any structural analysis of the tower would be the responsibility of the Contractor which may be deemed a higher value to NIST.
7	Would NIST consider an alternative to the Z Brackets which would be more economical and present a much lower wind load than that of the Z Brackets?	Yes.
8	The RFP states the close date is 7/30/18 @ 2:00PM Mountain Time" for questions. In order to provided NIST with their LPTA proposals vendors should be allowed adequate time to prepare their FFP proposals. Most of our questions being asked, are contingent upon the answers received from NIST which will effect the design approach. Therefore we respectfully request that proposals be due no less than 15 business dayS after vendor receipt of answers to all vendors questions	NIST agreed to provide 10 calendar days starting August 9, 2018.
9	Can NIST please confirm in writing that the Small Business Set Aside (SBSA) has been removed?	Yes, the small business set-aside has been removed.
10	The CLIN structure references the need for System Support and Maintenance 10 Aug 2018 - 9 Aug 2019, however as stated in question 1 above, System Support and Maintenance will begin upon acceptance. Please remove the requirement of System Support and Maintenance for CLIN 0001.	System Support and Maintenance shall start upon system acceptance.
11	Section III.D.2 states that warranty will begin upon system acceptance, however section IV states that warranty will begin on August 10th 2018. It is agreed that warranty for the new system will begin at system acceptance, therefore, please revise Section IV Period of Performance dates in the following manner:	Warranty for the new system will begin at system acceptance
12	Please deliniate which services the customer is currently interested in for the System Support and Maintenance periods.	System Support and Maintenance shall include 8x5 technical support, infrastructure repair, software security updates, and dispatch repair if needed.
13	As Phase I and Phase II are both required on the system, is Phase I (FDMA) only on the conventional radios (APCO Phase II is not applicable to conventional channels), or is it also required on the trunking radios? If required on the trunking channels, should all voice channels be capable of dynamically switching between FDMA and TDMA as necessary?	Phase I is required for both conventional and trunking. For the trunking channels, all voice channels must be capable of being configured for 1) no dynamic switching between Phases I & II and 2) dynamic switching between Phases I & II.
14	What is the maximum number of trunking and conventional subscribers, respectively, that will be provisioned on the system?	Initially up to 30 subscribers shall be provisioned on both the conventional and trunked systems. We need the ability to add subscribers if/when testing requires more subscribers on the network.
15	How many LMR systems should the system be equipped to connect to initially? How many LTE systems should the system be equipped to connect to initially?	A minimum of two systems, any combination of LMR and LTE systems.
16	How many total subscribers on the system will use GPS tracking?	Initially up to 30 subscribers shall be provisioned to use GPS tracking. We need the ability to add subscribers if/when testing requires more subscribers on the network.
17	Is GPS tracking required across the conventional channels in addition to the trunking channels?	GPS tracking is desired on both the conventional and trunking channels if possible. This capability may be deemed a higher value to NIST.
18	The SOW requires drive testing of the system based on a predicted coverage area. Are the coverage predictions required as part of the proposal submission, or is generation of these predictions considered a post-award task? If these predictions are needed prior to award, please indicate the required service area; mounting height of transmit and receive antennas; required delivered audio quality (DAQ); portable and mobile subscribers to be used; GFE antenna and transmission line information; coordinates of the site; and whether portable subscribers are transmitting at head level or hip level (i.e., if using a remote speaker microphone).	The mounting height of the tower antennas is approximately 70' above ground level. The required DAQ is 3.4. The antenna and feedline shall be selected and provided by the contractor. The transmit power will be 100W. The coordinates of the tower site are 39° 59' 30.40" N, 105° 16' 28.89" W. The service area shall be predicted by the contractor using an RF simulation tool based on the antenna height and transmit power above. The portable subscribers shall transmit at head level. The following subscribers will be used: Motorola - APX8500 mobiles, APX8000 portables, APX1000 portables, Harris - XL200P portables, XG15 portables, XG100 mobiles, XG25 mobiles, Tait - TP9400 portables, TM9400 mobiles.
19	Please confirm that the government is providing all main feedline for the site for two antennas.	See Item 2 above.
20	Since the Government is providing two antennas, will the 6 channels (4 trunking, 2 conventional) be combined into a single combiner and multicoupler? Will the combiner and multicoupler be Government furnished as well?	See Item 2 above.
21	Should vendors include a Tower Top Amp (TTA) for the site?	See Item 2 above. Also, the award will be based on Best Value to NIST. If TTAs are included, the system may be deemed a higher value to NIST.
22	Please clarify the desired POP for the initial installation.	The repeater will be installed at the Green Mountain tower & shelter which has a microwave link to Building 3 (0.5 mile to the east) on the NIST Boulder campus. NIST requires the ability to configure the LMR system from both the Green Mountain shelter and from Building 3.
23	Please provide the approximate GPS coordinates of the tower site	See Item 18 above.
24	At the Green Mountain site is the primary power source 110 VAC 50/60 hz, -12 VDC, -24 VDC or –48VDC?	110 VAC 50/60 hz with a -48 VDC battery string and power panel.
25	At Green Mountain site is it pre-fitted with available rack space or are the units supposed to ship racked? If so, is the preference two or four pole racks?	The units shall be shipped racked (supplied by the contractor). Preference is for 2-pole racks.
26	Is NIST seeking a KMF to support the encryption administration?	No, encryption administration will be handled manually.
27	Is the GPS tracking to be compliant with TIA-102.BAJC?	GPS tracking must be supported for all portables and mobiles. Lat/long information must be available at the network management console. This requirement may require compliance with TIA-102.BAJC.
28	Is the site equipment for Green Mountain (1+3) to be Phase Two enabled upon delivery or “ready.”	Enabled
29	Is NIST requesting delivery of six subscribers with the system?	No, NIST has already purchased subscribers in a different contract.
30	Will an ISSI be required to be P25 Phase Two enabled or “ready” upon installation	Enabled
31	Is the contractor to supply a Tx Combiner and Rx multicoupler tuned to the new 700 MHz frequencies. If so, should it be provisioned for the 10 new channels?	Yes. The TX combiner and RX multicoupler should be provisioned for the 6 channel pairs used in the system.
32	Please verify that NIST is only supplying the 7/8” coax and antennas for the new antenna system and that all remaining hardware is to be supplied by the contractor.	See Item 2 above.
33	Please provide the antenna models that NIST will provide.	See Item 2 above.
34	Please provide the coax type that NIST will provide.	See Item 2 above.
35	Please verify the desired ERP of the system so that the scope of the coverage testing can be determined.	The TX power is 100W.
36	Please verify the height at which the antennas will be installed.	Approximately 70' Above Ground level
37	Please clarify if there is a border outlining the extent of the coverage testing or if all areas under the predicted coverage are to be tested.	Most areas under the predicted coverage are to be tested. No testing will be required directly west of the tower site. Drive testing shall be only on paved roads.
38	Please clarify if talk in or talk out coverage is to be used to confirm system coverage and if portable or mobile radios are to be used and at what output power level.	Talk in with Portables transmitting at 3W.
39	Please verify if both Phase 1 and Phase 2 coverage is to be tested	Yes both Phase 1 and Phase 2 coverage shall be tested
40	Please clarify which measurement should be used to verify coverage, BER, RSSI, DAQ, etc.	DAQ (see requirement in Item 18)
41	Please clarify if “drive” testing is only to be performed on improved or maintained roads or if coverage is also to be verified through rural public areas with no vehicular access	Drive testing shall only be performed on improved or maintained roads. Coverage does not need to be verified in areas with no vehicular access
42	Should warranty option year support include preventative maintenance?	Yes
43	Please clarify if on-site or offsite support is required and what the response time should be for each type of requested support or maintenance request.	This system will be for testing purposes. Typical off-site support is required to troubleshoot issues and possibly assist in configuaration changes. If troubles cannot be fixed via off-site support, on-site shall be required. Response time for off-site support shall be within 1 business day M-F 8AM - 5PM Mountain time. Response time for on-site support shall be determined based on the severity of the outage.
44	Please verify if remote support and maintenance via phone, email, remote desktop and other tools is acceptable	Yes, remote support and maintenance via phone, remote desktop, and other tools is acceptable
45	Please specify the “Type” of site NIST would like the site to be classified as in terms of the R56 design	The site needs to be modified to be a Type B standard duty site according to the Motorola R56 standard.
46	Please clarify if contractor will be responsible for bonding all existing site hardware to the newly installed ground ring and IPGB (Halo)	Yes, the contractor is responsible for bonding all existing site hardware to the newly installed ground ring and IPGB (Halo). There are a handful of other relay racks in the shelter.
47	Please clarify if R56 upgrade should include work to the site’s electrical service	NIST is not sure what all this entails, but the site must meet the R56 standard so that the manufacturer will warranty the LMR repeater equipment.
48	Please provide the manufacturer and model of the 80’ tower	No information is available on the tower manufacturer or model.
49	Two towers are shown in the provided pictures. Please define the specific scope of work to be completed at both towers if they are both to be upgraded to include R56, cable management and installation of an ice bridge.	Both of the towers shall be upgraded to the R56 grounding standard with ground rings around each tower and bounded together along with the ground ring that will be installed around the shelter. The new ice bridge shall extend past the tower closest to the shelter to the tower farther away. The new cables shall be attached to the tower and ice bridge with the proper cushion hangers. The existing cables shall be attached to the new ice bridge with proper cushion hangers.
50	Are the cell/LTE coax cables to be shortened and re-terminated? If so are we required to sweep them as well?	Yes the cell/LTE coax cables are to be shortend and the Return Loss and Dfistance To Fault need to be measured after the modification.
51	Please confirm all existing coax cables have a Polyphaser and we will only be adding two more for the new coax associated with the new repeater system.	All existing coax cables have a Polyphasor.

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