Vendor_Questions.docx

Vendor Questions:

1. The SOW states the BOP needs “global coverage”, however after spending time on BOP.gov and looking at the location of all Federal Prisons, BOP Offices, Reentry Centers, Training Centers and Contract Prisons, none appear to be located outside the United States. Can BOP clarify what it means by global coverage?

a. BOP must have coverage in the entire United States

2. The SOW states that only satellite systems will be considered and not hybrid satellite-cellular systems. Can the BOP explain why hybrid systems would not be considered? In our experience using cellular-satellite hardware provides added network redundancy, while lowering the cost of service as satellite data costs significantly more than cellular data charges.

a. BOP will not accept hybrid systems because we need coverage on the bus the entire time it is out on the road. A hybrid system does not have constant communication with the server to report where the bus is at if it is in a zone that has no cell coverage at all. Usually on a hybrid system the cellular system is used to cut cost to be able to cut out the cost of having to use satellite's that are at higher orbits. But in a hybrid system it will store the data in the system and when it comes back into contact with the server it will send the information all at that time. That does not help us if something happens inside of one of those areas that get no signal.

3. What is the duty cycle of a typical BOP vehicle? Is it driven 4 hours a day, 8 hours, 12 hours and for 5 days or 7 days per week?

a. Duty cycles varies depending on locations and mission assigned. BOP has no set duty cycle for their vehicles. The mission for each vehicle is not on a set schedule and must have 24hrs coverage.

4. Does BOP want the software to be licensed and installed in a BOP data center, or should the contractor host the system?

a. The contractor must host the system.

5. The SOW states that “all hardware not to exceed total vehicle height without modification to OEM vehicle design.” The GPS receiver and Satellite antenna require line of site to the sky and therefore an antenna would need to be mounted to the roof of the vehicle. A typical antenna is about 3” tall and the base is 3”x 5”, so it is a very small footprint. Would this be acceptable?

a. Total vehicle height stated by DOT. So we will not be able to exceed 13'6", If your antenna is only 3" tall it will still be under the legal vehicle height. The height of the bus is approximately 11ft 9 inches