Spec. No. 55-B494-0726

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IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

EQUIPMENT SERVICES

SPECIFICATIONS

for

LED “CONNECTED” ARROW BOARDS AND ACCESSORIES

The following specifications applies to the purchase of advance warning, LED arrow board systems with GPS and remote communications by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa DOT. Boards must be in compliance with all minimum requirements for arrow boards as outlined in section 6L.06 of the 2023, Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

ITEM-1

4’ x 8’ LED CONNECTED ARROW BOARD WITH WIRELESS CONTROLLER

LED ARROW BOARD

A. LED arrow boards must be of aluminum, weatherproof design measuring approximately 48-inches x 96-inches (type “C”) set up for wireless operation.

B. Arrow board must have a minimum of 23-amber PAR-46 LED warning lamps on the front panel face and 3-amber LED “mode” lamps on the rear panel face (see Illustration). The rear “mode” lamps must be sequenced with the front lamps.

C. Front panel LED lamp assemblies must use wide angle LEDs and have bulb shields installed.

D. All lamps on the arrow board must be brilliant and visible from at least 1 mile away.

E. All internal wiring connections must be crimped, soldered and sealed with shrink tubing and

RTV silicon. No Scotch-Lock style connectors will be accepted.

F. Outer skin must be a minimum thickness of 16-gauge (.063) aluminum.

G. Arrow board must have a non-reflective black coating.

P a g e | 2 Illustration 1

12"

11"

Front Panel Top

Bottom

Top

Bottom

Arrow Board

Rear Panel

2. GPS and REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS

A. Device must have the ability to receive and transmit its GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) within a 30-foot diameter of its true location.

B. Device must be compatible with both of the following communication specifications:

a. Iowa DOT Arrow-Board Communications Protocol (IM 486.12 Appendix A):

https://www.iowadot.gov/erl/current/IM/content/486.12ab.pdf

b. Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) Communications Protocol:

https://github.com/usdot-jpo-ode/wzdx/blob/main/spec-content/objects/ArrowBoard.md

c. To ensure compliance with these specifications, the manufacturer must include the Connected Temporary Traffic Control Device Approval Request Form, found in Appendix A of this specification, when returning their bid. Iowa DOT will review the information and if the submitted system is not found to be compatible with both above communication protocols, the bid may be rejected.

C. Device must transmit status and location as follows:

a. Mode change within 2 minutes.

b. Location (if moved more than 500 feet) within 2 minutes.

c. Health check every 30 minutes.

D. Costs for maintaining GPS and remote communications for the life of the technology utilized (e.g., as long as 4g/5g cellular network or GPS technology is functional) must be built into the bid. The Iowa DOT does not allow systems which require and annual subscription or other ongoing, regular cost to maintain GPS or remote communications.

E. GPS and Remote Communications hardware must be installed at the factory while the arrow board is being built. Third party GPS and Remote Communications hardware may be utilized but must be incorporated at the factory during assembly of

P a g e | 3 the arrow board. Installing GPS and Remote Communications hardware after the product leaves the factory (i.e. retrofit by dealer) will not be allowed.

Appendix A

Maintenance_cTTC DRequestForm_1018

3. WIRELESS CONTROLLER REQUIREMENTS

A. The successful vendor must supply an arrow board controller/handset programmed with the following four (4) modes only (See Illustrations 2-5):

a. Flashing double arrow

b. Alternating diamond.

c. Sequencing left chevron.

d. Sequencing right chevron.

F. Only the above modes will be accepted. If additional modes are supplied, the successful vendor will be required to disable or remove them from the programming options.

G. Controller must be equipped with light intensity photocell control for high/low outside lighting requirements.

ITEM – 2

4’ x 8’ LED CONNECTED ARROW BOARD WITH STANDARD CONTROLLER, CABLES AND

SOLAR KIT

1. LED ARROW BOARD

A. Same as the ITEM-1 arrow board with the following exceptions:

a. Arrow board will be installed on a sign/signal trailer that will be converted from a gas powered to solar powered and must be configured to be hardwired to the controller that will mount to the trailer.

b. Successful supplier must supply their standard wiring configuration and connectors, that will include the cable from the arrow board to the controller/handset. This cable needs to be approximately 17-feet in length. Power wire from the controller/handset to the trailer battery must also be supplied and must be approximately 6-feet in length.

2. GPS and REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS

Same as ITEM -1

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3. CONTROLLER REQUIREMENTS

A. Other than the requirement to have the arrow board hardwired to the controller/handset, the successful vendor’s standard controller Must be programmed the same as the ITEM-1 wireless controller/handset with the following four (4) modes only:

a. Flashing double arrow

b. Alternating diamond.

c. Sequencing left chevron.

d. Sequencing right chevron.

4. SOLAR KIT REQUIREMENTS

A. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

a. 80-Watt solar panel.

b. Four (4) 6-volt, batteries (Interstate U2200 or approved equal).

c. 30-amp charger and voltage regulator.

d. Solar regulator.

e. Battery cables and component wiring must be supplied as well as a wiring diagram.

f. A heavy-duty, vented plastic enclosure must be supplied and be large enough to contain the batteries, arrow board controller, solar controls and wiring.

Battery box must be set up to be locked with a padlock. Padlock will be provided by the Department.

ITEM – 3

3’ x 6’ LED CONNECTED ARROW BOARD WITH STANDARD CONTROLLER AND CABLES

LED ARROW BOARD

B. Same as the ITEM-1 arrow board with the following exceptions:

c. Arrow board will be installed on a pickup truck and must be configured to be hardwired to the controller that will mount in the truck cab.

d. Successful supplier must supply their standard wiring configuration and connectors, that will include the cable from the arrow board to the controller/handset. This cable needs to be approximately 17-feet in length. Power wire from the controller/handset to the truck battery must also be supplied and must be approximately 17-feet in length.

1. GPS and REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS

Same as ITEM -2

2. CONTROLLER REQUIREMENTS

P a g e | 5 A. Other than the requirement to have the arrow board hardwired to the controller/handset, the successful vendor’s standard controller Must be programmed the same as the ITEM-1 wireless controller/handset with the following four (4) modes only:

e. Flashing double arrow

f. Alternating diamond.

g. Sequencing left chevron.

h. Sequencing right chevron.

MANUALS

Sixty-Three (63) manuals must be supplied; Sixty (60) for the 4’ x 8’ LED ARROW BOARD WITH WIRELESS CONTROLLER and Three (3) for the 4’ x 8’ LED ARROW BOARD WITH STANDARD CONTROLLER, CABLES and SOLAR KIT. Manuals must include operators, service and repair information as well as an illustrated parts list.

WARRANTY

All arrow boards, controllers and solar components must have a minimum of one-year warranty. Warranty must include all parts and labor to correct any material, workmanship or manufacture defects. If component manufacturer’s warranties are for a longer period, they must apply. Warranty will begin when systems are delivered to the requesting Iowa DOT field locations.

Illustrations 2-5

Right Chevron Sequencing

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Left Chevron Sequencing

Double Arrow Flashing

Alternating Diamond (Dancing)

P a g e | 7 Appendix A

Maintenance_cTTC DRequestForm_1018