Sources Sought No. T015-24-RFI-00008 Questions and Answers.pdf

DATE: December 21, 2023

Response Due Date: January 05, 2024

OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES, AND INNOVATION, BROADCAST

TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION, ENGINEERING & TRANSMISSION DIRECTORATE

U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA

Operation and Maintenance of FM Broadcast Transmitter Systems in Zambia

The following questions were submitted to USAGM in response to this Sources Sought Notice. USAGM responses are shown in red and are shared with all interested parties via this amended notice.

1. Floor space of 2m x 2m.

Please confirm that this is the minimum floor space required. YES.

Do you require rack space or you will provide your own rack? We will provide our own 37 to 42 RU equipment rack (Middle Atlantic WRK3732 or WRK4232)

2. Floor space to have climate control (air conditioning).

3. FM Transmitter.

May we know the Transmitter Make and Model in order to check the technical parameters? GatesAir Flexiva Compact 2kW

We would like to know of the physical size and transmitter power. The following link has the requested information - https://www.gatesair.com/products/transmit-radio/fm-transmitters/flexiva-compact

Will we be required to install the transmitter too, or only host and maintain it after installation by a third-party? We would request installation and maintenance support for the FM broadcast system.

4. Install of 4-bay FM antenna on tower.

May we know the antenna Make and Model in order to check the technical parameters. Antenna parameters would need to meet requirement of host nation broadcast license. We would need approx. 9 meters of tower space at the required height in order to meet our licensed broadcast parameters.

Will we be required to install the antenna too, or only host and maintain it after installation by a third-party? We would request installation and maintenance support from the vendor

5. Host both a 3.1 meter C-Band and 1.8 meter KU Band satellite antenna as well as a 1.2 meter KU VSAT terminal.

May we know the Makes and Models and the antennas and terminals? VSAT is an iDirect LTE modem with 1.2 m KU offset antenna / 3W BUC. C-Band antenna is a 3.7 meter prime focus with kingpost mount. Ku Band is 1.8 meter offset with either Kingpost or building mount. Receivers for C Band and Ku Band are hosted in our equipment cabinet

Will we be required to install these too, or only host and maintain after installation by a third-party? We would request installation support for the C-Band and Ku-Band antenna systems. We would have our VSAT provider relocate and commission the VSAT system.

6. UPS power.

Will you provide a UPS or would you like us to provide UPS power? We have a UPS in our equipment rack.

https://www.gatesair.com/products/transmit-radio/fm-transmitters/flexiva-compact https://www.gatesair.com/products/transmit-radio/fm-transmitters/flexiva-compact

If we are to provide, what minimum size UPS would you require? Vendor provided UPS would not be required but we would consider if capability is available

7. 15kva back-up generator power.

Will you be providing your own generator for us to host and maintain or would you like us to provide? We would prefer vendor provide a generator with local support.

If we already have generator power, would you be happy to utilize ours? We would not be opposed to using existing generator backup as long as there is sufficient capacity to support our broadcast system.

8. Confirm tower height at allocated shelter.

What is the minimum tower height you need? We will need approx.. 9 meters of tower space

At what height would you need your antenna hosted? This would depend on the location of the proposed tower as we have to meet the broadcast parameters of our broadcast license issued by Zambian Government (License # RFM/TBL/4378)