Urbana Public Television Broadcast System Upgrade

The City of Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois, is seeking proposals for a comprehensive Public Television Broadcast System Upgrade, which involves replacing the existing Leightronix Ultra Nexus-HD X5 system with an advanced all-in-one cable television broadcast, web, mobile, and OTT video server and streaming service. The procurement requires a system capable of live streaming to traditional cable and satellite TV providers, as well as internet platforms including iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. Key deliverables include integration with existing closed-caption and Vizrt Tricaster systems, video-on-demand capabilities, cloud-based content hosting, and potential future storage expansion. The proposal must include ongoing support, with a minimum hardware and software warranty of three years (preferably five), including software security updates and staff training hours. The RFP was released on July 29, 2024, with questions due by August 2, 2024, and a final proposal submission deadline of August 13, 2024, at 12:00 pm, with project completion expected by September 28, 2024. Evaluation criteria will focus on content understanding, vendor qualifications, proposal completeness, project readiness, and cost-effectiveness.

The RFP does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The current system being replaced is a Leightronix Ultra Nexus-HD X5 with 5TB of storage and both HD and SD output, which will require careful integration with the new solution. While specific budget details are not disclosed, the City reserves the right to negotiate final terms with the most suitable respondent. The new system must provide pricing options for 1-, 2-, and 3-year maintenance agreements for cloud-based services and demonstrate the ability to expand storage capabilities in the future. Potential vendors should be prepared to provide comprehensive technical specifications that demonstrate compatibility with existing infrastructure, including closed-caption and Vizrt Tricaster systems. The procurement emphasizes the need for a robust, flexible solution that can support the City of Urbana's public television broadcasting needs across multiple platforms and delivery methods.