What is the total IP bandwidth being used from the core router handling the current network?

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "What is the total IP bandwidth being used from the core router handling the current network?"

Brian Rich
5 years ago
Views:

1 TECHNICAL CLARIFICATIONS FOR THE VSAT CONTRACT 2 ND BATCH What is the total IP bandwidth being used from the core router handling the current network? A) The table in section 3.2 provides the information. Please provide details if there is any remote control functionality at the hub? A) It is possible to communicate with the remote router using telnet. Where is the voice currently terminated, and to what interface? A) The voice at HQ is terminated in the MBT building using a PRI interface. Re Voice - how many lines go across the network and how many emanate from the Hub? A) The HUB has a PRI interface with 30 lines. Refer to 3.2.a for information of the remote sites. Are the CDM600 modems equipped with 16QAM possibility? Are the SDM300 modems equipped with 8PSK possibility? In terms of equipments: for new equipments, are you looking at purchasing equipments from us or are you looking at managed services? A) UNHCR will purchase the new equipment. For existing equipments: will you want to keep the ownership of that equipment yourselves?

2 Are you looking at providers taking over equipments and maintenance? A) Only take over maintenance, equipment will remain property of UNHCR. SCPC In the RFP it is stated that remote uplink carriers must be SCPC, can you Qualify whether downlink carriers must also be SCPC or can be shared? A) Downlink can be a shared carrier. Are you definitely buying the 4 new antennas specified, or is that Subject to the outcome of this RFP? A) The antennas are already purchased. Are we free to choose any satellite? Do you require non-preempt able bandwidth? Who are the current incumbents of the network? A) UNHCR offices. What are the drivers for the RFP? A) ERP rollout to the field. What are the terms for ending current space segment booking if we were to provide a new Satellite solution? A) This is an operational matter which will be discussed with the chosen supplier. The telephone 'on-site' billing requirement - does it exist or is this a new application to be installed across all sites? A) There are locally purchased systems installed at many locations. The vendor may choose to install their own billing system. Is your preference to start again - adapt existing - or just change requote ongoing management of existing with installation of the new sites

3 A) It is the choice of the vendor to use any part of the existing equipment or propose new system. Do you currently have one single point of contact or do you have to go to various bureaus for each element of the network? A) The RFP is for a global system and the focal point on technical matters is the telecom unit of UNHCR. Do you currently outsource everything or do you have a team / teams to manage everything? A) UNHCR operates the network using its own technical staff. Further, we feel it may be more beneficial to talk through specific points or concerns as we move forward with our design / commercial response to the tender. Whilst, we understand that any answers need to be audited and possibly shared with all respondees, would you have any objections and are you able to provide direct contact details. A) The final design is an operational issue which will be discussed with the chosen vendor. Please let me know if you would accept a proposal, which is based on our own SCPC solution, using only partially the existing equipment and using a satellite of our choice. A) The vendor may propose any solution using any satellite, teleport, provided it meets the technical specifications. With regards to the existing UNHCR leased Intelsat satellite capacity: What is the lease capacity (Mhz) and transponder number(s) for IS-905 (expiring October 2006)?. What is the lease capacity (Mhz) and transponder number(s) for IS-902 (expiring October 2007)? A) IS 902 Transponder 71/121 71: Spot 2 - Ku 121: Mid East Zone - C band B/W: MHz on 71/121 IS 905 Transponder 23/63 23: Spot 1 Ku 63: East Hemi C band B/W: Normally MHz on 23/63

4 Bandwidth on PAS1R Transponder #18 K = 4 MHz Bandwidth on PAS10 Transponder # 16k = 5 MHz Transponder # 23K = 4 MHz With regards to the requirement for local billing system we request that UNHCR provide details regarding Telco, cellular service providers and Thuraya trunks connected to site PABXs. A) These are operational details which will be discussed with the chosen vendor. With regards to the requirement to provide an equipment rack at all locations. Are There any specific requirements on the style / design of the racks? Would encapsulated racks / transit cases are acceptable? Is the rack requirement only for the NEW sites, while the existing sites remain installed in as is? If the proposed solution adds equipment to an existing site, no matter how small, is a rack required? A) A standard 19 rack should be provided for all the equipment proposed. Transit cases not acceptable. Does the requirement for monitoring of remote site equipment include ALL Remote equipment or only the specific equipment listed in 5.3b? A) All remote equipment. Do the existing site UPS systems have alarm / system monitoring capability? If so, please provide details. Does the RF equipment at the existing remote sites have the management Monitoring port cabled and available at the equipment room? The Billing System requirements stated are assumed to be for only NEW sites. Is This assumption correct? Do all remote sites have billing systems which are Currently sufficient for UNHCR? If not please specify the remote sites which require new billing systems?

5 A) The billing system should be for all sites. Voice mail is stated as being required, and further stated that some sites have voice mail and some do not. Please specify which sites HAVE voice mail, and which sites NEED voice mail. A) These are operational details which will be discussed with the chosen vendor. Do the remote sites access the PSTN network via the SATCOM link through the UNHCR HQ PBX? Are these calls billed /tracked using the UNHCR HQ system? Does UNHCR require that these calls be tracked by the remote billing system? A) The PSTN calls which transit through the HQ PBX do not require a billing system. Please specify the VOIP protocol used at the existing remotes sites, to include Vocoder type ( g729,g723,etc ) and number of voice samples per packet. A) G729 What is the billing system currently being used and how does it interface to PTT, Cellular and Thuraya? A) There are several locally procured billing systems. This is another operational matter which will be discussed with the chosen vendor. Are there any special requirements for the phone service (e.g. caller ID, 4-digit dialing, conference calling, hunt groups, variable ring tones, etc... )? A) These are operational details which will be discussed with the chosen vendor. Are there any special requirements for the voic system (e.g. store 30 messages, keep messages for 30 days, etc...)? A) These are operational details which vary with office requirements will be discussed with the chosen vendor. Ref Annex I 3.3 The note states that 7 locations are fitted with Vipersat (including 1.8m antenna as per clarification on 28 th Nov), however the note only appears to be applied to 2 of the locations. Pease confirm total number and locations using Vipersat and 1.8m antenna. A) The other 5 sites will not be part of this network.

6 Ref Annex I 5.2 b It is stated that any IP acceleration should be transparent to applications. Can it be assumed that UNHCR will not itself apply any IP acceleration? A) UNHCR does not use any IP acceleration in the current network. Ref Annex I 3.2, 3.3 and 5.2 d The generic service data rates specified for uplink and downlink at 5.2 d are in conflict with the site specific rates given in the tables 3.2 and 3.3. Please advise which data rates should be used when providing the proposal for capacity. A) Section 5.2d clearly states that while the current requirement is for 128/256K. The RF equipment should be capable of 512K transmission. Regarding reuse of existing capacity under contract to UNHCR. Please confirm that such capacity will be free issued to the selected turnkey provider for the remainder of the term contracted by UNHCR. Please advise the transponder numbers and the amount of contracted capacity available for reuse. A) The current bandwidth will be made available to the selected vendor. The bandwidth details are listed above. Related to the responsibilities for new equipment installation: We understand that for new sites the following items of new equipment will be the responsibility of the provider to quote for: a) All satellite transmission equipment from the antenna through to the satellite modem inclusive satellite modem to be equipped with a LAN interface with basic IP routing function b) A Cisco 2651XM base configuration router (includes to LAN ports) c) PABX or Cisco SRST alternative based on the above router. With sufficient ports/extensions for the type of site as specified in of the TOR 4.1 a - d d) Suitable telephones (analogue or VOIP depending on point c above) e) Central telephony patch panel and cabling to wiring termination points near user desks with sufficient ports for the type of site as specified in of the TOR 4.1 a - d f) LAN cabling, central patch panel and cabling to wiring termination points near user desks g) All mounting equipment and racks for the above including sufficient space for a LAN wiring Hub Specific exclusions to supply: LAN wiring Hub and PCs

7 Is this correct? A) LAN cabling and hubs/switches not required. All other equipment to be supplied for new locations. Related to the maintenance of existing sites. We understand all items as listed in the above question would be the responsibility of the provider to maintain. Is this correct? A) Yes Related to the replacement of existing equipment. We understand that any item from the above question 1) that might need to be replaced to achieve reductions in running costs should be priced as a purchase not a lease, so that the UNHCR will own all equipment installed at the remote sites and Hub in Vernier. We understand that testing of the Peoplesoft software took place to ensure that this functioned correctly with a typical SCPC satellite delay. Did this testing require any TCP or IP enhancements to function according to UNHCR requirements? IP enhancements used during testing Regarding TOR 5.4 h. will the UNHCR be providing supporting paperwork to aid Export licensing? We understand that it is necessary to clearly identify the end destination as a UN controlled area in order to obtain export permissions to a large number of the countries where the UNHCR operates. Do the existing UPS system supply sufficient power for 6 hours supply on every site Do the existing UPS systems have a network management port fitted, if so with what type of interface? It these are not fitted, is it possible to fit them? Same question as 8) but for PABX equipment. A) PBX can be equipped with a modem for remote maintenance.

8 Regarding the Vernier Teleport Site: Has the Vernier Teleport been surveyed for access to PAS1, PAS10 Intelsat 902 and 905 with the antennas purchased already by the UNHCR? Has the Vernier Teleport concrete bases to install the UNHCR antennas correctly for the above satellites? Does the old 7.6m antenna need removing to facilitate the new installations? Who is responsible for the provision of incoming electrical supply into the Vernier Teleport A) Swisscom Is there and existing generator and UPS? A) Generator = Yes (maintained by Swisscom), UPS = NO How much space is there in existing shelters to understand the available space for racks it will be necessary to understand the floor plan of the shelters? A) There are 2 x 20 equipment containers. Who will be responsible for Site Security and general property management (Upkeep of the fencing, drainage etc) at the Vernier site? A) The vendor providing the service. 1. Does PSTN termination has to be provided? If so, - what kind of capacity and interconnect link is needed? - what is the monthly volume? - do have already or need PSTN numbering plans? of which country? - How does the bill specification have to look like? A) The voice network will be connected to the UNHCR HQ PBX using a redundant PRI line. UNHCR will discuss PSTN numbering plans with the chosen vendor. Can central hub be located outside Geneva (Vernier)? e.g. in Spain or

9 Germany? What are the arguments for UNHCR to keep it in Vernier? A) This question is not relevant to the RFP. If hub in your facility in Vernier is placed and used, what kind of personnel will be placed there of UNHCR? In this scenario would is it foreseen that we place there 1 controller? A) Please refer to 5.1h of the RFP Regarding existing contractual satellite commitments. Is it correct that these contracts remain with UNHCR and so we do not have to include costs for the space segment of the existing contractual commitments in our proposal? A) The vendor has to provide cost for all space segments. PAS1R and PAS10 expire end of this year already. What will happen for 2006? A) UNHCR will extend the leases Is there any additional space segment foreseen for 2006 to be purchased by us for the existing sites? A) Refer to the table in 3.2 of the RFP for bandwidth requirements. Is there any space segment left- over (idle) which we can use for new sites in 2006? Which level of sparing do you want us to provide: per site, per country or per region? A) It is the vendor s decision to provide this information. Can the uplink be SCPC DAMA? Interfaces: what type of interfaces from PBX to local Telco do you use (per PBX)?

10 A) Standard CO lines, or PRI where available. Could you please precise on which sites UNHCR needs voice mail systems, and for how many users you need them (per site)? A) This is an operational issue which will be discussed with the chosen vendor. UPS: do existing UPS support only 220v AC or do they also support 48v DC? A) Both Could the Call Manager be located at the teleport (in our premises)? Does the existing Cisco router equipment at the remote sites have an available Ethernet Port? Are there additional ( 2 minimum ) Ethernet Switch ports on the Catalyst switches at the remote sites? A) There are no Catalyst switches at the remote sites. Regarding the Central Hub site equipment destined for the Vernier Teleport Site: Are the new 3.8m and 4.8m antennas equipped with motorization and complete tracking systems? A) 3.8m = NO, 4.8m = YES Are new 3.8m and 4.8m antennas equipped with de-icing systems A) 3.8m = NO, 4.8m = YES Is it correct to assume neither the modems nor the Hub transceivers have redundancy switches? Is there a network management system at this moment in time if so which elements does it manage?

11 Have the batteries on any remote site been replaced since purchase some are quite old for a UPS system Do UNHCR have engineering staff at the hub, if so how many, and how skilled? A) This question is not relevant, refer to 5.1.h of the RFP What level of support/competence is at each remote site? A) This question is not relevant, refer to 5.1.h of the RFP Would it be possible to see a typical week or month's utilization graphs? A) No, This question is related to operational issues and not relevant to the RFP. Regarding personnel: We would like to explore the issue of safety afforded to bid winner / contractor personnel by the UN when they are required to deploy into some of the overseas, potentially hostile countries listed in the bid. Can you provide extra clarification on the degree of oversight, protection, UN site security procedures that would be available to our personnel who will be providing the installation, maintenance and training functions on these remote sites. A) This is an operational issue which will be discussed with the chosen vendor.

CLARIFICATIONS N 6 TO THE CALL FOR TENDERS N ECHO/C4/FRA/2013/12.

CLARIFICATIONS N 6 TO THE CALL FOR TENDERS N ECHO/C4/FRA/2013/12. EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL HUMANITARIAN AID AND CIVIL PROTECTION - ECHO ECHO.C - Resources, Partnerships and Operational Support C/4 - Field Network, Transport and Logistics CLARIFICATIONS