Pali High is a public K-12 secondary school, chartered by LA Unified School District, serving roughly 2,700 students and employing about 130 teachers and staff. Prior to Phase I, the school operated on an existing 10/100 Mbs LAN, controlled by Los Angeles Unified School District [LAUSD], and experienced unacceptable performance. Several contributing factors were identified, including certain flaws in the physical layer, some use of sub-CAT5e components, and possible limitations of existing switches or their configurations. Phase I proposals included recommendations as to the most cost-effective approaches to upgrading network performance. Contracts for Phase I were recently awarded, including upgrades to an all-gigabit VLAN-optimized network in several buildings, and--pending clear demonstration of anticipated improvements from this phase-- contracts will be awarded for Phase II in the near future. Because of familiarity with the project, Phase I vendors enjoy some advantage in bidding for Phase II; but to ensure cost-effectiveness and compliance with applicable regulations, competitive bids are nevertheless sought for Phase II.
Palisades Charter High School [Pali High], in Pacific Palisades CA, seeks written proposals to provide the following Maintenance and Upgrades to its Local Area Network, to be completed in these Phases:
Phase I included the following scope of work.
It should be noted that Building A currently also houses an isolated, Token Ring subnet. LA USD may be replacing this subnet by new Ethernet drops during the same time period. The work contemplated here does not involve that network; any new network drops added by LA USD during the replacement of the Token Ring subnet should not be touched during this project, since they will be part of a special, administrative network, unrelated to the main "PaliNet" campus network.
Phase II (The subject of this RFP)Phase IIa comprises upgrades and repairs to the existing data network for all buildings except A, B, and Mercer Hall, based on results from Phase I. If some tasks did not significantly impact performance or reliability for the first three buildings, those steps may be eliminated from the scope of work for Phase II. Additional details are described below.
Phase IIb comprises new wiring and associated infrastructure for areas on the campus where access to the data network is currently limited or non-existent.
Proposals for Phase II should address all tasks from both IIa and IIb.
Phase III (A future RFP)Phase III will comprise the addition of wireless access points to enable roving laptop usage without compromising network security.
Proposals for Phase III are not required at this time. Proposals for each Phase, when submitted, should show separate line items for: (1) physical layer; (2) patch cables; (3) switches; (4) configuration of active elements (including VLANs, if recommended). Pali High reserves the right to accept separate bids from different vendors, for different elements of this RFP; and bidders are not obligated to respond to all elements. However, other considerations being equal, slight preference may be given to vendors proposing to provide most or all required products and services through a single contract or through an established and clear teaming arrangement. It is anticipated, but not required, that all passive element materials and labor might be handled by a single vendor, with a single, separate vendor providing all of the active element electronics.
Preliminary analysis of existing cable infrastructure has revealed both minor and major flaws, requiring additional troubleshooting and correction. Proposals should include resolution of all known flaws, as well as sufficient additional testing to identify and correct any additional causes for slow, unreliable LAN performance on this campus. Electronic/hardcopy test results are expected for all new drops and all drops associated with work performed. Phase I applies only to Buildings A, B, and Mercer Hall; Phase II applies to existing wiring in all other buildings except those, and to new wiring as specified herein.
The following rooms require installation of new copper data wiring:
Several rooms with existing data wiring need additional drops installed on the walls opposite existing runs; further details will be made available during walkthroughs and/or via email interchanges. Proposals should include all necessary materials, including additional racks or data cabinets as needed, and can specify an approximate "per additional drop" figure to allow for minor change orders regarding locations or numbers of drops.
All wiring should use CAT5e, unshielded, twisted pair, punched to female RJ45 Type 110 patch panels and wall jacks. EIA-TIA T568B color code should be used, after confirming 1-1 consistency with color convention used in nearest existing wiring closet. All new drops should be verified using Siemon STM-8 or better test equipment, with all four pairs passing on every drop. Raceway should be installed as appropriate to protect all surface-mounted cabling and outlets. Punchdowns should be CAT5e compliant, performed by certified installation personnel, with at most 0.5" of untwisted cable at each termination. Electronic copies of test results, or signed certification of successful CAT5e T568 testing, is required for all new runs.
Historical test results for existing cabling are available for inspection, on site, to aid in troubleshooting and preparation of bids for Phases II and III.
The school currently operates approximately 700 networked computers, many of which are connected to the network using hand-crimped patch cables, ranging in length from 5 - 50 feet, depending upon classroom layouts and other considerations. Many of the existing patch cables may not be fully compliant with CAT5e data cable specifications. Vendor should propose to provide an adequate inventory of CAT5e, unshielded twisted pair [UTP] patch cables, in a suitable variety of lengths, to eliminate all hand-crimped cables on connections from computers (and from network printers) to RJ45 wall outlets. It is estimated that approximately 350-400 new cables, mostly ranging from 5 feet to 15 feet in length, will be required, total, for Phases I and II.
In many cases, the existing patch cables at MDF and IDF patch panels are also sub-CAT5e. Typically these cables are 1' to 3' in length. All such cables should be replaced by CAT5e cables. Upwards of 1000 such patch cables may be required to bring all racks up to CAT5e specifications (Phases I and II).
A count of cables not provided during Phase I will be made available by email to qualified bidders shortly, clarifying the numbers of patch cables required during Phase II.
Provide and install a sufficient quantity of full duplex, autosensing, high-quality, reputable, name brand Ethernet data switches. (Switches compatible with the Hewlett Packard Procurves selected during Phase I are required.) Fiber should be operated at gigabit speed. Copper will be operated at gigabit speeds for data and at 100 Mbs speeds for Voice-over-IP [VoIP] telephones. Switches should normally be auto-sensing for older workstations operating at 10 or 100 Mbs. Advanced management features compatible with the HP Procurve family are expected. Configuration of VLANs to manage collision domains consistently with the Phase I design will be required.
Both multi-mode and single-mode fiber runs exist, but the single-mode fiber is dark. Connections will be made using less expensive 62.5 micron, multi-mode fiber. When there is a cost-effective alternative on newly purchased equipment, SC connectors are preferred to ST connectors.
Some existing switches may be re-used, after testing to ensure correction operation with zero packet loss on all ports. However, use of existing switches should be limited to local classroom or office connections, only, with uplinks terminating at the nearest Intermediate Distribution Frame [IDF]. Connections between the Main Distribution Frame [MDF] and IDFs should consistently use full duplex, gigabit fiber, with appropriate new switches providing sufficient fiber ports for all connections between racks, and sufficient copper ports for connections to other switches on the same rack. Some classrooms are configured as "computer labs" and may require bonded groupings of copper connections from a a local classroom switch to the nearest IDF, to ensure adequate throughput, since there are usually no fiber runs to individual classrooms. All connections should be CAT5e compliant, neatly labeled and dressed, and tested, and all costs for interconnect cables should be included in the proposal. Phase I addressed only what was required for Buildings A and B, and Mercer Hall; Phase II will include the analogous equipment for the existing wiring in all other buildings, as well as the necessary active elements for all new wiring.
Where existing facilities are inadequate, additional racks and/or rack-mounted surge protection equipment may be required. Please identify likely cases during walk-through and provide an estimated cost per additional unit applicable in the case of minor change orders.
It is estimated that several dozen new switches with combined copper and fiber capabilities will ultimately be required, when all Phases are complete. A Phase I HP Procurve 5308 installed at the MDF will need to be upgraded to handle additional fiber connections from the remaining buildings during Phase II. All switches are to be rack-mounted on standard 19" equipment racks. Data quality 19" surge suppressors should also be proposed, to protect all active elements on each rack, except in those locations where there is already adequate protection from existing Uninterruptible Power Supplies [UPSs].
MDF and IDF switches need to be configured at all racks, campus-wide, except where configuration was completed during Phase I, in a manner consistent with the VLAN design resulting from Phase I.
Existing desktop and classroom switches should require no configuration, but testing of all existing switches for reliable operation and zero packet loss, on all data ports, is required. Classroom switches with separate uplink ports or MDI/MDIX buttons should be checked to ensure deployment is correct, and labeled to discourage incorrect operation by end users. (Blocking unusable ports with RJ45 "blanks" is recommended.) Phase I involves performing this task for Buildings A and B, and Mercer Hall only; Phase II involves performing this task for all other buildings.
Spanning Tree should be disabled on any switches supporting this feature, since it interferes with AppleTalk protocol. Although the primary network protocol on this campus is TCP/IP, AppleTalk is still used by older Macs, for network browsing, and for accessing existing network printers. Use of AppleTalk is temporary, and will be phased out within one year; ultimately, only TCP/IP protocol will be supported.
Switches needed for each Phase should be installed and configured as necessary during that Phase. These labor costs should be taken into consideration in preparing the proposal for each phase.
Proposals for each phase, when prepared, should include options for annual maintenance agreements, for all cabling and electronics installed during that phase.
Phase II bids must be received no later than 11:59 PM PST Wednesday 27 July 2005, as shown above. Phase II work must begin within one week of contract award, and be completed by August 26, 2005. The current contract award will be for Phase II work only. Aggressive scheduling and firmness of commitment to schedule will be a factor in vendor selection. It is likely, but not guaranteed, that the Phase II winner will be selected for Phase III as well.
Minimization of downtime is essential. Hence, bidders are asked to specify cost impact for occasions when work must be performed on nights, weekends, or holidays, and to indicate possible schedule impact associated with such constraints. Timely completion by August 26, 2005 is a key element in this project. Final contract negotiations will include penalties for late completion and possible incentives for early completion.
Criteria for evaluation of proposals will be as follows:
Pali High reserves the right to withdraw this request, without placing any orders, at any time, or to negotiate changes to these specifications in consultation with qualified bidders. Please check this web site from time to time, in preparing your bid, since answers to clarification questions of general interest may be posted here, to ensure a level playing field and fair competitive process.
It is acceptable to bid on either on the active element electronics, or the cabling, or both. However, bids must identify all other necessary materials, including patch panels, wall outlets, jack inserts, raceways, cable ties, patch cables, etc., as well as the actual labor to install and configure all materials including the active elements, should the school acquire those separately.
Please specify where taxes or shipping costs are applicable and provide estimates for these amounts in your proposal.
Qualified bidders may request an appointment for a site
walk-through, as indicated below. All bids, walk-through
appointments, and requests for clarification should be submitted
by email or fax only to:
Other forms of submission will be considered non-responsive and will not be acknowledged, considered, or returned.
