Attachment A
CAD/AVL Questions
Part I: General Questions
1 Vendor, CAD/AVL, and Post-Deployment
1.1 Vendor and CAD/AVL
number / Question / Response /1.1.1.1.a
/ Describe the key distinctions of your CAD/AVL solution that differentiates it from the rest of the market.1.1.1.1.b
/ How many public transit clients does your company currently service?1.1.1.1.c
/ How many CAD/AVL implementations within public transit has your company accomplished in the last 5 years? Describe unique problems that your company solved for your public transit customers1.1.1.1.d
/ How many CAD/AVL implementations has your company accomplished with a fleet of over 400 vehicles in the last 5 years?1.1.1.1.e
/ How many CAD/AVL implementations has your company accomplished with integration with P25 voice and cellular data technology?1.1.1.1.f
/ Roughly, how long have your CAD/AVL implementations taken from Notice to Proceed to Final Acceptance?a) With inclusion of implementation of voice and data communications
b) With the voice and data communications structure already in place
1.1.1.1.g
/ What is your experience with the following voice Radio hardware requirements?1. Design the radio installation and integration for each vehicle type;
2. Plan the installation of radios;
3. Install mobile voice radios, interconnecting cables, power conditioning equipment, coaxial cable, and antennas;
4. Design and install interfaces between the on-board CAD/AVL system and the mobile radios and, between the consoles and the central CAD/AVL systems to provide the complete functionality required;
5. Integrate mobile voice radios with the CAD/AVL system through the MDT and/or VLU and provide the services in items 1 through 4 above for the combined mobile radio/MDT; and
6. Document as-built installations.
7. Develop the testing plan for review and approval by the owner.
8. Conduct all required systems testing,
9. Develop and provide training,
.
1.1.1.1.h
/ In what year did your company start developing and selling CAD/AVL solutions?1.1.1.1.i
/ Describe a typical service level agreement that you would offer to your customers.1.1.1.1.j
/ Does your company support any user groups that are relevant to public transit?1.1.1.1.k
/ Where is your company’s closest office to Oakland Ca?1.1.1.1.l
/ Describe the tenure and experience of the senior management team1.1.1.1.m
/ Does your company have a satisfaction program? How does your company measure customer satisfaction?1.1.1.1.n
/ Describe end-user support policies, services and capabilities, including availability of support staff, number of support staff dedicated to your application, availability of service level reporting, and response time for high priority issues.1.1.1.1.o
/ Does your company have a support site or portal?1.1.1.1.p
/ How long has the current version of the software been in production?1.1.1.1.q
/ Discuss the future of the application in the next 3 to 5 years, detailing development efforts related to new functionality and modules.1.1.1.1.r
/ Provide a diagram of the relationship between modules and the integration points between those modules.1.1.1.1.s
/ Describe how application software updates are ‘pushed out’1.1.1.1.t
/ Describe your support policy for end-of-life and near end-of-life applications1.2 Post-Deployment Purchase Options
number / QUESTION / Response /1.2.1.1.a Des
/ Describe options available from your company to purchase additional units of onboard equipment after deployment.1.2.1.1.b
/ Describe options available from your company to purchase additional software licenses after deployment.1.2.1.1.c
/ Describe options available from your company to purchase extended Maintenance and Warranty agreements.1.2.1.1.d
/ Describe options available from your company to purchase training vouchers after System Acceptance.Part II: Technical Questions
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2 Central Systems
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2.1 Central System Options
2.1.1 Hosted Central System Option
The responder should provide a detailed description for a vendor hosted central system solution. This shall include any assumptions and information that would allow AC Transit to make a decision on this option.
number / question / Response /2.1.1.1.a Des
/ Describe your company’s ability to host a central system solution.2.1.1.1.b
/ Describe the District’s infrastructure and resource requirements should the District select the hosted Central System option.2.1.1.1.c
/ Describe how the solution would differ from the traditional CAD/AVL solution with respect to delivery, implementation, and warranty2.1.1.1.d
/ Provide a rough implementation timeline for the hosted solution.2.1.2 Redundant Central System Options
The responder should provide a detailed description of the proposed solution for a separate, physically redundant site located at the agency’s disaster recovery site in Sacramento. This shall include any assumptions and information that would allow AC Transit to make a decision on this option.
number / Question / Response /2.1.2.1.a
/ Is your company able to implement and integrate a parallel backup central system at a location separate from the primary central system? The backup central system should maintain full operation indefinitely, with automatic and immediate failover if the primary central system becomes not fully operational.2.1.2.1.b
/ Can the primary system provide redundant connections to the cellular data WAN link, voice radio system WAN link, and AC Transit’s WAN to garages and user workstations?2.1.2.1.c
/ Can the primary system supply provisions to connect temporary workstations directly to the backup system if needed?2.1.2.1.d
/ When the primary system becomes available after an outage, can the backup system automatically revert operation back to the primary system?2.1.2.1.e
/ Can the primary system hardware operate at the Disaster Recovery site in Sacramento?2.2 Hardware
2.2.1 General
number / QUESTION / RESPONSE /2.2.1.1.a
/ Does the solution include a ‘complete’ central system, where all needed functions are delivered in a turnkey manner, with any equipment, software or work needed to create a complete system included as part of the delivery?2.2.1.1.b
/ Does delivery of the solution include minimally, all needed computer processing devices, keyboards and navigation devices, and displays for devices, workstations and servers as well as networking and communications equipment?2.2.1.1.c
/ Does the solution have the capability to reside on an AC Transit IT subnet, as opposed to being a separate “stand-alone” network?2.2.1.1.d
/ Does the solution include a data archiving and retrieval function?2.2.1.1.e
/ Describe the central system’s failover capability, including logging and notification.2.2.1.1.f
/ What reporting rates back to the OCC for a vehicle location upon request by the OCC is the solution able to provide?2.2.1.1.g
/ What reporting rates for any GPS-equipped asset within a Controller selected geographic region is the solution able to provide? .2.2.1.1.h
/ What superior display technologies is the system capable of incorporating with each workstation?2.2.1.1.i
/ Does the solution allow incorporating the functionality of both CAD/AVL and Radio with a single keyboard and mouse?2.2.1.1.j
/ Is the solution capable of detecting faults on field equipment and raising an alarm on the Controller and Maintenance workstations within 60 seconds?2.2.1.1.k
/ Is the solution capable of displaying and storing all system measurements in US Customary units (inches, feet, yards, and miles)?2.2.1.1.l
/ Describe the GPS data elements that the system is capable of receiving and storing from each vehicle.2.2.1.1.a
/ Does the solution provide a separate, totally disconnected System Administration and test environment with sufficient hardware and software to comprise a small-scale representation of the production system?2.2.1.1.b
/ Does the solution provide a central system test environment that incorporates sufficient hardware and software to comprise an adequate small-scale representation of the entire production system including servers, workstations, databases, storage, networking, onboard equipment, onboard equipment interconnections, voice communications and data communications including two CAD/AVL training units simulating bus operations and conditions?2.2.1.1.c
/ Is the system capable of continuous functionality should AC Transit change cellular providers or technology where cellular technology operates at similar or higher speeds?2.2.2 Garage WLAN Access Points
number / QUESTION / rESPONSE /2.2.2.1.a
/ Does the solution have the capability to provide wireless Access Point (AP) coverage at all AC Transit Bus Depots to enable WLAN connectivity for data exchange between the onboard VLU and the central system via Bulk Data Transfer?2.2.2.1.b
/ Does the system allow the VLU to authenticate automatically when the vehicles enter inside the Wi-Fi accessible zone without manual intervention?2.2.2.1.c
/ Describe the WLAN equipment protocols, compliances, and frequencies that the solution supports.2.2.2.1.d
/ Describe the functions that the solution’s WLAN Controller supports.2.2.2.1.e
/ Is the Contractor able to provide a WLAN controller at all three garages where the WLAN controller and wireless APs shall support the following functions?1. The WLAN controller shall automatically detect and configure the wireless APs.
2. The WLAN controller shall provide full control of the wireless APs.
3. Wireless APs shall monitor radio frequency characteristics including receive signal strength, noise, and interference (from other 802.11 radios) on all channels in its operational frequency band. The data shall be collected and analyzed by the WLAN controller.
4. The WLAN controller shall use the real time radio frequency monitoring information received from the Wireless APs to optimize the WLAN capacity.
5. The WLAN controller shall assign radio channels to each Wireless AP to avoid interference and channel conflicts.
6. The WLAN Controller shall dynamically control the transmit power of each Wireless AP to maximize WLAN coverage and performance while minimizing interference with neighboring Wireless APs in the WLAN system.
2.3 Software
2.3.1 General
number / QUESTION / RESPONSE /2.3.1.1.a
/ Does the core CAD/AVL operational components (controller workstation, servers, WLAN access points via firewall, remote access servers, etc.) have the capability to reside on separate virtual LANs, for example, on AC Transit’s network within an address space and numbering convention to be provided by the agency?2.3.1.1.b
/ Is all CAD/AVL software completely independent of the hardware that it resides on?2.3.1.1.c
/ Describe comprehensive system security plans that your company has developed for your CAD/AVL solutions, including access control based on groups, user ability to change passwords, encryption, server authentication etc.2.3.1.1.d
/ Does the solution provide the capability to issue alarms at failures such as the following?· A network device or communications fault;
· A security breach;
· A device fault;
· A failed or incomplete data transfer; and
· Server services failure
2.3.1.1.e
/ Does the system have the capability to generate and disseminate real-time transit traveler information to the regional 511 system, agency-owned infrastructure, and web/mobile services?2.3.1.1.a
/ Does the solution provide a separate Real Time Passenger Information System? If so, describe2.3.1.1.b
/ Describe the system’s capability to accurately update real-time arrival predictions and service alerts based on:1. Service adjustments
2. Detours
3. Cancelled services
4. Supplemental services
5. Drop off only
6. Addition of supplemental service (trippers)
2.3.1.1.c
/ Describe the system’s capability to report Real-time arrival predictions for services operated under headway management mode.2.3.1 Network
number / QUESTION / RESPONSE /2.3.1.1.a
/ Is the proposed system an end-to-end IP based solution?2.3.2 Database
number / QUESTION / RESPONSE /2.3.2.1.a
/ Does the solution operate on a Microsoft SQL server relational database management platform?2.3.2.1.b
/ Describe the solution’s archiving, backup, and recovery solution, including the equipment and systems necessary to implement the solution.2.3.2.1.c
/ Describe the solution’s Long Term database and how frequently it is populated from the active database, and data retention periods.2.4 System
2.4.1 General
number / QUESTION / RESPONSE /2.4.1.1.a
/ Describe the solution’s CAD/AVL system functionality, and how it has been previously proven in transit operations.2.4.1.1.b
/ Describe how the System integrates with the voice and data communications system.2.4.1.1.c
/ Does the system detect failures and restart processes automatically?2.4.1.1.d
/ Does the system check for service failures and relay the status on the CAD/AVL display?2.4.1.1.e
/ Does the system allow Controllers to seamlessly switch the handset between the voice radio and telephone headset?2.4.1.1.f
/ Does the system provide representation and management of fixed route service by the following?1. Run: This refers to the complete piece of work for an operator (duties) that may include vehicle changes during the course of the day.
2. Block: This refers to the complete piece of work for the vehicle or driver, which may include multiple routes/interlined trips, and operators.
3. Route: This refers to the overall route identifier, under which there would be a series of patterns.
4. Trip: This refers to a specific one‐way trip for the vehicle related to start/end times and points.
5. Timepoints/Stops: Timepoint refers to a point along a route where trips are assigned arrival or departure times. A stop is defined as an established location where public transport customers may board or alight from a transit vehicle in revenue service
2.4.1.1.g
/ Does the system allow individual Controllers to:1. Logon with appropriate password;
2. Logoff; and
3. Enter standby or “break” mode that will automatically transfer work assignments to another controller without requiring Controllers to logoff the system?
2.4.1.1.h
/ Does the system save all user preferences by user logon so that users may access their saved preferences from any CAD workstation?2.4.1.1.i
/ Does the system provide on‐line manuals and help functions?2.4.1.1.j
/ Does the system have the capability to notify AC Transit automatically by email and/or CAD/AVL text messaging of significant service disruptions, such as unusual delays, incidents, detours, or missed trips? .2.4.1.1.k
/ Does the system allow Controllers access to non-CAD/AVL applications and resources from the same workstation (email, PDFs)?2.4.1.1.l
/ Does the system provide the following basic views, which can be sorted by all available fields, in addition to the message queues?1. Map displays (allowing for multiple map windows and zoom settings);
2. Route displays indicating vehicles relative to stops along a route;
3. Vehicle lists of all vehicles active in the system;
4. Operator lists of all operators logged into the system;
5. Trip lists of all trips currently active in the system;
6. Incident or event lists (for work assigned to controller or vehicle‐specific) which shows all actions conducted through the CAD/AVL;
7. Summaries of pull‐out/pull‐in status by first/last timepoint, location, block, and depot in separate summaries;
8. Linear headway display (“Bus Spacing” display); and
9. Operator First Name, Last Name, and employee ID.
2.4.1.1.m