Contracts Group, Bldg 588, Mail Stop 32, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD 20670-5304

70 -- GENERAL PURPOSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT SOL N00421-97-Q-1146 POC Jeanette Moronta, Contract Specialist, (301) 342-1825, ext. 165, Contracting Officer, JoAnn R. Gough E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist via e-mail, Moronta_Jeanette%pax9b@mr.nawcad.navy.mil. This is amendment 001 to the synopsis/solicitation N00421-97-Q-1146 for a Redundant Array of Independent Disks that originally appeared in the CBD on Friday 11 July 1997. It was republished in the CBD on Monday 28 July 1997. The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions submitted which clarify the original specifications. The questions are listed underneath the requirement to which it applies. Additional questions (not applicable to one requirement are included at the end of this amendment. The answers to the following questions clarify the specifications originally published in 28 July 1997 CBD: REQUIREMENT: (1a) "Transfer Rate -- Peak > 20 MB/Sec; Sustained > 17 MB/Sec." QUESTION: (1) What is the requirement for the performance levels of the system in I/O's per second processed? ANSWER: Data transfer peak > 20MB/sec, sustained > 17MB/sec. (2) How many types of I/O ports (for stored data only) shall be present? ANSWER: There are three I/O ports. The I/O ports are the SCSI bus, the DCRsi Format data bus, and the RS-232/RS-422 control bus. REQUIREMENT: (2a) "Formatted Storage -- 9 GB 3.5 inch SCSI drive (2b) Storage capacity of 36 GB (installed) per chassis with 2 additional chassis (w/o drives), (2c) Expandable Disk Compatibility of 72 GB per chassis" QUESTION: (3) Are the following specifications quantities correct? (also in bidding, I have concluded that REDUNDANT FANS, POWER, etc. are part of the chassis). QUANTITY DESCRIPTION 1 RAID Chassis with drives expandable to 72 GB 2 Additional removable drive bays (same as used in original solicitation) 4 9 GB 3.5 inch SCSI drives 1 9 GB 3.5 inch SCSI parity disk 3 Host fast & wide SCSI-3 meter cables (clarification to Requirement on supplies to be included) ANSWER: Yes, they above specifications are correct, also the RAID system must operate on 120 volts, which is standard to the industry. REQUIREMENT: (4b) GENERAL INTERFACES "DCRsi Format Data Bus, RS-232/RS-422 Control Bus, IRIG-B Time Code Interface, Auxiliary Data Compatibility". QUESTION: (4) There is a reference in the solicitation to the unit being COTS (commercial over the shelf); but the references of "DCRsi" and "IRIG-B" are not COTS features of RAID subsystems. If this is in reference to a specific manufacturer's product, would you please let bidders know? ANSWER: DCRsi and IRIG-B are commonly used terms for the items described; they are not specific to any one manufacturer. (5) Are the DCRsi Format Data Bus and the IRIG-B Time Code Interface software communications/handshaking interface protocols, or actually units of interface hardware (specific communication controllers with firmware)? ANSWER: AMPEX is an industry format; the IRIG-B is a Government format. They are software communications handshaking interface protocols. REQUIREMENT (6): Temperature Control -- a) Operating -- 10 to 40 C b) Storage -- 1 to 60 C c) Operating Humidity -- 20 to 80%, non-condensing. QUESTION: (6) What is the environment into which the referenced RAID will be placed? ANSWER: An air filled cavity that has a temperature range of 10 C to 40 C and a humidity range of 20 to 80%, non-condensing. It is usually air conditioned and filtered. It will be utilized aboard ship. This does not change the specifications, it is a clarification of how the RAID will be utilized. REQUIREMENT (7): "RAID disk unit shall be COTS and operate (operate means: The interface control module translates the RAID control commands and data into DCRsi-compatible (Digital Cassette Recording System is a registered trademark of AMPEX) commands and data. DCRsi compatibility includes transparent operation of the control software, user log, auxiliary data and time code functions. The DCRsi interface shall be used without exception for data transfer) without modification with the Integrated Circuit Systems (ICS) interface card as well as an ICS-1000 data collection system." QUESTION: (7) What is the requirement for the controller to be used? ANSWER: The controller requirement is the ICS-7220 interface board with daughter board for digital data recorder interface. (8) What platform is the RAID array going to connect to? ANSWER: The ICS-1000 with DCRsi interface. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: (9) What microprocessor does the ICS-1000 run with and is there a way that I can obtain additional technical specifications on the ICS-1000?. ANSWER: Questions specific to the ICS-1000 hardware may be directed to: Dipak Roy at I.C.S., Ltd. 5430 Canotek Road -- Glouster, Glouster, Ontario, Canada K1J9G2 Bus: (613) 749-9241 Bus Fax: (613) 749-9461 (10) What is the requirement for the operating system or the server used? ANSWER: Unix and VxWorks. QUESTION: (11) What is the application it is being used for, and what software systems must it support? ANSWER: The application is being used for data storage. It must support the AMPEX DCRsi Digital Cartridge Recording System format. The host could be a PC (Windows 95/NT, Unix,...), Workstation (Unix,...) or other. QUESTION: (12) What are the RAID level specifications necessary for this unit? Is this a RAID 5 requirement? ANSWER: The minimum requirement is a RAID 3 system. QUESTION: (13) How much cache does the customer want? ANSWER: Cache is not a requirement unless the system that the bidder is building requires cache to meet the data transfer requirements. QUESTION: (14) Does the customer want rack -- mounted or Tower, if rack mounted, how much space does the rack have available or would a small enclosure be included in the bid? ANSWER: Tower mounted. QUESTION: (15) Does the Vx/Works system have a SCSI interface? ANSWER: Yes. QUESTION: (16) Does the Vx/Works system have a DCRsi interface? ANSWER: Yes, it has an interface board which is the ICS-7220. QUESTION: (17) Shall the RAID system connect to the Vx/Works system via SCSI or DCRsi? ANSWER: It will connected via the DCRsi interface which is the controller for the RAID. For questions specific to the ICS system, please contact Dipak Roy from I.C.S. Ltd. The address and phone number was previously listed. QUESTION: (18) Does the Vx/Works system connect to an AMPEX like, tape recorder? ANSWER: Yes. QUESTION: (19) Can we get a diagram of the data flow and connectivity for the RAID system? The data flow is through the ICS-1000 which is through the DCRsi interface card which is connected by the ICS-7220. For details regarding the ICS system configuration, please contact Dipak Roy at I.C.S. Ltd. Amended offers are due to CONTRACTS, Code 25421S, Bldg. 588, Suite 2, NAWCAD 47253 Whalen Road, Unit 588, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463, by 2:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time 3 September 1997. Offerors that have already submitted a bid and have no changes should notify this office of that fact via fax by the stated deadline. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. For information regarding this solicitation amendment, contact Jeanette Moronta, Code 25421S (301) 342-1825, ext. 165. For copies of FAR provision 52.212-3 or DFARS provision 252.212-7001, fax your request to Jeanette Moronta, (301) 342-1847.***** (0239)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0312 19970902\70-0001.SOL)