BitCentral System Upgrades

The Employee Education System (EES) provides education satellite services for VA employees and contractors. To provide these services, EES uses a broadcast automation system. The EES VA Knowledge Network (VAKN) currently uses the Bitcentral automation system; EES now has a requirement to upgrade the system. The Bitcentral automation system receives all on-air logs for the two VAKN channels, from the current traffic system ProTrack via broadcast exchange format (BXF). With the daily on-air logs from ProTrack, Bitcentral manages/controls the VAKN video file playout on the two dedicated playout servers, which is also part of the Bitcentral automation system. Bitcentral also controls/manages the two ingest servers for all new content to be prepped for playout on the VAKN channels. These ingest servers are also part of the Bitcentral system.
The current Bitcentral system needs to be upgraded for the following reasons: 1) currently there is no redundancy for the two playout servers or the two ingest servers. Redundancy is very important in a 24/7/365 operation like VAKN. With the upgrade there will be no down time on the VAKN on-air distribution. 2)The current playout servers have limited storage capacity. With the growing content distribution demands for VAKN channels, the Bitcentral system needs a dedicated online central storage system. This update will include a central storage array to archive all VAKN content that is not currently needed on the playout servers. So, to eliminate any file storage issues on the two playout servers. 3) the current Bitcentral database is located on the ingest server. This configuration has no redundancy for the system database. With the upgrade there will be a central server system that will have the database installed on it and all other ancillary services now running on the ingest and playout servers. This upgrade will greatly enhance the operability of the system and give the system much needed redundancy for this mission critical VAKN distribution system.
The upgrade shall provide the following:
The Contractor shall develop a Contractor Project Management Plan (CPMP) and briefing, deliver all hardware and software needed for the Bitcentral automation upgrade project, deliver all administration and operations training, and deliver continued support of the Bitcentral automation system.
In addition, the Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, and other resources required to complete the upgrade. This will include supplying all software and hardware to complete the full upgrade and all professional services, including remote and onsite integration, commissioning, testing and onsite administration and operational training. Final commissioning and UAT (user acceptance testing) shall be performed onsite.
The Contractor shall perform the mandatory tasks and provide the specific deliverables described below within the performance period stated in this PD. If, for any reason, any deliverable cannot be delivered on time according to the below schedule, the Contractor shall provide a written explanation to the Program Manager (PM)/Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) three days prior to deliverable due date.
This written transmittal shall include a firm commitment of when the work shall be completed. This transmittal to the PM/COR shall cite the reasons for the delay and the impact on the overall project.
The Contractor shall not commit or permit any act that interferes with the performance of work awarded to another Contractor or with the performance of Government employees.
In any case where, while fulfilling the contract requirements, the Contractor disturbs any work guaranteed under another separate contract, the Contractor must restore such disturbed work.
Delivery of hardware shall be within 60 days of award. The electronic delivery for the software shall be within 10 days of award.