Question and Answers from Telephone System Site Visits

 

The following questions were discussed during the site visits today:

 

  1. How are the City’s buildings connected?

All of the City’s buildings are connected via fiber, with the exception of the Public Works Department and Treatment Plant.  DSL service comes into the Public Works Building and copper wire connects it to the Treatment Plant a few hundred feet away (see attached map for reference).

 

  1. What types of switches does the City have and will they support specific systems?

The City’s IT consultant recommended vendors proceed under the assumption that the switches currently in place will not support the proposed systems.  The type of switches proposed is up to the individual vendor.

 

  1. How many phone/faxes are at each building?  Are there separate LANS?

City staff is preparing a breakdown by building that includes the number of phones/faxes and whether they have there own dedicated port or if it will share a port with the CPU.  Attached, you will find a pdf of the phone and fax lines including number of phones attached to each line.  Generally, the Police Addition, the Building/Zoning and Engineering Building, the Sycamore Center (Administration) and Fire Station 2 have a dedicated port for the CPU and another available for phone.  Generally, the Water Division, Fire Station 1, Public Works and Treatment Plant do not have dedicated ports.  When the information is complete we will update the information as to which specific ports are dedicated.  Please note that the Police Station lines in the print-out represent current use and will expand to roughly 35-40 phones. 

 

  1. What type of wiring is in the buildings? 

The City’s IT consultant said that the wiring is at least Cat 5. 

 

  1. How many PRI circuits are needed?  What building(s)?

The use, set-up and number of PRI circuits are for the vendor to propose based on the solution presented.

 

  1. Who will pull the wires in the Police Addition? 

The City will pull wires to set-up the data ports in the new police addition.

 

  1. Is there a need for any wall phones, i.e. a phone for after hours at the PD? 

The Police Department has a wall phone that is connected to the dispatch center at DeKalb County.  The Police Station is connected via fiber to the dispatch center as well.

 

  1. What are the beginning and termination points of the fiber connecting the buildings?

The City’s IT consultant is going to prepare this information and we will forward it as it becomes available. 

 

  1. Does the fiber maintain quality of service (QOS) between each other?  Can model numbers at the termination point be provided to help the vendor understand if QOS is an issue?

The City’s IT consultant is going to prepare this information and we will forward it as it becomes available. 

 

  1. Can we receive copies of current bills to help present additional cost savings?

Yes.  The City has compiled the bills into an attached pdf. Contact Brian Gregory at 815-895-0918 for the attachment.

 

  1. What operating systems are used on the CPUs?

Most of the City’s CPUs are on Windows XP and some are on Windows 7.

 

  1. Does the City have an exchange server?  Is there a plan to add one?  Should we propose one?

The City currently does not have an exchange server.  It was discussed that any additional features such as an exchange server, fax to desktop module, etc. be proposed separate of the telephone system as an option if the vendor sees the feature as a benefit to its proposal.  Please have detailed breakdowns in the cost sheet to allow the City to accurately compare proposals. 

 

  1. What is meant by an 8 button phone? 

The City understands an 8 button phone to be industry standard, have basic features and be able to have multiple phone appearances.

 

  1. Which buildings have back-up generators? 

The Police Addition will have a generator, as do the buildings at 535 DeKalb Avenue.  The Fire Station #2 and the Water Division have generators as well.  The Treatment Plant hopes to have back-up power next year.  Public Works and the Sycamore Center can access portable generators if necessary. 

 

  1. What type of phone system and handsets are you currently using?

Currently the City has a Verizon Centrex and Centranet system and uses Nortel Networks and Meridian handsets.

 

  1. If you are considering VoIP services does that mean you want to look at other carrier service type like “SIP” trunking?

The City is open to consider all solutions and will leave the proposed solution to the discretion of the vendor.  The City’s main objective is to obtain a system that meets the criteria established in the RFP. 

 

Additional Information:

 

 

Here is that info plus the switch models and emergency generator info at different locations:

 

Water:

10 Connections

one wire per connection

emergency generator for entire building

Netgear JGS524 switch with fiber connection

 

F2:

5 connections

dual wires per connection

Emergency generator for entire building

Netgear GS724T switch with fiber connection

 

Treatment Plant:

3 connections from PW

3 emergency generator coming at some point as part of plant upgrades

no switch

 

PW:

9 connections

dual wires per connection

no generator

netgear 24 port switch – no fiber connection

 

Building & Engineering:

14 connections

Dual wires per connection

No generator

Netgear FS16 no fiber (connected to Public safety bldg. w/copper in conduit)

 

PD/Fire:

65 connections

One wire per connection

Generator for select circuits

2- Cisco 2950 switches

3Com 24 port 10/100 switch

 

Sycamore Center Basement:

12 connections

Dual wires per connection

No generator

Cisco 2950 w/fiber connection

 

Sycamore Center Mezzanine:

12 connections

Dual wires per connection

No generator

Netgear FS16

 

Sycamore Center Second Floor:

14 connections

Dual wires per connection

No generator

Netgear FS524

 

Attachments:

 

Sycamore Buildings Map

 

Current Phone Inventory