NOTICES
TURNPIKE COMMISSION
Retention of a Systems Integrator/Engineering Firm
[33 Pa.B. 1303]
Open End Contract
Intelligent Transportation Systems
Reference No. 3-155 The Turnpike Commission (Commission) will retain a systems integrator/engineering firm for an Open-End Contract for design and implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) along the Turnpike system. The types of ITS to be designed and integrated are defined in the Commission's document entitled Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Long Range Plan dated January 2002. Architecture for system integration and deployment in support of ITS is defined in the Commission's document entitled Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture, dated January 2002. Both documents are available on CD-ROM from the Commission upon request.
The ITS projects proposed for design and integration will be initiated through work order assignments which are prioritized and implemented based on a number of factors, including customer service and operational requirement priorities, Commission approved capital funding allocations for ITS and obligated Federal funding appropriations. The majority of ITS projects being proposed will involve Federal funding participation and will require detailed technical and cost proposals for each work order assignment in format acceptable to both the Department of Transportation (Department) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The types of projects that may be assigned under this open-end agreement and to which specialized experience and technical competence of the development team (team), the prime consultant and subconsultants are required, are detailed in the Commission's long range plan (plan). The plan, however, shall not be considered as a limiting constraint to the total quantity and types of projects, which may be required. The plan shall also not be construed as limiting technologies to those stated in the plan. Technologies, which achieve desired results, with cost saving potential and proven functionality may be considered as viable for project implementation. In addition, construction management and inspection, software and hardware acceptance testing and system acceptance testing shall be considered as part of each task assignment, as applicable. The Commission currently holds consultant services agreements with other consulting engineering firms, as well as other public entities, for the development of software integration and design services. Furthermore, the Commission anticipates entering into additional agreements in the future. It is possible that the consultant will be working on the same tasks with another consultant or public entity. The consultant shall coordinate activities with other consulting engineering firms or public entities for their contracts and projects under this agreement.
A partial listing and brief description of the ITS plan projects, which may be initiated under this open end agreement, in order of current priority, follows:
Computer Aided Dispatch System (CADS)--Through detailed coordination and interviews with Commission and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) staff, define the operations center concept of operations as it pertains to existing and future hardware and software requirements, integration with PSP IIMS CAD deployment and communications and information flow utilizing a CADS. A CADS is a data storage warehouse of all incident procedures, resources, preplanned traffic diversion routes and incident documentation providing history trails. The CADS enables the traffic management center to effectively dispatch the appropriate response equipment and personnel in a timely manner using GPS and GIS mapping. The PSP response vehicles will be tracked using automatic vehicle location and communicate from the vehicles mobile data terminal. The need for a complete CADS upgrade is required to prepare for the next phase of ITS. The integration/design team will be required to develop detailed functional requirements for the new CADS, recommend procurement of CADS hardware and software, design and integrate CADS, develop enhancements to hardware and software to operate and integrate, test and deploy a new CADS. The CADS is the primary application used in the Commission's operations center and provides emergency services to Turnpike customers through wireless and wire line communications with the PSP contracted fire, rescue and towing services integral to flow detection and incident response.
Private Telecommunications Network--Review current Turnpike system, bandwidth requirements and lease costs and initiate design to provide wire-line, wireless or a hybrid wire-line/wireless network to cost effectively disseminate video, audio and data information between ITS field devices/locations and the Commission's Central Administration Building, customers and stakeholders through wireless and wire-line technologies
Provide design to transport all ITS voice, data and video to a traffic management center for remote monitoring, command, control and redistribution. Provide this communication transport facility within the context of telecommunications industry standards of reliability and maintainability.
Traffic Flow Detection System (TFDS)--Using a combination of transponder based (short range RF technologies), radar and cell phone technologies, design a phased integrated TFDS to provide real-time traffic flow data to the Commission's Traffic Operations Center (TOC) and to inform Turnpike travelers of current travel conditions from a web speed map, which is currently in development. The information would be available to TOC personnel and to customers with internet or cellular subscription service. The web speed map would aide the operators to visually see and post messages on variable message signs (VMS) and messages on highway advisory radio (HAR), as well as allow Commission subscribing customers to view a web speed map and plan trips accordingly. The subsystem designed will also provide a tool to examine incident management results, response procedures and help develop future incident management plans. Finally, the TFDS will be utilized to identify lines and delays related to lines at all fare collection facilities as well as provide a tool for toll collection auditing. The TFDS will utilize a hybrid of vehicle detection technologies, including radar, toll tag detection and cellular to collect network system data.
Traffic Conditions Map and Website--Using the traffic conditions map (design and implementation in process), provide design enhancements and integration required to display real time data from existing and proposed new TFDS, roadway weather information systems (RWIS), closed circuit television (CCTV) traffic monitoring cameras and proposed future ITS devices. This project will enhance and integrate data, video and audio media with the website to display real-time conditions at Turnpike facilities from color-coded speed maps. The website will be enhanced to have interaction capabilities allowing users to enter their origins and destinations and obtain the expected travel time for their trips. Hot links will be provided to other traveler and roadway information websites including those maintained by public agencies, information service providers and yellow pages and reservation service providers, as these services become available in the region. Average travel times between origins and destinations, CCTV images, incident and construction information and detours along Turnpike facilities will be displayed.
Coordinated Information Management--This project requires the development of an institution/organizational framework to examine both Commission and PSP internal information and agency coordination requirements. The object of the study is to conduct a needs analysis and develop strategies for internal information management requirements. External agency implementation methodologies will be considered and addressed, as well as potential risks and mitigation strategies.
Emerging technologies such as automated server-to-server information exchange using extensible markup language will be investigated. Using this technology, an automated server provides information automatically on a screen read by a human. The ultimate condition is having a Turnpike coordinated information management system in conjunction with external agency integration. The Commission's Long Range ITS Plan (LRIP) Gap Closing Project will provide the real-time data necessary for personnel to improve response times for highway emergencies, as well as to provide for better maintenance and improved traveler safety. Archived data will be available to provide the Commission the necessary support to improve the integrity, efficiency and effectiveness of all Commission business processes and operations from the continued use of the business process re-engineering efforts.
ITS Asset Management System--This project will consist of two primary phases. The first phase will require a comprehensive inventory update and maintenance plan for existing ITS components, subsystems and related infrastructure by maintenance divisions. The maintenance plan will identify preventive maintenance procedures and schedules, spare part inventories and manpower resources required to maintain ITS equipment and components. The maintenance plan will also provide for service level agreements for hardware and software associated with ITS systems. The second phase will be an open end phase that will require periodic use by all maintenance personnel to maintain current and accurate data in the database. The asset manager will be used to track existing field equipment, maintenance of field equipment and provide a control mechanism for determining existing and future ITS needs. The system will identify the location of each inventory item by mile-marker, GPS position, offset from mainline and side of roadway. The asset manager will maintain a comprehensive listing of field components including installation date, recommended maintenance schedule and log of maintenance events. The asset manager will also provide a global perspective to all ITS components as a system and provide automated system features such as maintenance tracking, data updates and performance analysis, and automatic message notification and forecasted expenditures.
External Agency Integration--This project will revisit previous studies to determine the Commission's current and long-term external agency integration and information management requirements. The study will periodically address the specific agencies that need to be linked, as well as an examination of the external data/information required to be exchanged. The data and communication sharing between the different agencies will be based on the information and architecture flows of the National ITS architecture based on the specific needs of the Turnpike and the region. To be noted, this study is a companion study to the LRIP Gap Closing Project entitled ''Coordinated Information Management.'' That study focuses on internal data/information required to be exchanged.
Digital Monitors and Variable Message Signs (VMS)--The video monitor aspect of the VMS project is a project to develop a public private partnership to deploy video monitoring for safety information dissemination and revenue through advertising, if it is determined consistent with Federal regulations codified under 23 CFR for advertising in association with limited access interstate right-of-way. Initial work will focus on the research and preparation of a video billboard business plan to identify, calculate, manage and minimize risk in this new business area for the Commission and to develop a request for submission to the Department for evaluation and approval of the FHWA.
System Wide Detour Plan--This project will provide for periodic updates of detour plans to provide acceptable alternative routes, as approved by the Department, in cases where road closures are implemented in accordance with Plan X. These plans will allow traffic to be directed to exits off the Turnpike at specified interchanges, follow a certain route and re-enter the Turnpike at the next appropriate interchanges. The plan will identify alternative diversion routes for each road closure location.
Automatic Data Archiving/Data Analysis--This project will design and implement a data warehousing/data mining system that will collect, process, store and allow the retrieval of data generated by the Commission ITS technologies and/or obtained from other internal or external stakeholder agencies in the region. The project will integrate the Commission data warehouse with other related data warehouses and transportation agencies for data sharing. In addition, the project will provide data mining capabilities to predict future trends and behaviors.
Smart Work Zone--The focus of this project will be to improve and expand existing construction operations safety and management, including the addition of field hardware, modifications to the TOC, as well as the development of a method of operations plan. The new methods and procedures plan (best practices) will work in concert with the requirements stated in the Turnpikes Strategic Plan. The ultimate condition of the Smart Work Zone project will establish mobile units for maintenance of traffic operations and management of work zone activities for all construction projects within the Turnpike network. A total of four work zone management units will ultimately be deployed and stationed throughout the Turnpike network. In implementing design and procurement documentation for smart work zones, the integrator/engineer shall consider the contents of what is included in HB 2410 and similar legislation currently enacted.
Truck Rollover Warning System--This project integrates weigh-in-motion, height detection, speed and classification detection and information dissemination technologies to establish a vehicle rollover warning system for truck traffic on exit ramps. The system configuration will warn vehicles entering interchange deceleration areas traveling at unsafe speeds. Roadway sensors will send vehicle classification and speed data to the system controller where it is analyzed by specific algorithms to determine if present vehicle speeds are approaching or surpassing rollover thresholds. If the threshold is met, illuminated warning signs are triggered to alert the driver of unsafe speeds prior to the entrance into critical curve areas.
The ultimate condition truck rollover warning system will implement an additional three sites for a total of four warning systems within the Turnpike network. Each site will provide standard warning system data including speed and classification, as well as send real time video, speed and classification data back to the TOC.
511 Traveler Information System--This project will integrate Turnpike information dissemination operations with the Statewide 511 traveler information system being developed. The system provides comprehensive regional traveler information, including travel times, weather and road conditions, as well as transit information from a voice and/or menu-driven route selection interface obtained through the three-digit phone code. The system will not only provide a powerful information dissemination tool for Turnpike related travel, weather and road conditions data, but will also provide travelers with extensive information concerning travel times and incident information for intersecting non-Turnpike routes, providing insight into conditions that may be encountered once the traveler has exited the Turnpike. The ultimate condition 511 system will collect, reduce and distribute the traveler information from an automated system. The data will be supplied by vehicle detection components.
Emergency Call Box Re-engineering--This project will systematically re-engineer the Turnpike's emergency call box subsystem, implementing new technology and a more efficient method of operations. The primary focus of the project will be the implementation of new emergency call boxes and related system components, as well as the modification of existing methods of call box system operations at the traffic control center.
The ultimate condition of the new emergency call box system will streamline incoming call operations at the control center and provide Turnpike travelers with a system that will allow for detailed incident descriptions and added traveler comfort. As an added benefit, the new system will also establish wireless data ports along the entire Turnpike network. Because of the technology used for the new system, cellular communications will be available at each emergency call box location. The ultimate emergency call box system will utilize cellular communications to provide a more concise method of relaying information from the field to the operations center.
Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) System--This project will provide additional camera sites to supplement the existing CCTV network currently in use by the Commission. Upon completion of the network's video surveillance system, the Commission will establish video coverage of all of the interchanges and all fare collection facilities. Camera sites will also be established at all tunnel entrances, midpoints and exits. Additional CCTV sites will be located at road weather information system locations for data verifications purposes. Camera sites will also be located at the major bridges and at intermediate location-critical points within the Turnpike network. Finally, slip locations will have CCTV surveillance.
Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and Toll Plaza Reconfiguration--This project would enable the Commission to evaluate several methods of deploying additional ETC capability on the Turnpike system including:
Expansion of the Existing System: Assist Commission staff in implementation of expansion of the ETC system for the remaining toll plazas.
Toll Plaza Lane Configuration: Review and recommend standards for Commission current and future toll plaza lane configurations. Periodically evaluate lane configurations to ensure ETC customers are receiving the maximum throughput.
Slip Ramps: Provide periodic evaluations to determine feasibility for and locations of where additional slip ramps would provide a benefit to customers and result in increased revenue or ETC market penetration.
Express Lanes: Provide periodic evaluation of standard toll plazas to determine feasible locations where electronic toll collection can be segregated from the cash collection. Express lane plazas segregate the dedicated highway speed ETC lanes from the manual lanes well in advance of the toll collection points for safety reasons. Criteria necessary for consideration include the need for sufficient approach roadway to segregate traffic in advance of the plaza, sufficient real estate to construct the plaza and clear signage. These plazas do not have to be available at all collection points throughout the Turnpike, but can be considered for collection locations that experience significant congestion or have high levels of ETC market penetration. These plazas should be placed where connecting roads can handle the high-speed traffic coming from or approaching the turnpike plaza.
Open Road Tolling: Open road toll ETC eliminates the need for standard toll plazas by employing the use of gantries outfitted with ETC equipment.
Nontoll Uses: Develop a business plan for ETC transponders use for purposes other than toll collection to provide customers with value added benefit and potentially provide the Commission with increased revenue. These services could include drive through purchases of fast food, gasoline, car washes and parking. Where increased revenue is not possible, sharing of expenses related to the provision of the service could reduce the overall cost of the ETC program to the Commission. Additionally, current nonusers may be attracted by the multiple uses of the ETC transponder.
Highway Advisory Radio (HAR)--This project provides for the addition of portable and permanent HAR subsystems and system integration with the VMS subsystem to provide full information dissemination to Turnpike travelers.
The ultimate condition of the HAR subsystem will establish one-way radio communications to travelers in areas where weather or traffic congestion is an issue. HAR broadcast sites will be located at all interchanges, service plazas and location-critical points within the Turnpike network and will also integrate portable HAR systems for construction and maintenance of traffic related information dissemination.
Flash-beacon signs will identify all HAR broadcast sites. The signs will be required for notification of broadcast sites located on approach to interchanges, on roads approaching Turnpike interchanges, at sites located near the service plazas and other critical locations within the Turnpike network.
Incident Response Vehicle--This project will develop a dedicated vehicle best suited for responding to major incidents within the Turnpike network. The vehicle will centralize all onsite incident response and recovery operations and provide a real-time incident data source to the TOC during incident management procedures. The vehicle will establish an incident response command post, and will also be capable of providing incident recovery assistance with procedures such as vehicle relocation, incident video capture and dissemination, maintenance of traffic and preliminary roadway repairs. These capabilities will improve incident response times and times associated with incident management and restoration of normal traffic flow.
Motorist Assistance Patrol (MAP)--The MAP project will develop a Turnpike monitoring program aimed at providing minor assistance to Turnpike travelers. MAP is an incident management tool aimed at assisting disabled vehicles along urban areas of the Turnpike, relieving peak-period nonrecurring congestion as a result of minor incidents. MAP units primary objective is to help move disabled vehicles from the main lanes and ultimately restore vehicle operations or move the vehicle off the facility completely. Other duties of the patrol service will include providing tire-changing assistance, fuel, jump-starts, key lockouts, radiator fills and other minor assistance. The goal is to reduce incident related congestion as a result of minor vehicle breakdowns. The patrol will respond to all incidents not covered by an incident response team (which will cover large-scale incidents).
Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS)--This project will expand the number of RWIS on the Turnpike system. Each new RWIS will supply atmospheric and pavement surface data to the operations center and maintenance facilities where data reduction will be conducted and response schemes designed and implemented.
The ultimate condition of the RWIS subsystem will establish RWIS stations at all weather sensitive points within the Turnpike network. The ultimate RWIS condition will allow for weather data sharing between local agencies, the Department, local media and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive statewide weather forecasting and monitoring system, and augment the Turnpike's available weather data pool.
TOC--Concept of Operations (ConOps)--Utilizing the Commission's existing TOC ConOps (in process), revisit and update the TOC ConOps as new stakeholders and new technologies emerge. Utilize this information together with future Federal earmarks and appropriations, interview Commission departments and executive staff, and revise and update the Commission's LRIP. This project will analyze and determine the Turnpike's current and long-term traffic operations requirements utilizing current advanced travelers information system programmed equipment and systems to address specific operational information needs. The analysis will develop a ConOps work product and the following supporting areas: system integration, data fusion activities, and staffing issues.
The estimated amount and time for this open end is $2 million and a period of 5 years.
The Commission will consider the following factors during the evaluation of the firms submitting statements of interest for this project:
a. Specialized experience and technical competence of the development team (team) consisting of the prime consultant and subconsultants. The team must clearly demonstrate the following:
The ability to develop business rules and functional requirements specification and system design for Commission software enhancements in compliance with ITS and United States Department of Transportation National Architecture, Commission ITS architecture and in compliance with the standards adopted by the International Standards Organization including, but not limited to, the National Transportation Communications ITS Protocol, where applicable.
The ability to document the development of these products in four major deliverables: system development plan, detailed requirements specification, acceptance test plan and detailed design document.
The ability to assist Commission staff in understanding the capabilities that will be provided through at least three formal reviews: preliminary design review, requirements walk-through and critical design review.
The ability to integrate all required system components and provide an operational system passing all required acceptance test procedures that is fully in conformance with the system design.
The expertise of the team in identifying current state-of-the-art equipment and systems to implement and integrate the programs described in the LRIP.
Software licenses, warranty, support and upgrades provided for software developed or modified by the integrator/engineering firm.
b. Past record of performance with respect to cost control, work quality, ability to meet schedules and previous experience on similar projects. The members of each team should identify similar projects that have been completed by that firm as the prime or subconsultant, the magnitude of the project and the client.
c. The specific experience and number of individuals who constitute each firm on the team.
d. Workload of the prime consultant and subconsultants for all Department and Commission projects.
e. Other factors, if any, specific to the project.
Address these items and necessary further details in a brief yet comprehensive manner in the statement of interest. Questions and inquiries concerning this project should be directed to W. Keith Libengood, (717) 939-9551, Ext. 5720, wlibengo@paturnpike.com. Direct contractual questions to George M. Hatalowich, (717) 986-8737, ghatalow@paturnpike.com.
General Requirements and Information Firms interested in providing the previous work and services are invited to submit a statement of interest with the required information. The statements of interest must include the following:
1. One-page transmittal letter clearly identifying the project reference number, brief description of the project from the advertisement, the firm's Federal identification number, the firm's legal name, contact person or project manager, address of corporate office and project office. If the firm has multiple offices, the location of the office performing the work must be identified.
2. A 20-page expression of interest on the advertised project. Each firm should demonstrate their ability to perform the specific requirements indicated for each project and provide explanation of the technical approach.
The following topics must be addressed:
Management and Experience (three pages maximum)--The team shall present its experience and approach to the management of an incremental build process and experience with task order contracts. The development team certifications shall also be listed and discussed.
Basic System Architecture (five pages maximum)--The team shall demonstrate substantive experience in developing and implementing similar systems and shall describe a basic architecture including: hardware/software environment and database management system; graphical user interface functionality; and the integration of existing ITS subsystems.
Development Process (five pages maximum)--In this section, the team shall describe the development process, how it will be controlled, tracked and demonstrated. This must include: requirements tracking and configuration management; rapid prototyping; and development testing.
Training, Operations and Maintenance (three pages maximum)--The team shall demonstrate an understanding and an approach to performing the transition of the system to operations and maintenance. This should address: acceptance testing; training and documentation; and maintenance.
Other Qualifications (four pages maximum)--The firm may include additional qualifications materials demonstrating their experience and qualifications in this section.
3. An organization chart for the project, identifying key personnel and any subconsultants and their roles. Any deviation from the subconsultant's listed in the statement of interest will require written approval from the Commission.
4. Tabulation or listing of workload for the prime consultant and all subconsultants for all Department and Commission projects. Do not graphically represent the firm's workload.
5. A Consultant Qualification Package similar to the one submitted to the Department for the current year or one that is best suited for this project. A copy of the Consultant Qualification Package printed directly from the Department's ECMS website is acceptable.
The Consultant Qualification Package should contain at a minimum the following information for the prime consultant and all subconsultants and attached to the back of the statement of interest (subs to follow primes):
* ECMS General Information and Project Experience Forms or Standard Form (SF) 254--Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire in its entirety, either not more than 1 year old as of the date of the advertisement.
* Resumes of key personnel expected to be involved in the project (limit to two 8 1/2" x 11" pages, per person). Only resumes of key personnel should be included.
* A copy of the Department's DBE/WBE certification, if applicable.
The Commission is committed to the inclusion of disadvantaged, minority and woman firms in contracting opportunities. The minimum participation level for DBE/MBE/WBEs in this contract will be 12%. Responding firms shall clearly identify DBE/MBE/WBE firms, expected to participate in these contracts, in their statement of interest. If the selected firm does not meet the minimum requirement for DBE/MBE/WBE participation, they will be required to demonstrate good faith efforts to achieve the required level. Proposed DBE/MBE/WBE firms must be certified by the Department at the time of the submission of the statement of interest. If further information is desired concerning DBE/MBE/WBE participation, direct inquiries to the Contracts Administration Department, (717) 939-9551, Ext. 4241.
Firms interested in performing the previous services are invited to submit a statement of interest and required information to George M. Hatalowich, Engineering Contract Manager, Turnpike Commission Administration Building, 700 South Eisenhower Boulevard, Middletown, PA 17057 (street address). The Commission mailing address is P. O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676.
The statement of interest and required information must be received by 12 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2003. Statements of interest received after this date and time will be time-stamped and returned.
Based on an evaluation of acceptable statements of interest received in response to these solicitations, a minimum of three firms will be shortlisted for this project. The shortlisted firms will be required to submit a technical proposal based on a more detailed scope of work, which is being prepared for this project.
Firms that submit technical proposals will be required to give an oral presentation of their proposal to the Proposal Evaluation Team. The selected firm will be required to provide a copy of the firm's registration to do business in this Commonwealth as provided by the Department of State for firms with out-of-state headquarters or corporations not incorporated in this Commonwealth.
The Commission reserves the right to reject all statements of interest, to cancel solicitation requested under this notice, and/or to readvertise solicitation for the work and services.
MITCHELL RUBIN,
Chairperson
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-436. Filed for public inspection March 7, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
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