The Department of General Services (DGS) on behalf of Commonwealth Media Services (CMS) is issuing this Invitation for Bids (IFB) in order to procure broadcast video satellite uplinking services for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (COPA) twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, 365 days a year. CMS is seeking an agreement with an international satellite vendor who can provide occasional use resources of a fleet of orbit satellites and satellite transponder volume and ensure availability on a daily basis including during a national or statewide emergency. COPA satellite uplink services cover television stations in the entire state of Pennsylvania, as well as outlining states. Satellites in orbital locations 83-95 degrees West is preferred due to the nature of our normal broadcast feeds to these television stations. While these are preferred, all satellite positions covering North America will be considered. Bidders must provide a listing of controlled occasional use satellites (and their orbital position) along with a count (broken down by 9/18mhz) of Ku-band transponders available per satellite. Provide, by satellite, the average availability of these transponders. An example statement would be “AMC-9 located at 83W has 18mhz time slots available an average of 6 hours per day”. Please also include the method of occasional use access for each satellite (ex: “for access of SES-1, call the SES NOC by phone”, “for access of Galaxy 17, call the Intelsat NOC by phone”).
