Contract on Lease and Operation of DR FM/DAB Distribution Network

DR needs a new distribution network for FM and DAB+ broadcasting. This tender covers the transmission of data from DR Byen to the individual transmitter sites, to be provided as a service.

It includes the lease and operation of a large number of transmission lines, as well as intermediate hardware both in DR Byen and at the transmitter sites, including but not limited to networking equipment, audio codecs and DAB EDI to ETI converters.

A very high level of reliability is required, and redundant transmission lines will be a necessity for a large number of sites. Design proposals are provided in the tender material, but ultimately the design of the system is up to each potential vendor.

The tender covers the following types of equipment and services:

• delivery of Audio-over-IP (AoIP) multichannel codec equipment for real-time uncompressed audio transmission and transmission of audio services through a new IP/MPLS-based primary distribution network between DR Byen and the 16 main FM-transmitter sites in Denmark.

• transmission of existing RDS and DARC services through the IP/MPLS network comprising main and protection connections to the same 16 FM-transmitters.

• transmission of existing DAB EDI signals for DAB+ audio services through the IP/MPLS network to a number of transmitter sites in DK, for further information see excel sheet.

• delivery of external EDI-> ETI converters with protection switching for the DAB transmitters that are not prepared for EDI input signals.

• real time, low-latency IP/MPLS connections from DR Byen to all the 16 FM-transmitter sites and a number of DAB transmitter sites. The connections for the FM-transmitters must be able to provide very high reliability including error protection and seamless protection of the audio signals, and with simple protection switching for the RDS and DARC signals. The connections to all FM sites and some specified DAB sites must be implemented with full redundancy, preferably with fiber connections in separate routes in the ground all the way to the transmitters.

• a centralized Management and Control (M&C) system for supervision of correct operation of the above equipment and the connections, with current status reporting back to an MCR PC in DR.

• installation, testing and commissioning of the equipment and the connections.

• 24/7 operation of the equipment and the IP/MPLS connections according to a specified SLA for the entirety of the contract.

The suggested extent of the requested delivery (without options) is:

• 64 audio terminals for FM primary distribution applications (2 x 16 multichannel encoder terminals at DR Byen and 2x16 multichannel decoder terminals at the FM transmitter sites).

• 53 x 2 EDI -> ETI converters with protection switching for adapting EDI signal to the ‘old’ DAB transmitters with ETI-inputs only.

• 2 large Gb/s Ethernet switches with many ports to be installed in DR Byens Server Room 1 and 2, respectively.

• 2 x 16 small Gb/s Ethernet switches with few ports to be installed at the FM-transmitter sites.

• up to 2 x 54 small Gb/s Ethernet switches with few ports to be installed at the DAB-transmitter sites (the actual number is dependant of the chosen system solution).

• 2 x 16 IP/MPLS unicast capable connections from DR Byen’s Server Room 1 and 2 for audio, RDS and DARC signals to all the FM-transmitters implemented with full redundant routes.

• 2 x 18 IP/MPLS multicast capable connections from DR Byen’s Server Room 1 and 2 for DAB EDI signals to the DAB-transmitters implemented with full redundant routes, of which 12 are shared with FM transmitters on the same site.

• 2 x 43 IP/MPLS multicast capable connections from DR Byen’s Server Room 1 and 2 for DAB EDI signals to all the smaller low-priority DAB-transmitters implemented with full redundant routes connections from DR Byen’s Server Room 1 and 2 at least all the way to the nearest exchange, and a single ‘last mile’ connection to the DAB transmitter site.

• 1 M&C system for control and supervision and monitoring of all audio codecs, EDI->ETI converters and IP/MPLS connections.

• Installation and commissioning of the Equipment, in close collaboration between the Contractor and the Customer. It is recommended that the contractor is cooperating with a Danish speaking system integrator that is able to carry through the system integration and implementation at the transmitter sites.

The tender includes an option for buying EDI/ETI converters during the contract.

The contract is not divided into lots on the grounds, that a division of the contract would not ensure a sufficient competition in the current market.

The Tenderer’s Economic and financial capacity should be described in the ESPD, the Tenderer should state the following informations:

Minimum requirements:

• positive annual revenue of DKK 5 million for all three (3) financial years,

• positive equity for all three (3) financial years,

• a solvency ratio of at least 10 % in all three (3) financial years.

The tenderer’s technical capacity should be described by the Tenderer in the ESPD by including a list of references for three similar contracts within the three previous years, in accordance with section 155(1)(iii).

The references must be for equivalent transformation projects and/or operation of similar projects. By an equivalent transformation project it is meant that the Tenderer should document the completion of a similar project of either the same complexity and/or size.

Tenders from Tenderers that do not live up to the minimum requirements specified in the contract notice and/or the ESPD will be considered non-compliant and will be rejected without further evaluation.

The contract agreement must be conducted in consideration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and it contains a labour clause, please see Appendix 11 for further information.

DR Byen

There will not be acces view the opening of the offers.

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1) 45 calendar days after the contracting authority has published a contract award notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (with effect from the day following the publication date).

2) 30 calendar days starting the day after the contracting authority has informed the tenderers in question, that the contracting authority has entered into a contract based on a framework agreement through reopening of competition or a dynamic purchasing system, provided that the notification includes a short account of the relevant reasons for the decision.

3) 6 months starting the day after the contracting authority has sent notification to the candidates/tenderers involved that the contracting authority has entered into the framework agreement, cf. § 2(2) or § 171(4) of the Public Procurement Act, provided that the notification included a short account of the relevant reasons for the decision.

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