REQUEST FOR BIDS (RFB)

Paging & Public Address System Replacement – Buildings 108/109
Franklin Towne Charter High School – Philadelphia, PA

1. Introduction and Purpose

Franklin Towne Charter High School (FTCHS), located at 5301 Tacony Street, Philadelphia, PA, invites sealed bids from qualified vendors for the design, supply, installation, integration, and commissioning of a new unified paging and public address system to replace the existing legacy system currently serving Buildings 108 and 109.

The new system shall support building-wide paging, zoned paging, emergency notifications, scheduled bell tones, and future SIP/IP broadcast capabilities. It must integrate with existing infrastructure including Intrado Revolution, VoIP telephone systems, server-based monitoring, and future SIP-based emergency alerting.

2. Project Locations and Coverage Areas

The system shall cover the following facilities and operational spaces:

• Four academic floors (1st–4th)
• Stairwells
• Auditorium
• Cafeteria areas – 108 side and 109 side
• Administrative offices (Dean’s Office, CEO Suite, Boardroom)
• Prep Zone
• Special Programs / SPED / Guidance / Nurse areas
• Server room paging tie-in

3. Existing System Conditions

• Current system includes Atlas and Crown DriveCore amplifiers, Bogen components, BSS Soundweb BLU-100 DSP, and Extron DTP devices.
• Paging and bell schedules are managed by Intrado Revolution.
• Infrastructure consists of mixed 70V analog paging circuits and limited IP cabling.
• Speakers include ceiling-mounted commercial 70V units and wall-mounted bell-style paging speakers, many of which are outdated or non-functional.
• Central equipment racks are UPS-protected and securely housed.
• Vendor must propose complete replacement, including necessary cabling, devices, amplification, and system control equipment.
• Retrofit system must allow full integration with VoIP, SIP endpoints, and future IP broadcasting.

4. Scope of Work

4.1 Equipment to Be Replaced

Component	Estimated Quantity	Requirements
Legacy amplifiers (Crown/Atlas)	8 total	Replace with modern IP-based or hybrid networked amplifiers
Wall & ceiling speakers	85–95	Replace per floor layouts and provided images
Cafeteria paging speakers (JBL/legacy)	10–12	Replace all legacy paging speakers
Auditorium paging speakers	4–6	Must provide high speech intelligibility
Stairwell speakers	4–6	Weather-resistant, vandal-resistant, high intelligibility
Server room paging tie-in	1	Emergency override paging connectivity
PoE network switches	Vendor-recommended	Must support VLAN segmentation and QoS for paging

Vendors must verify final quantities based on site walkthrough, provided diagrams, and final system design.

4.2 System Requirements

Paging Features

• One-way paging (voice broadcast)
• Single-call, zone paging, and building-wide all-call
• Live announcements, scheduled bell tones, and pre-recorded messaging
• Emergency override capability with priority paging

Required Integration

• Intrado Revolution (Bell/Tone scheduling system)
• VoIP telephone system (SIP/FXO)
• Desktop phone paging
• Mobile or browser-based paging interface

System Connectivity

• May be analog, IP-based, or hybrid
• Must support web-based dashboard for FTCHS IT staff
• SNMP monitoring of system health, amp status, and speakers

Audio Performance

• Commercial 70V speakers, wide-dispersion, voice-grade
• Minimum STI ≥ 0.50 as per NFPA 72 speech intelligibility requirements
• Weather-resistant, tamper-proof models for stairwells and entry zones

5. Infrastructure Requirements (Cabling, Mounting, Power)

Vendor must provide:

• Plenum-rated speaker cabling (16/2 or 18/2)
• Conduit or surface raceway where required
• All hardware for ceiling/wall speaker mounting
• Proper labeling at both cable ends
• New paging rack equipment, grounding, and UPS coordination
• VLAN integration with FTCHS IT
• Post-installation Fluke certification reports

All work must comply with NEC, NFPA, ADA, and FTCHS safety procedures.

6. Deliverables

Design Documents

• Paging zone layout with speaker locations by floor
• Rack elevations and amplifier/switch placement
• Wiring diagrams (IP and analog signal paths)

Bill of Materials (BOM)
Must include:

• Manufacturer part numbers
• Quantity and descriptions
• Warranty details
• Unit and extended pricing

Installation Plan

• Phased installation proposal with minimal classroom disruption
• Work schedule prioritizing school breaks
• Safety procedures for construction during active academic sessions

Training and Documentation

• Staff training for IT and administration
• SOPs, administrator manuals, login credentials
• Post-installation support procedures
• Warranty documentation (minimum 3-year coverage)

7. Compliance and Standards

System must comply with:

Standard	Requirement
ADA	Visual alert compatibility (preferred)
NFPA 72	Emergency communication code
UL 1711	Paging system safety certification
NEC Article 800	Low-voltage wiring
TIA/EIA 568	Structured cabling standards
FCC Part 15	RF emissions compliance

8. Vendor Qualifications

• At least 3 completed K–12 paging/public address system installations
• Minimum of 3 certified technicians (NFPA, CTS, or CDA-qualified)
• Demonstrated experience integrating with Intrado & VoIP systems
• Capability to train FTCHS staff on system administration
• Proof of insurance, licensing, and bonding

9. Proposal Format Requirements

Vendor proposals must include:

1. Executive Summary
2. Technical Solution Overview
3. Detailed System Design
4. Phased Installation Plan
5. Pricing — Itemized (equipment, labor, materials, options)
6. Warranty & Support Services
7. Vendor Qualifications & References

10. Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Weight
Technical compliance	30%
Total cost of ownership	25%
Past K–12 paging experience	15%
Installation methodology	15%
Warranty and support	10%
Training and documentation	5%

11. Bid Submission Details

All proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM on March 31, 2026.
Late submissions will not be accepted.

Proposals should be submitted electronically to:
Allan Hall, Director of IT
Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address (if physical documents are required):
Franklin Towne Charter High School
5301 Tacony Street
Philadelphia, PA 19137