Scada or equivalent system

Tender description

The project is thus intended to replace and/or upgrade the existing serial telecommunications infrastructure with an IP-based network providing 2 diverse telecommunication channels to primary substation remote terminal units (RTUs). 1 of the channels should be considered as the Critical Data Telecommunications Channel whilst the other channel will be referred to as the Backup Channel. The objective of this procurement is to identify the most economically advantageous tender as determined by the evaluation process set out in this ITN (MEAT). It is the company’s intention to award to the bidder who submits the MEAT both of the following contracts: 1) Proof of concept: the high and low level design (including testing) of a Primary SCADA IP-based network (Proof of Concept Contract); 2) Delivery: (i) the supply, installation and commissioning of the network at the relevant sites. The Company is inviting tenders to select and appoint a supplier to deliver the primary SCADA requirements for primary substations (tender). In the first instance we anticipate this to be delivered to circa 850 primary substations, but readily expandable to circa 1 000 substations. This is the pre-qualification stage of the procurement exercise. A solution is sought that will deliver a high level and detailed design and the supply and installation of an IP-based telecommunications network created on the company’s infrastructure (Solution). The principal objective of the project is to replace the current 1 200 Baud, serial network with an IP network to facilitate the advancements in electricity distribution control and monitoring systems. The project is thus intended to replace and/or upgrade the existing serial telecommunications infrastructure (see the schematic diagram at Appendix 2) with an IP-based network providing 2 diverse telecommunication channels to primary substation remote terminal units (RTUs). 1 of the channels should be considered as the Critical Data Telecommunications Channel whilst the other channel will be referred to as the Backup Channel. Both channels will carry sensitive data and therefore the telecommunications network design for both critical and backup must be secure and encrypted. A) Critical Data Telecommunications Channel (CDTC): The critical data channel will be used to support the SCADA application. A minimum bandwidth of 40 k/bits/s for radio connected RTUs and 64 k bits/s for cable connected RTUs is required. The CDTC shall be resilient end-to-end against a mains power failure for a minimum of 72 hours. There must be no single points of failure on the IP nodes and UHF base stations; B) Backup channel: Wherever there is no internal telecommunications infrastructure to provide diverse critical connectivity, a backup channel will be required incorporating end-to-end encryption over 3G and/or 4G networks. All equipment should be independent of that used on the critical path. The APN and SIMS will be provided by the company. The new equipment shall have a proven track record, incorporate current technology and have an open architecture.