Santa Barbara Planet bids #6210

Two live character-generator systems with installation, training, and licensing

The City of Santa Barbara is seeking two live character-generator systems for municipal and City Council broadcasts, with installation, training, licensing, and optional support. - Government buyer: City of Santa Barbara, City Administrator Department, Purchasing / General Services Division; the attachment identifies the General Services Division. - OEM reference: Ross is named through its XPression Prime software edition as a comparison point. The City does not require a specific manufacturer or model. - Named prospective bidders/vendors: AB Group Inc, CA Traffic Solution, Dhamira, Inc., Leepopo Corporation, and vPrime Tech Inc. They are listed as prospective bidders, not as selected suppliers or identified OEMs. - Products requested: Two identical, independent real-time character-generator systems for live lower-thirds, speaker identifiers, agenda topics, on-screen bugs, and timers. Each includes a one-year software license; the bid also requests optional annual software-license pricing. - Key system requirements: 1RU or 2RU rackmount chassis; Windows 10/11 Pro (Enterprise or IoT LTSB preferred); current-generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7; at least 16GB or 32GB RAM; 512GB NVMe primary storage and a separate 1TB SSD for graphics, video bugs, and transaction logging; rack rails; and professional PCIe video I/O. - Video and workflow requirements: Each system must provide synchronized Fill and Key over two physical 3G-SDI/HD-SDI BNC outputs and native NDI output, switchable from SDI to NDI through software configuration without additional license or hardware charges. The systems must support CSV/Excel data linking, easy-to-use operator controls, and built-in countdown and count-up timers. - Services: Install and configure both systems, including required low-voltage signal cabling; test the systems and integrate them without disrupting current broadcasts. The bid estimates six hours of user training. Electrical work requiring a licensed electrician is excluded unless specifically requested. - Notable scope: The City seeks stable, straightforward systems for nontechnical or volunteer operators and does not require high-end 3D rendering, virtual-set tools, or intensive motion-graphics processing. An itemized hardware-chassis breakdown is requested. - Performance and pricing: A one-year software license is included. Optional annual software-license and technical-support pricing is requested for subsequent years; no overall contract period is specified.

Description

The City of Santa Barbara is requesting quotes for two identical, independent real-time character generator systems comparable to the Ross XPression Prime software edition. The systems will support live broadcast graphics including lower-thirds, speaker identifiers, agenda topics, bugs, and public comment timers for municipal and City Council meetings. Solutions must support the current HD-SDI workflow with independent SDI Fill & Key outputs and be capable of transitioning to NDI/IP through software configuration without additional license or hardware fees. The bid also includes installation, training, software licensing, and optional annual technical support and software license costs.

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