Contract Description: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the Project Managers for the renovation and rebuilding of a number of District of Columbia Public Schools has procured the services of Baker and Associates to complete the architecture and engineering design. As part of their team Baker has acquired the services of MILVETS to provide Information Technology design and development.

Contract Work Summary: This project involves Information Technology design and development and design considerations covered the data, computer network, video distribution, and telecommunications needs for these systems. The project requires:

• Site Survey to determine and document the current configuration and infrastructure.

• Development of design options and feasibility studies.

• Schematic design and computer aided drafting.

• Design Specifications in the format of the proposed Division 17 model.

Scope Of Work: Leading-edge and future technology growth are major issues requiring resolution in the design development. Classroom Information Technology (IT) configuration flexibility is required to provide the instructor with the greatest amount of latitude possible; this is top on the design criteria priority list. The capability to expand and upgrade the systems with relative ease is a must-have design requirement. In addition the design requires integration with existing equipment and requires the incorporation of both wire and wireless network transmission. Space allocation is to be provided for telecommunication and computer equipment such as routers and switches. Information technology design provides redundant LAN network connectivity, telephone service at the instructor location, and audio-visual presentation capability. The project involves the allocation and definition f the requirements for the Server Room/Data Center The cable plant design for the schools is predicated on following criteria.

• Wireless network connectivity compliant with IEEE 802.11b.

• A redundant, “back-up” conventional Category 5e Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cable plant to take over in the event that the wireless service is interrupted or if there are bandwidth issues on the wireless network.

• Sufficient network cable locations throughout the classroom to support any type of envisioned student/classroom reconfiguration options.

• A ceiling mounted digital projector and associated connections running to the instructor’s workbench.

• The network cabling design supports the best technologies available today and into the foreseeable future.

Classroom telephones system design offers the instructor with the capability to communicate both internally throughout the building and externally outside the building. The system design is digital-based to offer the ability to adapt to future communications requirements. Features such as hands-free speaker operations and digital readout/displays are available in the design. Video Distribution System design is a broadband, coaxial-based distribution system. The classroom integrates with a centrally located video source, but has local capability to utilize a VCR, (CD and DVD with the use of the computer workstation) and other video input to video projection. In addition the design considers the accessibility for multicast/broadcast streaming video over the data network. The data/computer network is a collection of independent computers and other electronic equipment that can communicate with each other over a shared medium. The network offers instructors capability to perform everyday tasks and help the students use the network to meet many of their educational challenges. The network design supports Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet to each work area.