Quiestions & Responses 


RFP Number 2026 RFP-01

CTWSI Vehicle Surveillance Camera RFP

1. Would a DVR instead of an NVR be acceptable?

🟥 CTWSI response – Yes, it would be acceptable.


2. Are AHD cameras instead of all IP cameras acceptable? The RFP states a mix of AHD and IP on page 6 under Deliverables, but page 14 mentions AHD cameras.

🟥 CTWSI response – Either are acceptable. The statement on page 14 of the RFP should indicate AHD and IP cameras are acceptable.


3. Would a recording unit that captures up to 12 cameras be acceptable if not all 15 ports were used?

🟥 CTWSI response – Yes.


4. While WiFi connectivity is built into DVRs, would CTWSI be interested in cellular connectivity for live view and real-time access? Or are there routers on board that will provide connectivity?

🟥 CTWSI response – No, we will not consider it at this time.


5. How much video recording time is required (per day or monthly)?

🟥 CTWSI response – 250-275 hrs per month


6. What is the inventory of vehicles for this project and what size/type are the buses?

🟥 CTWSI response – 23 mini-vans (most accessible), 14 narrow body buses, 23 cutaways ranging from 10 to 30 passengers, 4 -suv’s


7. Are the systems required to work with Foresight Pro and Safety View?

🟥 CTWSI response – N,o they are not; however, they need software which will allow video to be pulled and viewed.


8. Will CTWSI permit a site visit before proposal submission? If so, please provide the process for coordinating a site visit.

🟥 CTWSI response – Site visits will be offered to the selected finalists based on their submittals.


9. Please provide a fleet breakdown by vehicle type, including the quantity of transit vans, buses, and any other vehicle classifications included in this project.

🟥 CTWSI response – Please see question #6 above


10. Please provide the anticipated camera configuration for each vehicle type, including the number and type of cameras expected per vehicle, if known.

🟥 CTWSI response – Transit vans (4 to 5) = 1 facing forward, 1 facing rear, 1 or 2 to see all passenger entry/exit doors, 1 on driver. Buses and larger vehicles (up to 8 total) - 1 facing forward, 1 facing rear, 1 or 2 to see all passenger entry/exit doors, 1 on driver, 1 exterior viewing the entry/exit doors, 1 on securement areas and additional cameras depending on the size of the bus. Type of cameras shall be AHD or IP.


11. What video storage requirements apply to the project? Please specify either the required storage capacity or the minimum video retention period.

🟥 CTWSI response – See question 5.


12. Will installation activities be performed from a single operating facility, or are vehicles housed at multiple locations that would require mobilization to separate installation sites?

🟥 CTWSI response – Multiple locations.


13. Appendix A requests pricing for "1 Camera and all required supporting equipment" for both Transit Vans and Bus/Large Vehicles. Please clarify the intended pricing methodology. Is CTWSI requesting:

a. The cost of a complete surveillance system for a representative transit van and bus, respectively; or

b. The cost of an individual camera and its associated hardware only?

🟥 CTWSI response – B. The cost of an individual camera, its associated hardware, and recording capabilities.


14. The RFP states that the Contractor will not use Agency equipment, supplies, or facilities. Please clarify how this applies to vehicle installation work. Will CTWSI provide reasonable access to vehicles, parking or installation areas, power, facility access, temporary staging/storage space, and a dumpster or designated disposal area as needed? If not, please clarify what vendors should assume for installation logistics.

🟥 CTWSI response – Installer will have access to facility use during installation of cameras and related equipment. Installer is expected to provide all materials, equipment, and tools related to the installation of cameras and related equipment.


15. Are all 66 vehicles located in Watertown, SD, or will installations be required at additional CTWSI-managed offices throughout the state? If multiple locations are

required, please provide the location and vehicle count for each site. NOTE: The total number of vehicles in the CTWSI fleet totals 68 – not 66.

🟥 CTWSI response – Vehicles will be located at various facilities where CTWSI vehicles are located. Some vehicles may/may not be able to be brought to alternate locations to lessen travel miles for installers. Locations and their vehicles are as follows: Watertown 26, Sisseton 11, Milbank 7, Britton 4, Webster 3, Redfield 5, Lennox 5, Groton 3, Faulkton 1, Bowdle 1, Eureka 1, Mound City/Herreid 1


16. How many vehicles can CTWSI make available per day for installation, and are evening, weekend, or other non-service installation windows available?

🟥 CTWSI response – Access to locations for evenings, weekends, or other non-service installation windows will be available to the contractor. CTWSI will work with the contractor to provide as many vehicles as possible for installation on a given day at a given time.


17. Does CTWSI require removal and disposal of any existing camera equipment, cable, recorders, antennas, or related hardware? If so, please identify which vehicles currently have equipment installed and whether removal should be included in base pricing.

🟥 CTWSI response – Yes, CTWSI wishes the installer to remove and dispose of any camera-related equipment deemed inoperable when installing new equipment. Removal of existing systems should be planned for all vehicles.


18. Please confirm the desired number of cameras per vehicle for mini-vans, narrow body buses, cutaways, and SUVs. If CTWSI does not have a required camera count, should vendors propose the recommended camera layout by vehicle type based on coverage needs and best practices?

🟥 CTWSI response - Transit vans (4 to 5) = 1 facing forward, 1 facing rear, 1 or 2 to see all passenger entry/exit doors, 1 on driver. Buses and larger vehicles (up to 8 total) - 1 facing forward, 1 facing rear, 1 or 2 to see all passenger entry/exit doors, 1 on driver, 1 exterior viewing the entry/exit doors, 1 on securement areas and additional cameras depending on the size of the bus. Type of cameras shall be AHD or IP.


19. Please identify any required camera views by vehicle type, such as forward-facing windshield, driver area, passenger cabin, entry door, wheelchair or lift area, rear interior, exterior side, or rear exterior views.

🟥 CTWSI response – See previous question.


20. The RFP references solid-state primary storage, SSD and/or SD card, and redundant mirror recordings. Will CTWSI accept an equivalent mobile-rated storage configuration that meets the required retention and includes redundant or failover recording, or is SSD/SD primary storage mandatory?

🟥 CTWSI response – Yes, that is acceptable.


21. CTWSI clarified that cellular connectivity will not be considered at this time. Should the Live View requirement be interpreted as local or on-network Live View only when the vehicle is connected through Wi-Fi, rather than real-time remote Live View while the vehicle is in service?

🟥 CTWSI response – We will accept offers of cloud-based or Wi-Fi for live view capabilities.


22. Does CTWSI have existing Wi-Fi infrastructure at its facilities for video retrieval or system connectivity? If yes, please provide the locations, expected coverage areas, network/security requirements, and whether automatic wireless download is desired.

🟥 CTWSI – Yes, in the areas where Wi-Fi exists, but we still need the ability to pull video manually.


23. RFP requires recorders to connect to a diagnostics AP plugged into a USB port on the front of the recorder for settings, firmware updates, and SD card downloads. Will CTWSI accept an equivalent diagnostics, configuration, firmware update, and video retrieval method if it provides the same or better functionality?

🟥 CTWSI response - Yes


24. The RFP references firmware checks and software updates after operating hours. Please clarify CTWSI’s operating hours for purposes of scheduling these updates.

🟥 CTWSI response – Times of operation vary by location and day. Our earliest beginning time would be 5 a.m., and closing time would be 7 p.m.


25. The RFP references required response times for critical, major, and minor issues. Please provide the required response time for each priority level or confirm whether vendors should propose their standard service level response times.

🟥 CTWSI response - Vendor should propose their standard service level response times.


26. Does CTWSI want recommended spare parts included in the base proposal pricing, priced separately as optional items, or listed only as a recommended post-award inventory?

🟥 CTWSI response – Warranties should cover all cameras and related equipment. In addition, we would request a price list of spare and/or replacement parts not under warranty.


27. Please confirm whether the Cost Proposal should include only Appendix A, or whether vendors should also include the Personal Services, Travel, Lodging/Per Diem, and Other Costs tables described in Section 5.2.

🟥 CTWSI response – Travel, Lodging/Per Diem, and other personal service costs should be separated from the Cost Proposal sheet and placed in a separate envelope as described in Section 5.2.


28. Appendix A references “Cost of 1 Camera and all required supporting equipment.” Please confirm that this should be priced per complete vehicle system by vehicle type.

🟥 CTWSI response – See question 13.


29. Page 2 of the RFP states: “Duration: Have functioning cameras in all revenue vehicles within 6 months of start date.” Page 9 states: “All services required under this Agreement must be fully completed no later than September 30, 2027, unless terminated sooner pursuant to the terms herein.” Please confirm whether all vehicle installations must be completed within 6 months of the start date, with final closeout/services allowed through September 30, 2027, or whether CTWSI expects all contract work and final deliverables to be completed within the initial 6-month period.

🟥 CTWSI response – The finished product shall be completed within 6 months from the date of award. September 30, 202,7 date is specifically for CTWSI to meet grant criteria.


30. The procurement schedule lists demonstrations, presentations, and discussions, if required, on August 26, 2026. If CTWSI requests a presentation or demonstration, will it be virtual or in person?

🟥 CTWSI response – Demonstrations, presentations, and discussions, if required or requested, can be done either in person or virtually.


31. Can CTWSI provide a fleet roster showing each vehicle’s year, make/model, passenger capacity, ADA/ramp or lift configuration? This information will help proposers recommend the right camera and recorder configuration for each vehicle type without overbuilding smaller vehicles or under-covering larger vehicles.

🟥 CTWSI response – The information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


32. Can vendors propose lower-channel recording units if the proposed camera layout still provides full required coverage for that vehicle type?

🟥 CTWSI response – The information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


33. Can CTWSI identify which vehicles currently have camera systems installed, and for those vehicles, how many cameras are currently installed on each? This information will help proposers understand the existing equipment on each vehicle and accurately price any required removal of current camera systems before installation of the new system.

🟥 CTWSI response - Please propose for the total number of vehicles (68) in our fleet. This information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


34. Appendix A appears to request the “Cost of 1 Camera and all required supporting equipment” by vehicle category. Can CTWSI confirm whether vendors should use Appendix A to provide the price for one complete vehicle camera system package, including recorder, cameras, storage, cabling, GPS, panic button, software/licensing, and required supporting equipment, rather than only the price of a single camera?

If Appendix A is intended to capture only camera unit pricing, where should vendors provide pricing for recorders, storage, removal of existing equipment, installation labor, software/licensing, and other vehicle-specific equipment required for a complete system?

🟥 CTWSI response – The information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


35. Does CTWSI currently have Wi-Fi access points or network infrastructure at its bus depots or vehicle storage locations to support wireless video download/offload?

If not, please confirm whether vendors should include the required access points, mounting hardware, cabling, and configuration as part of the proposed solution.

🟥 CTWSI response – The information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


36. Can CTWSI confirm that vendors may propose a standalone video management/playback software solution, separate from Foresight Pro and Safety View, provided the proposed software allows CTWSI to search, retrieve, view, and export recorded video? This clarification is requested because the RFP references compatibility with Foresight Pro and Safety View, while the Q&A response states that the system is not required to work with those platforms.

🟥 CTWSI response – The information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


37. Appendix A appears to provide only two pricing categories: Transit Van Fleet and Bus and Larger Vehicle Fleet. Should vendors price only two standard system configurations, with one configuration for all Transit Van Fleet vehicles and one configuration for all Bus and Larger Vehicle Fleet vehicles?

🟥 CTWSI response – Yes


38. If so, please confirm which vehicle types should be included in each category. For example, should SUVs and mini vans be included under Transit Van Fleet, and should cutaways and narrow body buses be included under Bus and Larger Vehicle Fleet?

🟥 CTWSI response - SUV’s, mini vans, and narrow body buses comprise the Transit Van Fleet. Bus and Larger vehicles include any cut-away vehicles 12 to 30 passengers. Further information can be found on our website at www.communitytransitws.com


39. How many vehicles does CTWSI want to deploy camera systems on?

🟥 CTWSI response – CTWSI has a total of 68 vehicles of various makes and models. Some systems are operational, some are not, and some vehicles do not yet have cameras installed. You should plan to install/replace all camera setups. There is also a breakdown of the number of vehicles per location on the website (www.communitytransitws.com). All questions generated and submitted regarding this RFP are listed on said website.


40. What is the desired specification for the interior camera solution? How many interior cameras does CTWSI desire?

🟥 CTWSI response – Please see the information on the website.


41. Can CTWSI provide desired camera layout diagrams?

🟥 CTWSI response – Please find this information on the website.


42. Would CTWSI allow for a digital response?

🟥 CTWSI response – No.


43. What type of vehicles does CTWSI want to deploy on? Can CTWSI provide a list of vehicles, types, and number?

🟥 CTWSI response – This information can be found on the company website.


44. Are the deployments going in new vehicles? Will CTWSI need a quote for camera removal?

🟥 CTWSI response - Yes, we will need a quote for removal and disposal of existing materials. Cameras will need to be installed in a mix of vehicles.


45. Can CTWSI provide a list of current camera deployments on existing vehicles?s.

🟥 CTWSI response – See attachment


46. What is CTWSI’s video retention policy?

🟥 CTWSI response – This information can be found on our website.


47. Do the recorders have to have SSD storage, or can the supplier quote approved equals?

🟥 CTWSI response – This information can be found on the website.


48. Do the connectors need to bemini-DINn connectors, or can the supplier use approved equals?

🟥 CTWSI response – Options are acceptable as long as they are equal to or better.


49. Does CTWSI want all IP cameras, or is AHD acceptable?

🟥 CTWSI response – Both are acceptable.


50. Does CTWSI want Wi-Fi downloading?

🟥 CTWSI response – This information can be found on our website.


51. Does CTWSI have routers and cellular data, or does this need to be quoted by the supplier?

🟥 CTWSI response – We do not want cellular data.