Sole Source Certifications

Download the Sole Source Certifications Document

Sole Source Certification MUST be submitted and secured by the Design Professional for all products deemed unique to the campus under PASSHE or DGS standards. “Sole Source” designation is given to those manufacturers/products for which no competitive bidding will be required and which meet the criteria as noted by the Sole Source Certification requirements. (See “Sole Source Certification Criteria”

West Chester University has previously received approval for the following proprietary design elements on other projects. It will be the Design Professional’s responsibility to (a) prepare the documentation necessary to petition PASSHE and/or DGS for approval to use same in the project; and, upon receipt of said approval, (b) incorporate the specific manufacturer/ product into the project design & specification.

Electronic Safety and Security System and Access Control and Intrusion Detection Systems and Video Surveillance by The Protection Bureau
Site Luminaires and poles “SBP” Battery Park as manufactured by Sentry Electric LLC
Building Automation System (BAS) as manufactured by Automated Logic Corporation
Fire Alarm System as manufactured by Simplex-Grinnell
Code Blue 1 Standard Station Emergency Telephones as manufactured by Code Blue Corporation
Security Cameras as manufactured by Panasonic
Card Reader and Control Equipment manufactured by UTC Picture Perfect
Video Acquisition and Recording Devices as manufactured by Panasonic -Aruba S-3500 – 24P and/or Aruba S-3500 48P and related subcomponents such as GBIC and power supplies
Wireless Access Points as manufactured by Panasonic - Aruba and related subcomponents such as power supplies

Product Justification

The following products, if determined to be used on the project, have previously received “Sole Source” Certification from PASSHE for use on WCU campus. Justification for “Sole Source Certification” must be made on each project using the product in accordance with the requirements herein:

Electronic Safety and Security System and Access Control and Intrusion Detection Systems and Video Surveillance by The Protection Bureau (TPB) 197 Philips Road, Exton, PA 19341 including maintenance and service contract
- For over 15 years, TPB has been providing and maintaining the maintenance and service contracts for all existing campus wide security systems, including the card access and intrusion detection services and software, video management software and security network monitoring software including new and modified installations . TPB has been installed in almost all buildings on campus including all recent major capital projects such as
  - Business and Public Management Center (2016)
  - Commonwealth Resident Hall (2015)
  - Mitchell Hall Renovation (2015)
  - Student Recreation Building (2012)
  - E.O. Bull Renovations (2011)
  - 25 University Avenue (2009)
  - Allegheny and Brandywine Residents halls (2009)
  - Swope School of Music and MWA Performing Arts Center (2007)
  - University Hall Resident Hall (2007)
  - Lawrence Dining Center Addition (2006)
  - and numerous ongoing smaller projects
- Code compliant Security Systems with their sophisticated components and software must work together and be compatible with an array of existing panels, transmitters and interface components. Maintaining a single source to provide this system is the best way for the University to enure that the security system components will properly communicate.
- WCU requests that the specifications for the Electronic Safety and Security Systems, Access control and Intrusion Systems, and Video Surveillance systems for the referenced project be written as a proprietary system to the Protection Bureau (TPB) including maintenance and service contracts. WCU further requests that all base bids include all costs to provide the services of the University's current holder of its maintenance service contracts for security systems for final configuration and programming of the new surveillance, monitoring and control devices, network switches, access control panels, and final configuration for programming of the existing campus wide card access control and intrusion deterion software, CCTV video manaagement software and security network monitoring software.
Site Luminaires and poles “SBP” Battery Park as manufactured by Sentry Electric LLC

Due to its location within an urban/suburban community, WCU requires a campus wide installation of site lighting consistent in appearance and operation throughout the campus so they can be easily identified by faculty/students. Campus currently has the Sentry Park fixtures around the perimeter of North Campus, along the walkways of the Residential Quad, and at all recently completed site developments including PBMC Center, Student Recreation Center, E.O. Bull Center and 25 University Avenue; and, along most of the lengths of our internal streets including the Academic Quadrangle, University Avenue, Church Street and Sharpless Street. The Sentry Park fixture “look” has become identifiable with WCU and its campus.

Building Automation System (BAS) as manufactured by Automated Logic Corporation

In 2004 WCU engaged in a competitive bidding process for campus wide Guaranteed Energy Savings. The successful bidder, Honeywell Building Solution (SES) engaged Radius System following their own competitive source election as the designer supplier and installer of automatic temperature control systems manufactured by Automated Logic. Automated Logic Controls have since been installed throughout campus at 13/15 University Avenue, 114 W. Rosedale, 201 Carter, 2010 E. Rosedale, 220 E. Rosedale, 809 and 811 Roslyn Ave., Anderson Hall, Merion Science Center Filano Hall, FHG Library I and II, Goshen Hall, Hollinger, Ehinger, Killinger Hall, Lawrence Dining Center, Main Hall, McKelvie Hall, Messikomer, Mitchell, Old Library, Peoples Building, Reynolds Hall, Recitation, Hall Ruby Jones, Anderson Hall, Schmucker South Science Center, Sykes Student Union, Tanglewood, Warehouse, 850 S. New St., Farrell Stadium, McCoy Complex, Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center, the South Campus Natatorium, Student Recreation Center, New PBMC Center, and New Street Substation.

Building Automation and Controls System as manufactured by Automated Logic Corporation (see above)
Fire Alarm System as manufactured by Simplex-Grinnell

Simplex-Grinnell has provided the fire alarm system for the University for many years, including new and modified installations. The Simplex Grinnell is currently installed in virtually on campus, connect 82 existing buildings and utilizing a Class A fiber Optic based network. Fire alarm system components must work together, and modern code-compliant systems with sophisticated software must be compatible with an array of existing panels, transmitters and other interface components. Continuity with the same manufacturer to provide these services is the best way for the University to ensure that the components are compatible and appropriate. Fire alarm panels provide device specific information to the remote monitoring stations within the Peoples Public Safety Building, rather than basic code minimum status. The new SG system will be required to communicate on the existing sophisticated infra-structure.

Code Blue 1 Standard Station Emergency Telephones as manufactured by Code Blue Corporation

WCU has a campus wide installation of emergency telephones. In the interest of safety, Emergency Phones need to be consistent in appearance and operation throughout the campus so they can be easily identified and accessed in an emergency. These phones are integrated readily with the campus “Code Blue” LAN and phone networks. Employing multiple manufacturers emergency telephone systems would necessitate a high level of integration with the public safety central station that will be difficult to establish and costly to maintain.

Security Cameras as manufactured by Panasonic

WCU has a campus wide installation of Panasonic I-Pro HD security cameras and recorders. The existing system components work together to provide a high quality image with reduced storage space due to the proprietary compression utilized. The integrated campus system is networked which allows the cameras to be recorded in multiple locations across campus for redundancy. In the event of a component failure, the cameras can be redirected to another recorder on the security network until the necessary repairs are made. This eliminates the likelihood of down time or loss of image data. The introduction of another manufacturer’s equipment would eliminate the University’s ability to maintain the system and would require the purchase of additional services to maintain redundancy. In addition, the introduction of another manufacturer’s system would require the purchase and future licensing of additional software; and create an ongoing duplication of services and training for Public Safety staff.

Card Reader and Control Equipment manufactured by UTC Picture Perfect

WCU has a campus wide installation of UTC Picture Perfect card readers and control equipment which integrates with other campus wide component and provides a reliable and easily maintained security system. The security system is of paramount importance to the safety of students, faculty and staff. Timely maintenance and prompt repair or replacement of components when required is essential to keeping the campus safe. Introduction of other components would necessitate multiple maintenance contracts and blur the lines of responsibility. The existing UTC system uses redundant servers that synchronize a single database that holds the codes for 17,000 active access cards and thousands of door opening and closing schedules. The introduction of a new system would require the purchase of additional servers and the duplication of the processes and databases. In essence, multiple manufacturers would require duplication of work and services on an ongoing basis at a great cost to the University.

Video Acquisition and Recording Devices as manufactured by Panasonic

Aruba S-3500 – 24P and/or Aruba S-3500 48P and related subcomponents such as GBIC and power supplies:
WCU has an integrated campus wide installation of Aruba S-3500 networking switches which securely transmit data and video from the electronic security devices around the campus. These switches are able to be centrally programmed from the campus provided Public Safety Aruba controller which is able to make real time global changes to the entire network. These network switches are integrated into the overall campus security system through software using specific manufacturer’s protocols. As part of the integrated security system, these network switches are used to encrypt and transmit video card access and alarm events across the entire campus rather than on a per building basis. The introduction of another system would eliminate the global control of the system network configuration and security features, and greatly reduce the security and capabilities of the system. Additional software protocols and control equipment from other manufacturers would add significant cost with no added benefit.

Wireless Access Points as manufactured by Panasonic

 Aruba and related subcomponents such as power supplies: WCU has an integrated campus wide installation of Aruba wireless access points deployed across every campus building and covering all outdoor areas on campus. Alternative manufacturers of WAPs cannot integrate with Aruba networks wireless controllers due to a proprietary relationship between the Aruba Controllers and its access points. The Aruba controllers intelligently manage client connections between neighboring access points to balance bandwidth allocation for optimum performance. In order to maintain mobility between resident halls, academic areas and outdoor wireless areas; and to communicate seamlessly across campus, only Aruba components can be added to the network. The establishment of separate networks would result in signal interference between the networks which would impact performance, and make it impossible to detect the presence of non-authorized “rogue” access on campus, thus creating security issues. Further, establishment of separate wireless networks on campus would cause mobile clients to drop off and have to reconnect and re-authenticate as they move between networks – thus destroying the seamless mobile user experience.

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