Clarifications: UKHO Maritime Environment Data Store (MEDS) Application Replacement
Questions and Clarifications
Below is a list of the 2 questions and clarifications relating to this opportunity.
1. Q1. What hardware and software components are no longer supported and what components are likely to remain? Q2. If new hardware is required, is the cost of new hardware to be included within the published project budget? Q3. Will devices with the appropriate software development tools be provided as GFX that give access to the Authority’s IL5 environment? Q4. Will development and test environments be provided as GFX on the Authority’s IL5 environment to allow testing of the new solution to occur before deployment to the Production environment?
A1: Software not supported (to be replaced/upgraded): MapInfo MapX V4.0 GIS software. Additional software attached to the MapX software – Browser application V3.7. Oracle database 11g Enterprise Edition upgraded to at least Oracle database 19. Oracle client 10.2. upgraded to Oracle client 19 (or compatible with database version). Software components to remain: MEDS Manager V3.0.8.1. TOAD for Oracle Base (version compatible with Oracle 19). CYGWIN/UNIX applications with database extraction functionality. A2: Any hardware required should be identified in supplier responses but will be provided by the Authority and installed by Authority teams or Supplier teams under escort. Dependencies on hardware should be fully identified and costed in responses. A3: The authority will not be providing devices or tools for development use. Access to the Authority environment will only be allowed on site and, where access is required for testing or deployment, for example, this will be arranged on a case-by-case basis. A4: Suppliers should identify what environments they require and these will be provided, within reason, by the Authority. There is an existing MEDS test environment, and this could be used, where required, by cleared and escorted Supplier staff on site. All development must be fully tested and signed off prior to deployment and the Authority expects initial testing to be undertaken by the Supplier on their own environments before testing at the Authority. A test plan/strategy will be required.
Last Updated : 17/10/2023
2. Q5. The requirement states ".....the replacement of the existing out of support GIS tool with a more modern, open source tool...." We note that the UKHO currently has access to Esri software, which may be suitable for this task. Is there a particular reason why an Open-Source GIS system is required as opposed to using a COTS GIS capability that the UKHO has already procured?
A5. Following a review of the MEDS solution, and potential work to bring it back in to support, the decision was taken that a tool other than ESRI would probably provide the most appropriate answer. The view presented was that ESRI may be too complex to configure against the current data structure so an alternative solution should be sought. This view was ratified by the Authority architecture community. Suppliers are welcome to propose COTS GIS tools and all responses will be scored as per the criteria set out.
Last Updated : 17/10/2023
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