The environmental and miscellaneous characteristics comprise the temperature and humidity ranges under which the system is to operate and such various items as power requirements, documentation, cabinets, and quality as­surance

The hardships that have been caused by inadequate or erroneous circuit and schematic diagrams are well-known. The same pains can be experienced if the software is incorrect. Complete program descriptions and updated listings of all supplied software, as well as accurate as-built drawings of the hardware, must be required.

A subsection on the manufacturer’s quality-assurance practices should be included in the specification It is usually a requirement of any large system The specification should require that all proposals describe the seller’s current quality-control programs to an extent commensurate with the size of the system Incoming-materials inspection, manufacturing procedures, quality control, documentation control, and use of existing codes and standards should be covered. It should be made clear that response to this section will influence the selection of the supplier.

The environmental and miscellaneous characteristics section of the sample specification is as follows

7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

7 1 Temperature

The computer and all peripheral devices shall meet the requirements of this specification over a temperature range of 50 to 90° F

7 2 Humidity

The computer and all peripheral devices shall meet the requirements of this specification over a humidity range of 50 ± 30%

7 3 Power

The computer shall operate from 120/208-volt, 60-Hz power, single or multiple phase Each manufacturer shall provide literature that describes the following items 1. Power required—by voltage, current, and phase 2 Power dissipation in British thermal units per hour and kilovolt-amperes separately stated for the central processor and each peripheral device plus the total power consumed by the system.

3. Connector wiring diagrams for every input power connector, cross labeled by manufacturer type

7 4 Enclosure

Each item specified is to be supplied in a fully enclosed cabinet with access doors for ease of maintenance Peripheral devices may be grouped to share a single cabinet Each manufacturer shall provide literature that describes the following items

1 Cabinet configuration and mechanical position as­signment for each peripheral device and for each portion of the central processor. Unused rack space shall be identified and dimensioned.

2 Service clearances required for all racks and cabi­nets

3 Installation dimensions for assessing doorway, elevator, and loading-dock clearances

4. Total system weight and weight by cabinet (console or rack) Shipping weight.

7 5 Spare Parts

Standard spare parts package and terms for later exchange of faulty circuit boards shall be provided. Extender boards shall be provided for each type of pnnted-circuit connector supplied (where applicable).

7 6 Documentation

Four copies, unless otherwise noted, of the following documentation shall be supplied

1 Final as-built drawings.

2 System block diagram.

3. Instruction and maintenance manuals.

4. Parts list.

7.7 Reliability

Reliability data shall be provided, both calculated and tested. The method of calculation (MIL-METHOD etc ) shall be specified. Where data are not available, so indicate.

7.8 Quality-Assurance Program

The vendors shall supply in the proposals evidence that a Quality-Assurance Program is maintained that will assure the purchaser that all articles procured from the vendors will satisfy the purchaser’s requirements. This evidence shall consist of either the vendor’s quality-control proce­dures manual or references to applicable public docu­ments which constitute the procedures used in the vendor’s quality program.

The vendor’s quality program shall show evidence of an organized and documented approach to the attainment of quality both in inspection and manufacturing procedures and in document control as it pertains to the purchased system.