FirstNet RFP Expected to Be Released in Early 2015, Acting GM Says
FirstNet is on target to release a request for proposal (RFP) in March, acting General Manager TJ Kennedy said Wednesday. The board approved three resolutions at a meeting Wednesday, including a $120 million budget for FY 2015. The meeting was FirstNet’s first with its revamped board (CD Sept 5 p13). The board approved a Comprehensive Network Solution Request for Information (RFI) and Statement of Objectives. The document (http://bit.ly/1qZkpnd) is a key step toward an eventual RFP, Kennedy told reporters after the meeting.
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The RFI and statement consider such issues as the financial sustainability of the network after its launch, how its services should be priced, and rules for devices that use the network, Kennedy said. The document examines how the system will be “hardened” and how public safety will be given priority access to the network and system reliability and restoration, he said. The document also looks at how to put in place a network that can be changed over time to keep up with technological advances, he said.
"There’s a lot of ground covered,” Kennedy said. “We want to make sure that we're able to achieve the capabilities that public safety needs.” For vendors, the document is “an important chance for them to provide official input into FirstNet,” he said.
The 15-page document posed 30 sets of questions. “This RFI is being issued solely for the purpose of gathering information for planning purposes,” it said. “It does not constitute an RFP or a promise to issue an RFP in the future."
The board also approved at the meeting a public notice on statutory interpretations. The notice “explores” provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act, which created FirstNet, which will have a direct impact on the network, said Stuart Kupinsky, FirstNet chief counsel. “We explore the standard by which existing infrastructure needs to be leveraged by FirstNet,” he said. “We explore the definition of public safety entity, which is essentially our customer base.” The notice is also a key document prior to the release of the RFP, he said.
"Today’s actions demonstrate FirstNet’s ongoing commitment to the program roadmap that we approved in March 2014 and offer additional opportunities for stakeholders to provide us with feedback on key considerations for executing our network strategy,” said Chairwoman Sue Swenson in a written statement (http://bit.ly/1uU5r1d).
FirstNet officials have visited 35 states and held 125 outreach events, Kennedy said during the meeting. Some observers said last week the outlook for FirstNet seems to be improving (CD Sept 15 p3). But carrier officials at the CTIA and Competitive Carriers Association meetings told us last week they remain skeptical about the extent carriers will be willing to take part in the network.
FirstNet has 65 employees, with 27 contractors supporting the full-time staff and 19 detailees from other agencies, a spokesman said.