FirstNet Says RFP Won't Tie Hands
There’s no secret agenda in the objectives-based request for proposal issued by FirstNet, the authority stressed Thursday on its blog. FirstNet, the independent government authority charged with building a wireless broadband network for public safety, has answered more than 400…
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questions in the past month about its RFP, wrote James Mitchell, FirstNet director-program management. It released the RFP in January, and proposals are due May 13 (see 1603160052). “Despite our best efforts, some still think we’ve hidden a series of requirements in the RFP to gear the solution to one corner of industry or that we have a specific outcome in mind that can only be achieved by meeting these imaginary requirements,” Mitchell said. “The simple fact is we have an objectives-based RFP, including 16 objectives, for Offerors to address in their proposals. We even ask for a Performance Work Statement … so that Offerors have the freedom and flexibility to produce truly innovative solutions and approaches for the network.” If FirstNet had chosen a requirements-based RFP, it would have restricted offerers from suggesting a different model or surpassing FirstNet’s expectations for the network. “With this RFP, there’s an opportunity to deliver something truly great for public safety,” he said. “Anything else would just be ‘business as usual’ for the Government, and FirstNet is anything but business as usual.”