FirstNet Releases Final Request For Proposal; Responses Due April 29, 2016
Today, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) released its highly anticipated final Request for Proposal (RFP). The final RFP represents a critical step towards FirstNet’s mission of establishing a public-private partnership to build, operate, and maintain the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). Among other things, the RFP includes a national acquisition approach to building and operating the NPSBN.
The release of the final RFP follows months of soliciting stakeholder feedback on FirstNet’s draft RFP documents, which were released in April 2015 for public comment. The RFP was approved during a two-day FirstNet Board meeting in December 2015.
The RFP confirms that FirstNet is seeking a “comprehensive network solution” in which the Offeror will provide FirstNet with a number of services, including: deployment and provisioning of a nationwide Core Network, and Radio Access Network (RAN); backhaul, aggregation, and the use of national transport networks and operation centers; a device ecosystem; use of network infrastructure; deployable capabilities; use of operational and business support systems; an applications ecosystem; network services; and the integration, maintenance, operational services, and ongoing evolution of these systems required to function fully as an operational wireless 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards-based Long Term Evolution (LTE) NPSBN. To this end, the RFP consists of a number of different sections, including:
- Section A: Solicitation, Offer, Award
- Section B: Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs
- Section C: Statement of Objectives
- Section D: Packaging and Marking
- Section E: Inspection and Acceptance
- Section F: Deliveries or Performance
- Section G: Contract Administration Data
- Section H: Special Contract Requirements
- Section I: Contract Clauses
- Section J: 26 Different Attachments. The attachments include items related to coverage and capacity definitions, state plan templates, end user pricing tables, and operational architecture files, among other things.
- Section K: Representations and Certifications
- Section L: Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors
- Section M: Evaluation Criteria
Interested parties are permitted to submit questions on the RFP documents until February 12, 2016. Voluntary capability statements are due March 17, 2016, with final proposals due April 29, 2016. FirstNet has also announced that it will conduct a public webinar on Friday, January 15 from 1 pm – 3pm EST to review key RFP elements. The webinar will be available on FirstNet’s website.
For more information, please contact Anna M. Gomez, Michael A. Lewis, Shawn H. Chang, or Meredith G. Singer.
