On December 9th the FirstNet Board voted to release its Request for Proposal (RFP) in January 2016 for a nationwide provider to build and run the FirstNet nationwide public safety broadband network.
FirstNet CEO Michael Poth described the RFP as only the beginning, the result of a two year effort, including consultation, data collection, public notices and RFIs. With all recommendations and criticisms considered, FirstNet leadership will ensure vendors understand the network is a public-private partnership answering to first responders. Leveraging the spectrum cannot compromise public safety access.
FirstNet will now address network design. As states are anxious about a working network, CEO Poth advised the statutory process requires specific steps so each state will make informed decisions - a conscious choice not to accelerate the RFP process to avoid industry concerns with the pop-up of an accelerated deadline.
According to Poth, the RFP represents a key milestone for 2016, but is really just the first step. FirstNet as an organization was not created only to issue an RFP and approve the result. FirstNet will be present for the long haul, synonymous with the network and acting as its steward.
Input across the country into the RFP reflected enormous state commitment during initial consultations and with engagement of their own agencies. Aggregate state data will be available for vendors’ review.
The RFP preserved the sixteen objectives adopted September 2014 (http://go.usa.gov/cke2A). While these provide a foundation, CEO Poth noted previous board meetings also touched on evaluation criteria, its importance, and how to incorporate it. Past performance is a key element so vendors coming to the table must demonstrate sound business management providing a sustainable and affordable solution for public safety.
Some questions at the meeting touched upon the amount of data in the RFP. The public-private partnership model is influenced heavily by an objectives based approach, and avoids an overabundance of minute and redundant requirements. A business analogy given in response to questioning on network approach is that consumers are less likely to frequent or shop where their cell service doesn't work. This speaks to a market drive for first responders. It is expected that once first responders are on the dedicated network product services will flow to it.
FirstNet has declared openness to multiple approaches to problem solving, as each potential offeror comes with unique set of assets or synergy to response of the solution. This receptivity will also lead FirstNet to act transparently regarding its approach to the industry.
The goal is to make the RFP process as user-friendly as possible, but to obtain offerors who have solutions showing unique assets that can be evaluated for an informed decision. The RFP outlines a portrait and responding offerors will choose the appropriate palette of colors to paint what will be the first nationwide public safety network.
The board will incorporate its final directives into the proposal during the remainder of December with release in early January, including a webinar for the launch. The schedule going forward in 2016 is to be aggressive as well as comprehensive. FirstNet will stick close to the May 2016 deadline, competing the entire evaluation process in the next calendar year.
The board’s final thoughts were highly confident and a commitment to deploy the network by 2022. It is expected that the tremendous preparation in the RFP will result in a similar effort back from the offerors.