Alert

FirstNet Releases Final Request For Proposal; Responses Due April 29, 2016

January 13, 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.

Read Time: 2 min
Jump to top of page

Wiley Rein LLP Cookie Preference Center

Your Privacy

When you visit our website, we use cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences, or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. For more information about how we use Cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Always Active

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. These cookies may only be disabled by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Functional Cookies

Always Active

Some functions of the site require remembering user choices, for example your cookie preference, or keyword search highlighting. These do not store any personal information.

Form Submissions

Always Active

When submitting your data, for example on a contact form or event registration, a cookie might be used to monitor the state of your submission across pages.

Performance Cookies

Performance cookies help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. We access and process information from these cookies at an aggregate level.

Powered by Firmseek