Multiple Applicants Filed for Partnership With FirstNet, Vice Chairman Says
FirstNet got multiple bids from companies or groups of companies interested in helping build a national network for first responders, FirstNet Vice Chairman Jeff Johnson confirmed Monday. Responses to a FirstNet request for proposals were due last week (see 1605310058). Johnson spoke at a public meeting of FirstNet’s Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) streamed from San Diego. AT&T and Verizon are considered likely bidders for the contract; T-Mobile took itself out of the running.
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Everyone wants to know how many bids were received, Johnson said. Even many FirstNet officials don’t know, under federal bidding procedures, he said. “We know there are bids and that’s what matters,” Johnson said. The bid evaluation process is underway, he said. “We are going to have a network, folks,” he said. “We are going to get this done.”
The national network will soon be a “reality” and FirstNet is poised to hit upcoming milestones, said FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson. “Not too long ago there were some questions about whether or not we were going to really have this network.” Swenson encouraged PSAC members to start thinking about how FirstNet will operate after the network is launched. First responders “have an expectation … that this has to be the best network around,” Swenson said. “We’re going to be moving from talking about things and concepts to actually operating and delivering.” The network “will be here before we know it,” she said.
Johnson said Swenson is “adamant” about announcing a winner before Nov. 1. “When she’s adamant, I promise you it’s going to happen,’” Johnson said.
FirstNet probably has twice as many milestones to meet in the next 18 months as it had in the past 30, said FirstNet President TJ Kennedy. “We’re at a different time [given] the momentum of where we’re going,” he said. “Things are happening and they’re happening fairly darn quickly.” Public safety officials like those on the PSAC, have a key role to play, Kennedy said. “Public safety asked for this network,” he said. “Public safety said let’s go ahead and get this spectrum, let’s go ahead and make sure that we have the appropriate amount of funding.” FirstNet needs candid feedback form public safety officials, he said.
Johnson emphasized that FirstNet won’t replace traditional land-mobile radio systems for transmitting voice communications for many years to come. “We have to continue to tell people you need to invest in your LMR systems,” he said. “We do not want these systems degraded, undermaintained or malperforming while we’re getting on our feet.”
Federal procurement rules, like those being followed by FirstNet, place tight strictures on the flow of information on a potential contract award even within an agency.