As expected, a special notice and draft request for proposals (RFP) documents approved for release April 24 by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) board (TRDaily, April 24) were issued today. Questions on the documents are due May 27 and written responses to them are due July 27.

FirstNet acting Executive Director TJ Kennedy outlined the special notice and draft RFP documents at the board’s special meeting April 24, but the documents released today, of course, provide much more detail.

For example, the special notice detailed FirstNet’s proposed deployment approaches prior to the state RAN (radio access network) decision process.

“FirstNet’s proposed approaches, as reflected in Figure 1 Proposed Acquisition Approach, anticipates allowing for flexibility in a draft acquisition approach in order to promote innovation, flexibility, competition and ultimately best value to the public safety communities,” the notice said, detailing two deployment categories. Continue reading →

FirstNet has released a Third Notice  which furthers the discussion and interpretation of who is eligible as public safety to use the FirstNet network.  This issue was previously discussed in the FirstNet First Notice to which NPSTC commented on October 27, 2015.  The new Third Notice further dissects the language in Section 337 of the Communications Act re the definition of public safety as well as the provisions of the Spectrum Act of 2012, i.e., the enabling legislation  that created FirstNet.

Comments on this new Third Notice are due 30 days after the Notice is published in the Federal Register.  NPSTC will be reviewing this new Third Notice to determine its response.  The FirstNet Third Notice may be accessed at:  http://www.firstnet.gov/sites/default/files/firstnet-third-notice-final-prepublication-version.pdf

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) board today approved management’s draft acquisition approach and authorized the release of a special notice and draft request for proposals (RFP) documents. The board also approved the release of a public notice seeking additional views on the definition of “public safety entity.”

Acting FirstNet General Manager TJ Kennedy said at a special meeting, which was held via teleconference, that management plans to release the special notice and draft RFP documents April 27 and provide 30 days to submit any questions on the documents and 90 days to submit comments. The documents will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website at fbo.gov (Reference Number D15PS00295). Responses will not be made public.

Release of the draft RFP has been eagerly awaited by industry and the public safety community. Last month, the board delayed a vote on approving the release of the documents to provide additional time to answer questions raised by members of its Finance Committee (TRDaily, March 25).  FirstNet plans to issue a final RFP by the end of this calendar year.

In the public notice, the third to be released by FirstNet, the authority refines a preliminary conclusion concerning its definition of public safety entity and seeks comments. FirstNet said it believes that a subgroup or individuals within an entity, such as a utility, that respond to emergencies could fall under the definition of public safety entity without everyone at the organization, such as sales people, being defined as such. Comments on the public notice are due 30 days after “Federal Register” publication of the document. FirstNet will make the responses public. Continue reading →